Making the Grade: How to Handle a Bad Report Card
Good grades are naturally an important part of getting a thorough education. Most parents worry about their child’s performance in school. It’s normal to wonder, “Is my child learning as much as he needs to?” or “Is my child getting the best possible education?” If a child brings home a report card that has a few bad grades, many parents feel nervous, anxious, or even upset about it.
After all, doesn’t this mean that their child isn’t learning in school? Doesn’t this mean that their child isn’t doing his best? If you’re facing a bad report card, it’s important that you remain calm while you carefully handle the situation with your child.
First off, never yell at your child if he brings home a bad report card. While it is normal to feel frustrated if your child brings home bad grades, it’s important that you be calm when you discuss the situation with your child. Raising your voice not only brings negative energy to the conversation, but can also make your child feel like you’re angry with him specifically. Instead of yelling, try to take a few deep breaths and remain calm while you talk with your little one.
Make sure you ask your child if he knew what his grades were. Did your child feel lost in the class? Did he feel frustrated during the lectures? Was there a possibility that your child was falling behind and didn’t realize it?
Maybe your child thought his performance was okay in the class and honestly didn’t know how far behind he had gotten on the course load. Discuss the situation honestly and openly with your child to find out what happened.
It’s also important that you take the steps to hep your child from getting a bad grade in the future. If your child knows he is having a hard time with a class, you might consider spending some extra time with him each night to study. Some parents might prefer to hire a tutor to help their child in class.
Hiring a tutor can be a calming way to help your child learn a little more about the subject he struggles with. Most tutors meet with students once a week, but your child can meet with his tutor more or less as needed. If there is a particular subject that your child struggles with, search engines can be invaluable at locating free tutorials.
Finally, don’t be afraid to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss the situation. You child’s teacher obviously knows what your child’s problem areas are, so she can help give you pointers and suggestions for helping your child improve his grades. For example, maybe your child struggles because he has a hard time seeing the board or some of the concepts don’t make sense to him.
Maybe he struggles with reading so he can’t keep up in history class. No matter what the problem may be, consider discussing it rationally with your child’s teacher to get further help and assistance. Remember that the instructor wants to help your child to succeed, so make sure you avoid accusatory or inflammatory language when you discuss your child’s report card with her.
