REPORT CARDS

Post 187

   Sometime this month your child should be receiving their report card or they already have. In my district, it is the second contact most families have with their child’s teacher about how they are doing in school. Usually schools have them online and may or may not hand out paper copies. So please read it! Your little one’s teacher has spent a lot of time and thought on it. It’s a snapshot of where each student is both academically and socially at this time of year.

   The first report card was mostly about how students have adjusted to school and are ready to learn. Now we are in the middle of the year and down to the nitty gritty, so to speak. If your child is “on grade level” or “above grade level” then everything is fine. They are right where they should be. Tell your little student how proud you are of them and keep doing whatever you are doing as far as homework and routines go. Obviously it’s working.👍

   If your little one has a “below grade level” or its equivalent, don’t panic. This is the time of year to make adjustments and help students so that at the end of school they are where they should be. Contact your child’s teacher to discuss exactly what that grade means and what adjustments can be made to help your child. Please don’t let it go until the next report card. Academics at this level are built upon previous learning so if your child is struggling in one area (reading or math), it’s very unlikely to improve without intervention. And no teacher will ever be upset with a parent who is concerned about their child. The whole idea is that we work together with you to make this the best year your little one can have in school!

   And please don’t ignore the “social development” side of your little student’s report card. That’s such an important component to a child’s development at this age. Think back to all the worries you had when you sent them off in September…would they listen, sit still, cry all day, etc. Now they are thinking of others, sharing, helping with classroom management, etc. If they are at grade level or above, that’s really

awesome! 👏 Reinforce it by again telling your little one how proud you are of them! And if there is a “below grade level” anywhere, contact your child’s teacher. This side of the report card is just as important (if not more so) as the academic side. Work out a plan NOW to help your child before things get out of hand. Again, your little one’s teacher will welcome your input and have specific suggestions to help your child.

   Hopefully report card time will always be a happy one that you and your child will look forward to. If not, they have you and their teacher to help fix it! Take Care. 😀