Bad grades in the school report – and now?
The first half of the school year is already over. The mid-year report cards have been handed out. For some children, it is no big deal – the goals were achieved, the grades are satisfactory or even exceed expectations. For others, however, the mid-year report card is a big disappointment. Despite efforts and endeavors, the desired grades were not achieved. This leads to frustration and even worse: demotivation. Why study at all if it’s not enough to get the good grades?
Empowering children with a strengths list
The disappointment of bad grades reduces students of strength and energy. Motivation drops and perhaps also self-confidence, which is why it is important to strengthen the children again. Because one’s own strengths are like a safe haven to which one can return. In that harbor, one can regain strength and self-confidence. Caroline von St. Ange (education activist and education influencer) says, “Our strengths are something like superpowers, if we build on them, no one can stop us.”
To build on the strengths, she has prepared a special list: the strengths list from A to Z (in German). The idea: write a letter to your own child, list ten strengths and name each strength with concrete examples:
“That you are … (strength), I noticed when you … (situation).
I always notice with … (situation) how …(strength) you are.
When you … (situation), I noticed how much … (strength) you have.”
What to say when there were bad grades?
Behind every report card, no matter what the grades look like, is effort. What children learn is that, despite my effort, I got bad grades. So it doesn’t help at all that I make an effort. But you can make it clear to your child: Of course your child has learned something – no matter what the grades look like! Your child has made progress! Your child has made an effort and made an effort. And if it continues in the same way, then the good grades will also come! It is important that the child knows: “Every time I try hard, I get ahead!“.
So what can you say to your child? “I know how much effort you put in! I saw how hard you tried. I’m sorry that the good grade didn’t come right away. I understand that you’re not feeling well right now. I am with you, we are going through this together! You are not alone! Effort is rewarded sooner or later, but usually later.
Filling in gaps in knowledge:
School care often rests on the shoulders of one parent: checking homework, checking whether class tests are due, reminding children to study, checking school material… In quite a few cases, this leads to conflicts between the school child and the parent. Our tips:
- If possible, involve the second parent (or grandparents, uncles, aunts…). Because when frustration is high, emotions also boil over quickly. In the first step, it makes sense to take a break from learning. In the second step, it’s great if someone else can take over the subject. Maybe the aunt has a great grasp of math? Or the grandfather has a great way of quizzing vocabulary?
- Tutoring can be the solution: While it used to be group tutoring with long-term contracts, there are now mainly one-on-one lessons with individual support. Tutors can concentrate on the individual child. Tutoring is particularly effective when the content is coordinated with the school teacher. And when the tutor can bring back the fun and joy of learning.
We at Viva Familienservice are happy to recommend our partner Lernigo (in German). On Lernigo.de you can find your personal tutor. They are not only professionally fit, but also have the ability to respond to the individual needs of the student when teaching the content. Tutoring then takes place on a one-to-one basis – whether on-site or online. In the online learning environment, textbooks and study materials can be shared and notes can be taken together with the tutor. Past tutoring sessions are also available for viewing afterwards. As a partner of Lernigo, we can offer our customers a 40 Euro discount when booking a tutor. To do so, please use the form on the website.
