It's report card time!! I'm busy reading through the report cards of each child in the school today. Grades are a funny thing. Did you know that grading student work is a 1792 invention? Prior to that, students received feedback on their learning, but there was no 'letter' grade assigned to their work. There is actually a very active movement to remove grading from education altogether. I'm sure that some students and teachers wouldn't mind one bit!!!
Earlier this year I shared a video clip on 'growth mindsets'. It highlighted the huge difference between telling a student that they were really good at something, or if they had worked really hard at something. http://youtu.be/NWv1VdDeoRY
So, how can we take this new research and apply it to our reporting of how things are going at school? As you prepare to read your child's report card, prepare yourself also for how you will use that information going forward. The central purpose of the report card is to encourage growth in learning. Develop a plan forward on how to improve, how to challenge your kids in their learning, and how to encourage them and praise them for their efforts.
- If your child is doing well, make sure you praise them for their effort, not for how good they are at something. (see video link above!!)
- If your child is struggling, make sure you use this as an opportunity to encourage them in their strengths and develop plans to improve where they need assistance.
- If your child needs motivation to re-engage in their learning, make a plan to communicate regularly with the teacher and to find ways to encourage your child in their work at school.
Your response to your child's report card carries the potential to spur forward their learning and encourage growth. Together, we can work to make sure grades don't kill education!!!
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