How to Talk to Your Teen About Grades
Grades become highly important once your teen is in high school. These grades will be judged for post-secondary admission, hence why they are very important. Despite this, you must remind your teen that their grades do not define them. As a parent, you should help your teen find a balance between panicking from stress and the individual responsibility they must accept for their academics. When it comes to grades, your teen may not always share them with you. This is why utilizing the apps that their school provides is a great way to view grades and assignments. These apps are best to resort to when interested in the progress of your teen’s grades. Your teen may feel pressured with constant conversations about how their grades are. Having access to these apps allows you to only get involved when necessary. This can include when their test score is low or an outstanding assignment.
Report cards can often be a stressful time for teens and the moments leading up to when they are released. When receiving your teen’s report card, there are a few important steps you should follow when reviewing it with them. First, if there was a grade that was lower than expected, a plan should be made on how to improve it. This could mean finding what assignment, test or topic brought it down. If they are unable to identify why it was low, encourage them to help them understand with their teacher. Second, if you find your teen is spending a large portion of their time on particular assignments or classes, they may not have the fundamentals down and need more practice. This is where extra help from tutoring can come in handy.
Preparing your teen for a better report card next time is highly important. There are a few important steps to do so. First, you should ensure their organizational and time management skills are high. If not, show your teen how to organize their schoolwork with binders, calendars, and planners. Teach them how to set time limits or recommended durations to complete assignments. Second, you should ensure your teen has found a dedicated, quiet, and uncluttered space to complete work and study. This helps them feel more comfortable and confident when completing school tasks.
It is essential for parents to be their teens primary support system. Without proper encouragement and empowerment, teenagers can often feel isolated and discouraged. Be the person they go to for advice in school. Create a safe and positive environment for them to feel comfortable communicating issues and concerns with you.
-Shaylynn (High School Student)
