How To Bounce Back From Bad Grade
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How to handle a rough report card - Episode 061
It’s report card time and if you’re here, your child has probably scored low this semester or is almost on the verge of failing. What can I do to help my child rebound from a bad grade? We will look at what to do, and what NOT to do if your child receives a bad report card.
Don’t Attack the School Counselor or Teacher
If you’re like most parents and have faced situations where your kids are struggling with grades, your first tendency is likely to run into the counselor’s office.
Maybe you have sent long emails to your child’s school counselor, hoping they will let your kid drop the class they’re struggling in. In most cases, the response turns out to be negative. Dropping the class is rarely the right answer.
Before you do any of these things, you need to make sure you’re on top of the situation with your kid. Do you understand why they’re failing a quarter? What are the subjects they’re struggling with? It could be that your kid isn’t simply doing the homework and neglecting the subject. It is possible they have regularly turned their homework in, but do it carelessly, so when the time for actual test comes, they end up running into a tricky situation.
You need to first understand exactly why your child is struggling at school. Is it the teaching method? Maybe it’s the organization of the notes. If you keep checking on their progress at regular intervals, their grades shouldn’t come as a shock to you at the end of the semester. We tackle how to monitor your child’s grades without losing your mind in this episode of School Counselor Gone Rogue.
Once you have gathered the information about your child’s progress, share your thoughts (politely) with the teacher. Feel free to CC the school counselor on the email to keep them in the loop, in case a meeting is needed, but the teacher has the daily interaction with your child.
Extra word of caution: Be prepared for little Sally’s version of the story to not align with the teacher’s version of events. As parents, we want to believe the version of the story that makes our children and our parenting seem awesome...but sometimes we have to acknowledge the possibility that our kiddo’s made mistakes.
Does Your Child Need a Tutor?
Does your child need a tutor for the subject? If the problem lies in the teaching method or their innate distaste for the subject, the natural step is to suggest tutoring. But, most kids don’t take well to tutors either, for they believe they won’t be any more helpful than their school teacher.
The solution might be to strike up a deal with them. If they correct the slide of their grades and behavior- no tutor is needed. But, if you start to see them falling behind they will have to listen to you and go for regular tutoring classes.
Of course, we should take note of the fact that tutoring might not be a viable option for everyone. It could be economic or transport reasons. In such a scenario, our advice would be to ask the school if they could provide extra resources. The school claims they want your child to do well, then they should be able to provide options to overcome obstacles, especially when you’re the one they’re going to call if your child isn’t doing well.
The one thing I encourage parents to do when looking into resources, is to ask for their kid’s input. If you’re going to be hiring a tutor for them, let them talk to the tutor first. You don’t want them miserable and barely tolerating their tutor. The only thing that’s going to do is affect their grades negatively.
Dealing With the Shock of a Bad Report Card
We understand seeing your kid’s grades fall can be a huge shock. You might feel mad at yourself by not checking up on them properly. On the other hand, your child could be scared of your reaction, even if they don’t show it and act like they don’t care.
Your first reaction, in this case, can be explosive. You might not be in the right frame of mind and it can lead to screaming matches. You want them to understand your concern and be helpful to them, but your way of saying it isn’t matching up because of pent up anger.
Take a deep breathe first. Think about how to approach your kid carefully and exactly what would be the best way to broach the subject. You know your kid more than anyone and you should know what works for them. Sort out a plan first.
If you have another parental figure in the house, make sure you’re on the same page with the person. You don’t want to be in disagreement, considering this will give your child an opening to work you against each other.
It’s fine to ask for help from other parents as well. If you have a group of parents you know, seek them out on how to approach your kids. We know some kids’ parents have it better than others. It might appear that their child is good at everything. However, chances are, the child hasn’t gotten so good without some work behind it.
Take their advice and see if you can incorporate it into your child’s situation.
In Closing
Failing a quarter isn’t the end of everything. One out of so many report cards won’t determine your kid’s future. Remember, if you can get your child to bounce back by the last semester, the overall grade can make up for all those failures.
Encourage your child when they start to do better. Take care of what they’re struggling with while praising them for the subjects they’re doing well in. Properly celebrate their achievements.
Don’t end it with a pat on the back. Point out how far behind they were the previous semester and how far they’ve come. This will motivate your child to set new goals for them.
When your child finally gets the grade both of you have been aiming for, do the cabbage patch! Remember, bad grades can always be bounced back from.
Listen to the full episode for more tips and front line stories of the transition to middle school. You can subscribe to the show on iTunes, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Googleplay, or Iheartradio or visit http://www.schoolcounselorgonerogue.com each week for the full episode (though let’s be honest, subscribing is so much easier!)
You can also sign up for the waitlist for The Organized School Year at teampasch.com/theorganizedschoolyear. It’s an intensive workshop to help your child create and implement an organization system that meets their needs.
Sign up for the waitlist here!
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Highlights
How to respond when your child is failing a class
What to do when you receive a progress report
How to help when your child struggles at school
Products I Suggest this Week
Marni Pasch| Host of School Counselor Gone Rogue| Academic Coach | Team Pasch Academic Coaching
I work with students in grades 6th and higher, who struggle with academic confidence and motivation. I help them survive school with less stress by helping them create concrete goals, tackle procrastination and learn creative study techniques. I empower students to take charge of their education and reach their goals. I do this through individual or group coaching so students achieve success in life, school, career readiness and their social endeavors. I provided in person academic coaching in Orlando, FL, but work with students across the country through Zoom!
