Contact: Dr.
Dennis ShawCenter
Director
Huntington Learning Center of Ankeny
515-965-3864
email: ShawD@hlc.com
Huntington Learning Center of Ankeny
515-965-3864
email: ShawD@hlc.com
Center specific
Huntington web address:https://www.facebook.com/HuntingtonAnkeny
Ankeny,
Iowa 50021
Huntington Learning
Center Offers Tips for Parents at Midyear Report Card Time
Ankeny,
Iowa 50021 – The New Year is upon
us, which means that it’s also time for midyear report cards. For
many families, report cards can stir up stressful emotions,
particularly if their children are struggling with one or more school
subjects. But Dr. Dennis Shaw of the Ankeny Huntington Learning
Center reminds parents that the midyear report card should be used as
a tool to identify issues and seek help to address them during the
remainder of the school year. “If your child’s report card
highlights new areas of concern or problems that troubled your child
last year as well, the key is not to dwell on the weaknesses, but
rather, develop a plan of action,” says Dr. Shaw. As for what to
look for, he/she suggests paying attention to the following items:
Progress (or lack thereof) – When
comparing your child’s current report card with the end-of-year
report card from last year, take note of any areas where your child’s
performance has declined significantly. Similarly, look for areas
where your child has made slight or notable gains. Make sure to
arrange a time to talk with the teacher about these changes and how
you can support your child.
Grade-level benchmarks – Most
report cards measure students’ acquisition of grade-level standards
throughout the school year. Pay attention to the growth indicators
and how your child is performing this point in the school year. There
might be new expectations that did not appear on the first midterm
report card of the year.
Higher-order thinking skills –
Today’s education system emphasizes not just fundamental
academic skills, but also the thinking skills that are necessary to
learn effectively: reasoning, problem solving and application skills,
for example. Take note of all such measures and seek the teacher’s
input on the best ways for you to help your child practice and
strengthen these aptitudes.
Study skills – It’s so
important for students to be equipped with strong study skills, which
foster effective learning. Look for remarks about and assessments of
your child’s attitude, time management skills, organizational
skills and other executive functioning aptitudes. Take note of any
areas that address your child’s persistence as well, as the
combination of good study skills and hard work should yield positive
results.
Teacher remarks – If the
teacher included any specific comments about your child’s efforts,
behavior or progress, read these comments carefully and compare them
to your own observations about your child’s school performance.
The midyear report card is a critical
progress check on children’s growth and success in school, and Dr.
Shaw encourages parents to give it the
attention it deserves. “By now, children should be making major
strides toward the goals and standards set for them and it’s
important to intervene if they are not,” he
says. “If your child’s midyear report card brings problems
to light—new or longstanding—call Huntington for help. We can
discuss your concerns and schedule a diagnostic evaluation of your
child’s strengths and weaknesses. With that data, we can pinpoint
exactly where your child is struggling and develop a customized
program of instruction that will get him or her back on track this
spring.”
