Reading Report Cards

When the school term ends and the report cards come home, it can be just as stressful for parents as it is for students.

As a parent, it is important for you to know how to interpret your child's report card and what to do if your child is struggling. Whether your child is a high achiever who needs more challenge or a struggling student who needs more help, it's important to discuss your child's successes and failures, and how to follow up.

Dr. Michael Luther, Educational Specialist with Kumon Math & Reading Centres, says there are a number of steps parents can take. "A report card can be a valuable tool as a guide to your child's progress. But like any tool, it has to be used properly. You should not simply read the report card, but should understand what it says and should talk with your children and their teachers about what it means."

Dr. Luther suggests the following steps for understanding your child's report card:

• Pay particular attention to the comments regarding Strengths/ Weaknesses/Next Steps sometimes the teacher's comments mean more than the actual grades that are given.
• Look at the grades that your child is getting in areas that he/she in interested in; this provides a view of your child's potential.
• Expect highs and lows, very few children are talented in all areas of the curriculum.
• Use the report card in a practical way; get help immediately for subjects where your child is failing or receiving low grades.
• Look for key phrases like "organizational skills", "focusing", "non-completion of work", and "lack of preparation" to track down what is going wrong in a particular subject.
• If your child is failing or has consistent weaknesses in particular subject areas, such as math or reading, enroll your child in supplemental educational programs such as Kumon Math and Reading Centres. These programs will likely help your child improve grades and strengthen skills in these areas.
• Pay attention to the section that deals with "days absent" and "times late"; this may provide a clue that you, as a parent, may not have been aware of.
• See if your child is having difficulty in specific areas that could be improved with an addition of some technology, either high- or low-tech (e.g. computers, calculators, electronic organizers, etc.)

Bear in mind, a report card should quantify what you are already aware of. Any surprises should alert you to a changing situation in your child's educational progress which should be immediately addressed. (NC)