Grades: A Guide For Parents

As soon as children start getting grades in school, many start to worry. When they receive the transcript, feelings of joy or frustrating disappointment can arise.

Parents take their children’s grades very seriously as if it were an assessment of the way they have raised the child. However, parents do not understand that grades are just a score on acquisition and how well one remembers certain academic content.

This is a measurement that responds to some circumstances. Therefore , it does not necessarily indicate whether the learning ability of their children has been successful or a mistake.

Academic grades show parents several things, things they can act on without worrying and judging or making their children suffer.

What do parents need to know about grades?

Grades are a score based on circumstances. A grade is obtained from the tests that all children take. However, these tests do not assess their level of maturity, interests and learning style of each child.

In addition, a character will not always show the effort that a child puts in to make it happen . For some, a 6 may be achieved effortlessly, while others may feel that a lower grade is a job well done.

While it is important not to take the grade too seriously, grade cards can show parents what the children are interested in. For some children, math or arts and crafts may be easier. In the meantime, other children see Norwegian, a foreign language or sport as their strengths.

Either way, it’s important to know that passing does not necessarily mean learning. The truth that the education system hides is that they require children to pass, but this does not always guarantee that they have learned anything.

Finally, a low or failing grade is not a child’s qualities. It cannot be used to label the child or indicate their value as a person, especially to intimidate or punish them.

How can parents help their children achieve better grades?

 1. Look beyond the grade.

Parents should instead  consider the effort their child has put into achieving this grade. This is the best way to read a grade card to motivate them to continue their efforts and achieve their goals.

2. Motivate their daily efforts.

Parents do not have to wait until they see the result of a test to congratulate their children. Recognize the effort they put into the school on a daily basis.

If a child is not doing well in school today, their parents should look at what they did before to determine what they can improve. Motivate your child to complete their tasks correctly and on time.

3. Come up with a study plan.

Keep an eye on the beginning of their activities so that they can correct any errors and omissions in good time. Help your child find all the material they need to study and do their homework.

And then, at the end of the day, check to see if they have completed all their schoolwork.

4. Leave them alone so they can study and do their homework.

In order for children to get better grades, you should offer them a quiet environment. Take advantage of a quiet place where they will study and do their homework. Do not allow any stimuli that may distract them such as televisions, toys or electronic devices.

If you are not at home, make sure your child is studying and doing their homework in a good place. You must also make sure that the child rests and sleeps well at night.

5. Contact the teacher regularly.

Maintain constant communication with the teacher. Together you should consider the content that your child should focus on, study methods and how they can be improved.

If your child needs academic reinforcement, find out if you can pay for tutoring.

6. Do not threaten them or promise things.

Positive reinforcement does not mean that you have to give your child gifts as a reward when they get the results expected of them. Instead, give them words of encouragement and congratulations.

You must not threaten your child or promise things you do not intend to fulfill.

7. Avoid committing them to get a certain grade.

Explain to them clearly what is expected of them when it comes to their studies. Encourage the child to do their best to achieve the best results they can. However, you must never oblige them to achieve certain results.

Also show that not being in accordance with the plans and study methods has consequences.

8. Help them keep their material organized.

By doing so, they will feel prepared because they will meet small and rational goals.

9. Work closely with your child as you go over topics.

Make a list of what needs to be corrected and decide which subject you both should work on, one at a time. This will help them achieve goals without becoming exhausted or frustrated.

Decide what is a priority and work with it. Then you move on to another topic, and when you are done with that, you move on to another.

What should you do if your child gets bad grades?

• Identify the cause. Contact the teacher so that they give you their point of view and that way you can both come up with a study plan. If the reason for the child’s poor performance is due to lack of effort, you must follow up on your child daily and try to increase the motivation towards the teachers.
• Talk calmly with your child. Try to understand why they got this grade. You can try new learning methods that involve them being more active.
• Avoid shouting and arguing with them. This will not make your child better. On the contrary, you should be aware of the reasons why they did not get better results.
• Strengthen their sense of responsibility. Their grades are the product of the effort and dedication they have to the school. Do not let your child give you unrealistic excuses: It is not the teacher’s fault, nor is it because his classmates do not allow him to concentrate.

• Avoid comparing your child with others in the class or siblings. Each child is unique, and they have their own strengths and weaknesses.
• Avoid making your studies a punishment. This creates a negative conditioning that associates learning with something bad or boring.

Some recent recommendations

Schooling is a stage of shaping children and grades are part of the process. Encourage your child to overcome their difficulties. It is the best lesson they can get when it comes to adapting to new challenges in the education system as well as in life.

Finally, if you have strengthened your child’s study methods and their grades are still not improving, you should take a closer look at whether they have learning difficulties. To do this, consult another type of specialist who is not the teacher.