LITT How To Avoid The Report Card Surprise (NAPSA)—For many parents, the first report card of the year can bring about feelings of pride and happiness. For parents who are surprised by their child’s disappointing grades, it can produce feelings of anxiety and frustration. Fortunately, there are steps parents can take to make that surprise a happier one. “When a parent is surprised by a poor report card it often means they haven’t been staying informed about their child’s progress,” says Richard Bavaria, Ph.D., vice president of education for Sylvan Learning Center. “A continuous and open dialog among teachers, parents and students will help alleviate any concerns and enable parents to address areas of concern before they receive their child’s report card.” Sylvan Learning Centeroffers the following tips to help parents maintain clear communication with their child: Teach your child that education is important to your family. Discuss goals and objectives for the school year. This may be a great way to learn about difficulties your child is havingin specific subject areas. Talk about school every day. Make it a regular part of the family’s routine. Openly talk with her about her worries and concerns as well as her joys and achievements. Keeping an open dialog with children can help parents antici- pate a child’s grades. * Don’t wait for a report card to talk about school and grades. Frequently discuss how your child is doing in each subject and what grade he anticipates receiving. Talk with your child about her study habits and develop a study plan. Set aside specific time for studying and make sure that she has a properly equipped and well-lit area to work. Discuss extracurricular activities, such as team sports or after-school jobs. Being overscheduled mayaffect his grades. If your child is having trou- ble in school, talk about a method to help get organized. A calendar can help track tests, homework and activities. For additional ideas on communicating with teachersor for tips on writing, reading and making math fun, visit www.educate.com/tips or call 1-800-31-SUCCESS.
