Making Sense of Children's Report Cards

We will be getting our children's first report cards soon. What do we need to pay attention to on them? - Report Card Time
Answer: By now, you probably have attended a back-to-school night, so you have a general idea about the expectations your children's teachers have for this coming school year. The first report card will give you an idea of how well your children are meeting those expectations.
Report cards need to be studied carefully. They are records that tell how your children are doing now compared with previous years, as well as where they excel and where they have problems. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to interpret report cards. If you are not certain about what a C grade indicates or what satisfactory means, it is a great topic to discuss with the teacher at the parent-teacher conference, which should be occurring soon. Plus, does your child's B in math mean he or she is meeting a goal or simply trying hard? Fortunately, high-school grades are usually easier for parents to understand because schools tend to stick to letter grades or percentages.
When you look at your children's grades, consider these points: A straight-A student might need a more challenging curriculum. B grades in the lowest math and reading groups do not reflect the same level of achievement as B's in the top groups. Comments can be valuable clues that give additional meaning to children's grades, especially if they cover specific issues. If your children's report-card grades are a big surprise to you, start studying their work more closely.
While you shouldn't obsess over grades, they are important. At all levels, they can be a major factor in placement in ability groups or special classes. If your children receive any unsatisfactory grades, you must talk to them and their teachers about the causes.