Will Your Child's Report Card Be a Surprise?
Jun 12, 2008
End-of-year report cards are almost here…with their arrival comes the potential for shocking and unpleasant revelations.
Report cards are generally upheld as the ultimate indicator of student progress—after all, they are the final word on a child’s academic progress in the school year—but the wait and the wondering about what the report card will reveal can be very stressful to both kids and parents alike.
In an attempt to remove the wondering and the unpleasant surprises from the reporting process, school boards across the US have implemented online programs such as EdLine, to help parents monitor their children’s daily academic standing.
According to an article in the New York Times called I Know What You Did Last Math Class these programs open the lines of communication and to keep parents informed at every possible opportunity throughout the school year, not just when report cards arrive.
The reporting technology fuels the debate about a parent’s level of involvement and what is or isn’t private in a child’s education. As you might expect, responses to programs that allow parents to monitor their child’s progress online vary from one end of the spectrum to the other.
Keeping informed of your child’s academic progress however is not dependent solely on new online technologies—there are many other warning signs throughout the year which signal that a student may be heading into academic hot water.
There are the newer technology or web-based indicators; school blogs, teacher sites, and class webpages where parents can log on and read what particular assignment a class is working on now. There are behavioral indications—bad attitudes about school, lack of motivation, lying, skipping classes; and there are the more obvious warnings—a poor mark on a test, homework not completed, or even the dreaded a call from the teacher.
Regardless of any warning signs that may have been missed during the school year, the end-of-year report card is the final update. And while it may be the end of the road for progress in the school year, it doesn’t mean that all hope for the academic future is lost.
After all, there is still the summer to get the kids back on track, even if there is no online monitoring program.
More on that next time.
Comments(5)
Find this article online at: www.oxfordlearning.com/letstalk/2008/jun/12/report-card-suprise/
B - Jun 23, 2008
As always, the rich can afford to ensure their children get the best. Education included. Where does this leave a single Mother working full-time who's 'LD' labelled child is steadilly falling behind in a school system that isn't listening? Doesn't Oxford offer adjusted pricing? If not, why?
DC - Jun 26, 2008
I totally empathize with "B"s situation. I am wondering whether I can afford to help my child too. Oxford does look like it does some good work for children's learning, but unless the government can support these private businesses (highly unlikely!) I'm not sure if there is an answer! All I can say is that we need to let our MPPs know that we need more funding for education and special ed teachers. Or allow us to claim tutoring for LD kids as a medical expense for a tax credit. Otherwise, look for another public school that can offer a little more support and figure out how to get your child over there.
anita - Sep 23, 2008
how do i see my childs report card
Nathalie - Oct 28, 2008
I am a single mom too, and it is not easy to deal with a child who is falling behind in school. What I can say is now, there is many fun site where a parent and a child can play together and make it more fun. I reduce some expenses so that I can afford sending my child to Oxford, and what I can tell you is that the expense is worth millions. Just remember, you are investing on the success of your child. You are given him or her tools to succeed that are beyond. My child is a teenager now, started Oxford this year and I just had wished I knew about the programm when she was in junior school. Just to let you know, she was assessed as a 4th grader and now she is performing at her level, Sec 2. In less than 5 months she reached her level. Saddly, we cannot change the school system but I am not letting it affect the success of my child.
JASMINE - Apr 1, 2009
HOW DO I LOOK AT MY CHILDS REPORT CARD
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