Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) students receive report cards Feb. 2, and this month’s Parent Connection newsletters include tips on how to use it as a learning opportunity.
The middle school edition of the Parents Make the Difference newsletter suggests parents:
- Talk about it. Are there any surprises—good or bad? Discuss them. If you’re upset about a particular grade, though, don’t start yelling. Not only will it shut down communication with your child, it’s also pointless. So stay calm. “I’m disappointed about that C in language arts. We need to talk about it some more.”
- Set goals. Use your child’s report card to chart a course for the rest of the year. If she did well, talk about how she can keep up the good work. If she struggled, brainstorm ways to improve things going forward. “You did a great job of turning in your science homework, but you stumbled on tests. What if I start quizzing you each night the week leading up to a test?”
- Celebrate. Straight A’s are always a reason to celebrate, but if your child worked hard to bring a C up to a B, she deserves a pat on the back—or a surprise treat—too!
(Source: The Parent Institute, Middle School Parents Still Make the Difference newsletter, Feb. 2015, Vol. 18, No. 6.)
Elementary school and high school editions of the February newsletter are also available on vbschools.com. The same webpage includes monthly calendars that feature daily parent-child activities and “parent pointers.”