Don’t put off telling your parents, either. You don’t want them to ask, “Why are you just telling me about this now?” or “Why didn’t you tell me as soon as you got the report card?"[2] X Research source
Tell them that you have some bad grades before showing them the actual report card. It’s easier to hear something than to see it in black and white, so the shock won’t be as jarring for them.
Don’t provide excuses. Refrain from saying things like, “My teacher is mean!” or “It’s not my fault!” Also, don’t lie or deny what the report card says by saying, “I didn’t know I was missing homework” or “I didn’t know I talked too much in class. “[4] X Research source Take responsibility for your actions. This shows your parents you are mature, responsible, and willing to improve.
Explain to your parents that you are not satisfied with your grade. This shows them that you are taking this very seriously. Don’t just tell your parents that you are going to do better - show them. Giving them a structured plan of how you aim to improve shows them you are serious about improving.
At the beginning of each school year, after a bad report card, or whenever you first think about it, you and your parents should get together and discuss what they expect your performance in school to be, what you expect your performance to be, and what you think you can achieve. This puts you and your parents on the same page, and gives you a mental idea of what you want to achieve. Keep in mind that doing well in school doesn’t mean perfect straight A’s. Not every student is a straight A student. For some students, their best is B’s or even C’s. Maybe an A in English is normal for you, but a C in math is an improvement. Strive to be the best you can be, but don’t have impossible goals for yourself. [7] X Research source Remember that as you move through school, the work will become more challenging. Don’t freak out if you start making B’s in a class you may have made A’s in as you move to middle and high school. If this happens to you, explain to your parents that geometry was easy, but algebra and trig are much more difficult for you. Tell your parents that physical science was easier than chemistry. [8] X Research source
One of the most important things to focus on are any academic achievements or improvements - no matter how small. Did you bring your grade up two points? Did you maintain your B average in science? Don’t let the bad grades erase all the good work you did that is reflected on your report card. Also evaluate your bad grade - are you and your parents unhappy with your C in history? Is that C an improvement over your grade last term? If so, focus on the improvement and vow to keep improving it since you already have!
Stay polite and respectful, even when you get frustrated. When your parents get your news, they may be shocked and a little angry, but don’t let yourself get defensive or angry in return. Be willing to take the punishments they throw at you like an adult.
Don’t get so discouraged and upset that you give up. Don’t tell your parents, “I can’t improve! I’m a loser! I’m stupid! This is impossible!” These types of thoughts aren’t encouraging to you or your parents. Start by giving yourself small goals if the end goal seems too unattainable. Try saying, “I will improve my next quiz and test grade by 5 or 10 points. " These small goals will add up to a noticeable larger improvement.
Suggest holding a parent-teacher conference where you are included. Talking to both your teacher and parents not only can help give you motivation and tips on how to improve, but it shows them that you are serious about your achievement. [10] X Research source Be thoughtful in how you present this argument. Your parents might assume that you’re trying to shift the blame, so give enough evidence to convince them that the teacher might be at least part of the problem.
Explaining difficult concepts in their own words. Sometimes teachers and textbooks phrase things in ways that are difficult to grasp. Maybe your parents, who know you and how your brain works, can explain things more clearly. Helping you make flash cards for yourself. Quizzing you. Going over your homework to make sure you didn’t make any errors, and helping you correct those errors. Giving you extra assignments outside of school to give you more practice on the concepts you’re struggling with. You need to understand that your parents are very busy, and they may not have as much time to spend on your homework as they’d like to. It’s ultimately your own responsibility to study for school, so be grateful to your parents for any extra help they can give you.
If a private tutor isn’t an option, consider asking a classmate who’s doing very well in the class to be your tutor. This way, you won’t feel like you’re working alone, and your parents won’t have to spend a ton of money on a tutor.
Keeping up with your assignments can also help you to identify any struggles you are having. If you suddenly got a bad grade on a quiz or a test, you and your parents can discuss what might be the problem and figure out how to correct it. This helps you deal with any difficulties you have in school before they become a huge problem.
Know what your grades are based on. Have you only had one test you failed, or have you had five tests that got bad grades this grading period? How many quizzes, tests, and homework assignments are included? You might also want to gather together some of your tests, quizzes, and homework so you can go over them with your parents. Another thing to think about is what kind of report card this is. Some schools give report cards every 9 weeks to show the student’s progress through the semester. These 9 week report card grades are not the ones that will be put down into your records; they can be improved. If your school does semester report cards, the report card you get that lists the grades for the entire semester is important because these are the grades that will go into your records and stay with you. Make sure you understand how your school does report cards and which ones are temporary and permanent.
You sit next to a friend and get easily distracted. You find the teacher boring and fall asleep in class. You like to relax or have fun after school instead of doing your homework and studying for tests. You don’t like the subject matter, so you don’t pay attention. You understand the material pretty well, but you have test anxiety that drags down your test scores. [14] X Research source You’re trying your best and paying attention, but you can’t keep up with the pace of the class. The teacher doesn’t prepare you well enough for the quizzes and exams. Are other people struggling in this class, too?
Ask if there is any extra credit you can earn through extra work. Ask what they think the problem is with your performance. Teachers have a lot of experience with struggling students; they might be able to see some problems in your performance that you wouldn’t even be able to recognize as problematic. Ask for advice on how to better understand the material.
Stay after school for tutoring with the teacher. Do the extra credit you discussed with your teacher. Devote more of your time at home to doing homework and studying for tests. Sit somewhere where you can’t see or talk to the friend who distracts you in class. Make sure you get enough sleep every night and eat a good breakfast that gives you the energy to stay awake all day. [17] X Research source Come up with a list of ways that the information covered in this class will be useful to you later in life. You may not want to be a mathematician when you grow up — maybe you want to be a writer. But you still need to get good grades in math to get into college!
The important thing is that you start your homework at the same time every single day. Routine is an important part of making studying a part of your life.
Report cards aren’t just about getting a grade. Report cards should reflect your hard work, improvement, and learning of the subject matter. You want to foster a love of learning, or at the least, an understanding about why learning and hard work is important.
