Unsatisfactory
Grades? Get to the Source
Adrian H. Cline,
Superintendent
When your child brings home unsatisfactory grades, stay cool
and calm. Punishing your child will not
provide the encouragement he or she needs to aim for better results next
time. In fact, studies have shown that
punishment may lead to future report card problems.
There is always a correctable reason for low grades. It may be a simple misunderstanding, a case
of missing too much school, or a lack of quality study time. Or perhaps there is a problem at school with
the teacher or classmates.
Discuss any difficulties your child may be having and offer
your help for improving grades. Be sure
to make your expectations for improvement known.
Schedule a conference with the teacher and ask about the work
your child is doing in class. Inquire
about problems that may be hindering your child’s performance and discuss your
expectations. Ask the teacher if he or
she thinks your expectations are too high.
You, as the parent, will need to gather the facts to gain a
clear picture of why your child’s grades have fallen and what needs to be done
to change them. However, regardless of
the reason for the low grades, you must make it clear that only one person is
ultimately responsible for making the change: your child.
How to Prepare for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences offer the
opportunity for parents to find out how their children are doing at
school. By working together, parents and
teachers can help children have a successful school year. The following tips can help parents
contribute to a productive conference:
§
Make a
list of questions to ask the teacher. For example: What are my child’s best and worst
subjects? How can I assist my child with
homework? What books should my child
read? Are there any discipline concerns
that I should be aware? Is my child
working up to his or her ability? What
can I do at home to help my child be more successful in school?
§
Have a
positive attitude. Be on time and go into
the conference with an attitude of cooperation.
The teacher will share samples of your child’s work, talk about his or
her strengths and weaknesses, discuss areas for improvement, and suggest ways
to meet learning goals. Together you and
the teacher will devise solutions to any problems that exist.
§
Follow up. Begin immediately to
implement the plan you and the teacher worked out. Evaluate the success of the plan by checking
your child’s homework and class work.
Stay in regular touch with the teacher to discuss the progress your
child is making.
The Office of Adrian H.
Cline, Superintendent of Schools, is open from