February 10, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 15 Whether your child brings home a straight-A report card or one that is discouraging, Stacey Garfinkel of Huntington Learning Center of Ridgewood urges parents to spend sufficient time reading the report card and talking openly about it. “Report cards present critical information about your child as a student: skill proficiency, work habits, progress toward grade-level standards, and more,” Garfinkel said. “Think of it as a periodic academic checkup, and use the knowledge gained to help your child stay the course or improve in areas where he or she is struggling.” Garfinkel offers parents the following tips at midyear report card time: Go through the report card on your own before talking with your child. Reacting strongly to a bad report card in front of your child will likely make him or her feel worse, and may exacerbate the problem. Take time by yourself to read your child’s report card from start to finish, reading all teacher comments and identifying patterns of improvement or decline in all subjects. Approach all conversations with your child about school calmly and with a positive attitude about how you can work together to address any issues. Congratulate effort and progress. Remember to praise your child for the hard work and persistence it took to earn that high grade, rather than only acknowledge the achievement itself. Alternately, on a report card with lesser marks, Use report cards as a tool to help your child succeed be sure to point out any encouraging comments or signs, instead of focusing entirely on the bad. Take notice when your child improves a grade or makes a positive change (such as finishing homework early or staying organized). Address “easy” subjects, too. High marks across the board may make you proud, but be sure to talk to your child about how he or she feels about each subject. Does he or she describe school as boring or too easy? If you notice that your student spends very little time on homework and consistently receives report card grades that indicate he or she is at or above proficiency standards, talk with his or her teacher to ensure your child is being appropriately challenged. Partner with your child’s teacher. All teachers welcome parental involvement, and the more in touch you are with your child’s teacher, the better it is for your child. Check in with the teacher throughout the school year and ask him or her for suggestions to keep your child on track. At report card time, schedule a time to speak to your child’s teacher to clarify any comments and gain more insight into your child’s progress. Pay attention to habits and behavior at home. To make the most of your relationship with your child’s teacher, you will want to share your own observations of your child. What does your child say about school? Does he or she seem focused and interested in learning? What concerns Lynn’s Pet Care Going on vacation? Away for the weekend? Work long hours away from home? We’ll care for your pets when you can’t. Please call 201-493-8442 Lynnspetcare18@Yahoo.com 4 Out of 5 Ain’t Bad! One of my SAT Verbal-Writing tutorial students got into four out of five colleges he applied to…including his target school. College counseling too… do you have about his or her listening skills, attention span, or attitude? Foster open communication with your child. Children who are having difficulties in school often feel angry and frustrated, and the last thing they want to do is talk about it more with a parent. Approach the situation delicately, and let your child know that you want to help fix the problem. Talk to your child about school often: about the subjects he or she enjoys and those he or she does not. When your child does open up, listen carefully and avoid rushing to judgment. Report cards are meant to help you stay informed of your child’s progress in school, but Garfinkel advises parents to keep the report card in perspective. “It’s understandable for parents to be concerned, even panicked, when their child brings home a poor report card, but keep in mind that the report card is a tool for parents,” said Garfinkel. “A bad grade does not mean your child will never succeed. What it means is that there is something going on, and you should investigate. With support and help, your child can become a better and much happier student.” For more information about Huntington Learning Center in Ridgewood, contact Stacey Garfinkel at (201) 447-1200. Founded in 1977, Huntington Learning Center is the nation’s longest-running supplemental education services provider. Today they continue to be an industry leader providing instruction in reading, writing, spelling, phonics, mathematics, study skills, and SAT and ACT preparation to tens of thousands of students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Huntington’s programs help parents, caregivers, and educators identify the gaps in skills and knowledge that can limit learning potential. Huntington’s personalized programs of instruction enable children to excel. 201-445-1343 • $60 per hour. Break the Highway Trend! ...not your community’s back. Local businesses are the backbone of your community and the trend to shop the big guys on the highway hurts us all.Your local businesses have what you want... at the right price... and close to home. So, why hassle with the highways? Save Time! Save Gas! Save Money! SAVE YOUR COMMUNITY! We Need You SHOP LOCALLY. IT’S SMART. ...and besides, it’s so convenient!