Making the most of the new progress report

Your child has recently received a new Progress Report. If it reports some difficulties you may have known that your child was struggling, but did not realize the extent of their troubles. Or maybe you were hoping that this time it would be different, and he or she would do better. The Progress Report is part of a larger support strategy that makes you an active participant in your child’s education. Let’s get the most out of your child’s Progress Report and learn exactly what to look for so you can help them get on track for success at school now, and for years to come.

Read all comments carefully. The comments written for a given subject may give an explanation for the grade received. If your child is not “Progressing Very Well”, a missed assignment or a high number of absences, rather than a difficulty with the subject itself, could be the reason. The comments can sometimes be technical and difficult to understand since they speak to specific curriculum objectives so be sure to write down any questions you have and ask your child’s teacher to clarify.

Look for clues in language skills to get to the root of a reoccurring problem. Language skills need to be strong in order to think about all other areas of curriculum. If you child is “Progressing with Difficulty” in reading and writing, all other class marks will likely follow suit. If reading comprehension is weak, for example, your child will most certainly have trouble understanding what is being taught in Science or History. If this is the case, building language skills should be a goal for your child. Discuss with the teacher how you can work together to help your child develop these skills. Once language skills are at an appropriate level, your child should experience more success in all other classes.

Carefully consider your child’s learning skills and work habits. Like language skills, learning skills are crucial for school success. Look to the ‘Learning Skills’ section of the Progress Report for the keys to your child’s success or struggles. Skills such as: responsibility, organization, independent work, collaboration, initiative, and self-regulation will be necessary for success regardless of the subject. A ‘needs improvement’ or ‘satisfactory’ score in any of these areas implies a bigger problem that will need to be addressed.

Once you have identified why your child is struggling to get higher grades, you can move forward to get them the help they need. Speak with the teacher to see if support can be offered through the school. If reoccurring or new difficulties are holding your child back it’s time to consider help from a good supplemental education program outside of school.

Oxford Learning can help you interpret a Progress Report, figure out the root of a child’s difficulty and help your child build the academic and learning skills they need to succeed in school.  Visit oxfordlearning.com for the location nearest you and call Oxford today to get the help you and your child may need.