4 Simple Tips to Help You Understand Your Child's Report Card

These days, modern report cards have undergone a few changes. My son's science teacher still puts pleasant and informative comments on his cards. I was glad to learn that my son was polite and respectful whenever he is at school. The comments enabled me to monitor how my son's behavior is developing at school.

I also noticed that some teachers did not bother to put descriptions on my son's report card. Parents like me want to know what is going on with our children. If teachers can describe our children's behavior at school, we can respond accordingly to deal with any undesirable behavior.

Some schools follow the traditional way of distributing report cards. They still hand the cards to children who are expected to take them home to their parents. I also want my son to be responsible and brave enough to hand me his card personally.

Online cards also do not contain the usual descriptions that allow parents tom know more about their children's progress at school. Although I realize that teachers these days have more students and not as much time, I still think that time should be found to make report cards as personal as they were in my school years.

Do you really understand what your child's report card is telling you? Most parents have no idea what they mean. Here are some simple clues to deciphering the 'teacher talk'.

The end of the year means that you will be getting the end of year report card, the BIG one that should tell you how well your child has progressed during the year.

So here are some tips on how you can actually understand what the 'teacher talk' really means.

1. If the report card has anecdotal comments always ignore the first sentence.

Teachers try to say good things so the first sentence is usually positive but it is the 'but' that comes after that really gives you the information you need.

2. There are rules about report card writing and you need to know them.

Teachers are often told what they can and cannot say in report cards. For instance, i was not allowed to say that the child had failed, only that he had not 'achieved the required standard of work'. You need to know the rules so that you can understand what is being said. Not sure how you get them, you might have to talk to your child's Principal.

3. Work out what the grades mean.

Has your child got a 'A" for effort, work done, attitude, or progress? It makes a difference. Sometimes teacher do not know how and why they give grades, it might be a good idea to find out how they do it.

4. Do the grades make sense?

If you are shocked by a grade that your child has been given (either because it is higher or lower than you expected) ask questions. You need to know why there has been a change. It might just be the way different teachers give grades or it might mean that your child is doing something right (in which case praise them for doing it) or wrong (in which case get them the help they need).

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