What's a healthy attitude for parents to adopt toward grades and report cards? I go from the extreme of praising too much to getting angry over a grade falling from a B to a C. - Seeking Balance
Answer: First of all, you should expect daily grades to fluctuate. Very few students consistently do A, B, C, D or even F classroom work. Nevertheless, quiz, homework, workbook and daily work grades do give a good picture over time of how well a child is generally doing. In the same way, chapter and unit test grades show whether a larger body of material has not only been mastered but also remembered. If you are well aware of the type of daily grades and test grades your child is receiving, report cards should not hold any huge surprises for you.
It's certainly inappropriate to go overboard on praise for every good grade your child brings home. This puts simply too much emphasis on grades. Praise can even be damaging if it is overblown. A favorable comment, however, is appropriate at all grade levels for a job well done. Children do appreciate recognition of their efforts. Avoid lavish praise of your child's abilities: "You're so smart." Try instead to focus on accomplishment or effort: "You have mastered the multiplication tables." "Spending so much time on your homework last night certainly paid off."
One bad grade on a quiz or test is not a disaster. If you make it one, your child might become very reluctant to show any work to you. Remember, it often takes children time to master new skills. Be patient; offer help if your child wants it. What children have trouble with on Monday might be mastered by Friday or in a few weeks. If daily grades or report-card grades truly slump in a subject, don't go ballistic. It is, however, definitely time to make contact with a teacher. A child might only need some brief help to get back on track.
Finally, if you can't balance your reaction to your child's grades on daily work or report cards, try looking them over by yourself before commenting on them with your child. Then you should be able to take the middle road of sensible praise or helpful advice if there are problems.