Report cards paint an academic portrait
EDITOR’S NOTE: Betty Jankoski is a guidance counselor at Red Cedar Elementary School.
Report cards will be sent home soon and for some it will be a day of celebration and for others, a day of embarrassment. What it should be is an opportunity for parent(s) and child to honestly and openly discuss the academic record of the past marking period. It is important for our children to understand that the grades on the report card reflect their efforts, achievement, and progress over the past few months. The grades are symbols of the class work they have completed, the tests that they have taken and the homework they have done.
The first section of the report card indicates the academic progress and development, while a second section explains the students’ behavioral growth and maturity. It is important for a child to understand the difference between these two areas. Begin by having your son or daughter actually hold the report card and show it to you. This gives them ownership of their educational experience. Let them explain what they notice. So often when I ask children about their report card, I get a blank response or shrug that says they have no idea what was on their report. In their mind it was a message from the school to their parents and didn’t really involve them. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It is their message to their parent(s). It says “This is what I’ve been doing and this is how I’ve been behaving.”
If at all possible, make a copy of the report card and then discuss how the next report should look. You can actually pencil in the grades for the next marking period. Set realistic goals. Behavior grades can definitely show improvement, but be sure your son or daughter understands how the appropriate behavior should look. Saying “I’ll be better” is too general and does not target specific actions. Prioritize each goal. Work on one behavior at a time. Once the behavior improves, target the next goal.
Determine which subject areas require improvement and select one grade to improve. This way the goal is realistic, reasonable, and reachable. Success in one area will encourage motivation and effort in other areas. Decide what needs to happen to reach the academic goal. A conference with the teacher would be advisable so support is provided and everyone is working together.
In this way the report card becomes a meaningful report that helps the child see strengths and weaknesses. It provides a resource that your son or daughter can interpret and use to improve areas of potential trouble spots. It is not a label but a support for future success and progress. Every child should understand what the report card is really “saying” and how the results can be changed by the effort and motivation of the individual student.