The Poor Report Card: What It Means and How to Handle It

Key points

A report card from school can have a big impact on how a parent feels about how they are doing as a parent.

Talking it through with a partner is the best way to clear your emotions before you speak with your child.

It is best to support your student by partnering with his teachers, as all attend to his learning issues.

Walter was distraught. He had spent the morning at his son Jake's sixth-grade fall conferences. He was trying his best to understand his son's less-than-average performance in math, English and social studies. It sounded like Jake’s teachers were making excuses for his son when they spoke of his inattention and disorganization. For Walter, this meant his son was a loser, just lazy and distracted by childish interests. Yet at the same time, he couldn't help but