General Education And Grades

What is a "report card"?

A report card is a progress report that is distributed to parents at various times throughout the year to inform the parent of the child's progress in school.

What do the various grades mean?

Although grading systems vary from one school district to the next, a typical grading scale consists of the grades A,B,C,D,E or F. An "A" typically represents excellent work. A "B" typically stands for outstanding work. A "C" typically denotes satisfactory work. A "D" typically means that a student is in danger of failing. And an "E" or an "F" typically represents failure.

What do teachers base their grades on?

Teachers base their grades on student performance, and that student performance can be assessed in many ways. It can include teacher observations, student work, homework, class assignments, special projects and, of course, classroom tests or formal assessments.

Is it OK to "bribe" my children to get better grades?

There are many ways to encourage a child to raise his or her grades; rewards are an excellent way to reward a student for doing well to celebrate the success and acomplishment that they have made, but it's also important for us to realize that children need to have a self-motivation or intrinisic motivation if they're going to succeed ultimately in life. It's important that adults help a child to recognize that setting a goal and working hard to reach that goal is a reward in and of itself, so depending on your child's personality, bribes may or may not be that good an idea.

Do grades really matter in elementary school?

Yes, grades do matter in elementary school. Grades are a way to monitor student performance and student progress. It denotes how a student is progressing throughout the school year. If a student is not doing well in elementary school it means that they may not be able to master some of the more complex concepts and subjects later on in school.

What should I do if my child tells me his grade is "wrong"?

If your child believes that a grade is wrong, it is important that you first contact the school, and specifically your child's teacher, to verify this information. Depending on what the teacher says and what information they give, it might be an important time to schedule a parent-teacher conference to discuss the information in further detail.