Do you wait for report cards for an update about your child’s school progress? While waiting for report cards to see what your child’s grades are is normal, report cards are not the only way to stay in the loop with your child’s academic progress! One of the reasons that the wait-and-see approach isn’t the best strategy is that by the time the report card gets to you, it could be too late to solve any problems your child may be having in school.
The longer you wait, the harder it is to recover from learning loss, making it crucial to be a part of your child’s education throughout the year!
Stay in the Loop on School Progress
Studies show that parental involvement in education positively contributes to student success. Parental involvement can help shape a positive mindset about school, increase motivation levels and encourage self-discipline. It also helps:
- Release some of the pressure and stress about grades. Once used to communicate performance, grades are a constant reminder that grades matter.
- To catch problem areas early and prevent any issues from snowballing into something detrimental to your child’s success.
- To be an advocate for your child to ensure their education and development needs are met.
Try These Tips to Stay in Informed Outside of Report Cards
- If your child is starting pre-school, teach them basic reading skills before they start.
- Praise the efforts they make, not solely their achievements. Celebrating overall success releases some of the stress around getting perfect grades.
- Co-operate with the school and get to know their teacher. Opening communication channels between home and school can keep everything progressing smoothly.
- Communicate effectively with your child at home about how they feel about school and if they’re experiencing any problems. This includes discussions about long-term goals for school and life. We have a list of after school questions you can use!
- Before assigning blame for bad grades or missed classes, investigate. Usually, there is a deeper reason for poor academic performance. Create activities that will help the student complete homework and study for tests.
- Set the expectation that school is a priority.
Let Students Take Ownership
Remember, teachers love an involved parent, but there is a fine line before you’re “too involved.” Parents that micromanage their child’s education mean well but can harm autonomy development and pass along the stress to their child.
Learn the balance between being under- and overinvolved, check-in regularly, and you will create an optimal setting for your child to achieve school success!
