Grades Slipping in Middle School

My son is now in middle school. In the past, he has always done A/B work. Now he is bringing home D's and even F's on some of his quizzes and tests, along with his usual A's and B's. How can I help him get back on track? - Upset
Answer: More than likely, your son now has to deal with more teachers every day than he did in elementary school. It will take him some time to figure out exactly how each teacher operates and what his or her expectations are. Once he does, his grades should improve. He will find, however, that it will be necessary to work harder to achieve good grades, as the curriculum is more difficult at this level.
One of the easiest ways for good students to figure out why they received a poor grade on a quiz or test is simply to study it carefully. Your son should determine the right answer for each missed question. Then he needs to think about how he needs to prepare in the future in order to do better. Does the teacher expect him to be able to define new terms precisely? Should he be trying to learn specific names, dates or facts? Does spelling count? Did he follow directions?