Beat report card stress

Adele Grosse

13 DEC 2011, 10:21

4 min read

As 2011 winds down to an end it means the arrival of report cards. Gulp.

Report cards can mean that December holidays will begin either with happiness or with heartache — and it can be nerve-racking waiting until the report arrives to see which way the pendulum will swing.

When 1 800 North American teachers were asked in a Sylvan Learning Foundation survey why parents were often surprised by their child’s report cards, 50% said parents admitted they were not involved enough in their child’s school experience. Additionally, 14% said the surprise comes from a lack of effective communication by parents with their child’s teacher. The most common comment heard from parents after receiving a report card surprise, 47% of teachers said, was: “What can we do to improve my child’s grades?” And 21% of teachers remembered hearing parents complain that they did not know that their child was not performing well in class.

For children and teenagers, poor grades can mean punishment and restrictions on the leisurely summer activities that they have been looking forward to.

For parents, poor grades are a source of concern and worry: Is their child facing an educational roadblock that could put dreams and plans for the future on hold? Or worse, eliminate future possibilities altogether.

Adding to the stress is the fact that for most, changing curriculum and reporting standards mean that the report is filled with jargon and terms that say nothing to a parent.

To alleviate report card stress, the Proud2b ME school project offers tips to help parents, and children, get through this stressful time.

Make sense of what the report is really telling you. Read the teacher’s comments — these can give you a better idea of your child’s overall performance.

Attend the parent-teacher meetings. If less-than-stellar grades have you worried that your child’s opportunities for the future may be slipping away, meeting and speaking to the teacher can help.

Put it in context. Some school years are more challenging than others. Certain grades, such as the first year of high school or the shift from early to middle school, are transitional years that are challenging to all pupils.

Go to the source. If your child’s report contains some surprises, ask the one person who would know best: your child. But first take some time to read it by yourself, identify the biggest concerns and address those when you sit down together and go over the report card. Remember to remain calm; you and your child are allies in education, not enemies.

Take action now. If parents don’t act now, the urgency of the bad report card will be forgotten and no progress will be made.

Adéle Grosse is executive director of Proud2B community development. For more tips and tools go to www.intouchparenting.co.za. To find out more about the www.proud2b.orgProud2b ME School project go to .

How to talk to your child

Communicate about school every day. Make it a regular part of the family’s routine. Do not wait until report cards are issued to talk about school and grades. Have frequent discussions about how your child is doing in each subject.

Encourage your child to tell you about his or her day. Find out what he or she learned and what his or her favourite activities are. Through constant interaction you can teach your child that education is important to your family.

Discuss goals and objectives for the school year. This may be a great way to learn about difficulties your child is having in specific areas. A calendar can be a great way to track tests, homework, activities and study plans.

Talk to your child about his or her extramural activities, which may affect his or her grades. Set attainable improvement goals for your child. Set aside a specific time for studying, projects and extramural activities each evening and make sure that your child has a properly equipped and well-lit area to work in.

Communicate with your child about his or her school experiences, worries and concerns, as well as joys and achievements.