This is the season for celebration, as we commemorate the end of our first trimester and prepare for our winter holidays.

On Friday, December 11, your child will be bringing home his/her first report card for the 2015-2016 school year. Report cards are a way for schools to formally record your child’s progress toward required learning goals and performance expectations.

As a reminder, there are two important sections to the report cards. The first is the academic section, indicating whether your child is learning at or above grade level (3 or 4), slightly below grade level (2), or significantly below grade level (1), based on district criteria and Common Core/Washington State Learning Standards.

The second important section of the report card is “Lifelong Learning Skills”. Our goal is for all students to earn marks demonstrating that they consistently produce quality work, show respect, practice self-control, problem solve, follow directions and complete assignments on time. It is important to stress effort and personal development/work habits when discussing the report with your child, as these habits greatly contribute toward academic growth in school.

I encourage you to take some time as a family to carefully review and discuss this trimester’s progress, as documented on the report card—and to utilize the opportunity to reflect upon strengths and establish goals. Here are some tips for talking about report cards with your child:

  • Ask your child how he/she thinks he/she did. This opens up the dialogue, and allows them to celebrate their efforts. It also sets the tone for you to hear what your child is feeling and has to say.
  • If a teacher comments on your child’s chattiness or inability to listen, don’t set yourself up for an argument. Instead of asking why, consider asking “What makes you think the teacher feels you have trouble listening?” Getting your child to explain from the teacher’s point of view enables him or her to think about how his/her actions are being interpreted.
  • Offer specific praise and encouragement instead of broad statements. Try: “You worked very hard on learning your addition facts,” instead of “Great job in math.” This promotes value for the process of learning.
  • Handle praise with care. If your child consistently brings home amazing report cards, it may be difficult to know what to say. “Good job” loses it meaning and has almost no effect. Consider reminding your child how he/she got those grades.
  • “I’m not surprised you have all these great grades on your report card. I saw you working very hard this trimester and it looks like it’s paid off. I bet you feel very proud!  (Skidmore, 2012)

Thank you for your continued support. We’re proud of all our Falcons for their efforts this trimester.

Falcons Soar,

Kris Janati