Ask Sherrin Blog

Once again it is report card season, a time that can bring a smile to one student’s face while striking another down in fear. Regardless of how they are received, report cards are an unavoidable part of school life and are a valuable tool in assessing and planning for student success. Find out how to make the most of your child’s report card to sustain good results or to make improvements for next time.

Try these strategies to make the most of the report card:

• always look on the bright side. If the academic grades are not what you had hoped for, look at the comments regarding effort and behaviour. Praise your child for the efforts that have been made;
• talk rather than react. Take the time to talk with your child to ask questions. How have they been coping in class? Did they feel prepared for the assessment task? If effort and behaviour were less than satisfactory, express your disappointment;
• review the homework routine. Homework reflects work that is being completed in class and provides an opportunity for you to monitor progress. Ensure your child has an allocated time and place to complete set tasks and make yourself available to answer questions and examine the quality of work; and
• set goals. While results on the current report card can’t be changed, the end of year report is yet to be written. Discuss with your child what they are hoping to achieve in the latter half of the year and set realistic goals that enable this to transpire.

Remember: if nothing changes, nothing changes. Take action today to ensure the end of year will deliver a report card of which you will be proud.