Huntington Learning Center: Your Student's First Report Card of the Year

Huntington Learning Centers
Published: September 23rd, 2013

ORADELL, NJ - (Marketwired - Sep 23, 2013) - The school year is in full swing now and your child will soon bring home his or her first report card of the school year. Use this as an opportunity to open the lines of communication with your child and his or her teacher and make positive strides forward for the rest of the year. "Many students and their parents dread report cards, but we encourage parents to use these tools to help their children," says Eileen Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Learning Center. When evaluating report cards, Huntington suggests that parents keep several things in mind:

• Getting angry is unproductive. If your child's report card is disappointing, it may be difficult to keep your emotions in check. However, remember that if you are upset, your child is probably even more so. Yelling and scolding will not help and will only add more stress to the situation. Take the time you need to privately deal with your own feelings before you approach your child to talk.
• Communication is critical. If the grades and remarks on the report card are a total surprise to you, perhaps it is time to improve your communication both with your child and his or her teacher. First, have an open, straightforward and non-judgmental conversation with your child about school. What does your child like about school? What subjects are difficult? Is there anything outside the classroom he or she is struggling with? Once you've talked with your child, arrange a meeting with the teacher. Identify the areas of the report card that concern you most and talk about what the teacher sees in the classroom. Ask for his or her advice on what steps to take next to make improvements and how you can best support your child at home. As you go forward, be sure to keep up good communication throughout the school year.
• It's not all bad. A report card full of poor grades may be disheartening, but pay attention to the positive signs that may be less obvious. Take note of improvements from last year and encouraging comments from teachers, for example. If this is difficult, find other ways to boost your child's self-esteem. Is your child creative? Is he or she passionate about helping others, including friends? Does he or she have a positive attitude, despite the struggles with which he or she is dealing?
• Surprises may be worth investigating further. Don't ignore new developments or signs of problems that you've not seen before, as your child may experience different challenges throughout his or her school career. In the beginning of a school year when students are learning many new skills, it isn't uncommon for problems to arise. A gap in skills, a faster paced class or a new teaching style can cause issues for students.

While report cards can be a source of stress for parents and students, Huntington reminds parents that they are meant to help. "The report card is full of important data about your child's progress in school as well as his or her study skills, strengths and weaknesses, behavior and more," says Huntington. "It's like an academic checkup that you can use to make decisions about your child's education."

If your child needs tutoring help to overcome any difficulties before they escalate, visit www.huntingtonhelps.com.

About Huntington Learning Center

Founded in 1977, Huntington is a pioneer and leader in the tutoring industry. For over 35 years, Huntington has provided quality instruction to hundreds of thousands of students. Huntington prides itself on being "Your Tutoring Solution" for students in all grades and subjects. They tutor in academic skills, such as reading, phonics, math and study skills; and in advanced math and science subjects ranging from algebra through calculus and general science through physics. They also prepare students for state and standardized entrance exams, such as high school entrance exams and the SAT and ACT and provide free school tutoring to eligible schools. Learn more about Huntington at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For information on franchise opportunities, visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

SOURCE: Huntington Learning Center

Contact:

Laura Gehringer
Director of Marketing and Advertising
Huntington Learning Center
(201) 261-8400 x 431
gehringerl@hlcmail.com