It’s one of the most common issues for parents of high schoolers – finding ways to help their children get better grades. Maybe your child has been struggling with a few classes, or maybe they just aren’t quite reaching their full academic potential. Regardless of the situation, there are several effective high school grade improvement options available.
Find a High-Quality Local Tutor
A local tutor is one of the best ways to help your child learn more effectively and get better grades. There’s simply no substitute for the kind of personalized, one-on-one attention that a tutor can provide.
When your child is in class, their teacher’s attention is divided among a large group of students. As much as a teacher may want to help every student, the simple fact is that they can’t provide much individual attention to one student without neglecting others. A tutor, on the other hand, can give your child their full attention and build tutoring sessions around your child’s learning needs. If you’re serious about high school grade improvement for your child, the first thing you should do is look for a tutor in your area.
Don’t give up if you can’t find any local tutors for your child. There are plenty of online tutoring options available, as well. With video chat technology, your child can still get the tutoring experience even if their tutor isn’t in the same room with them. Expand your tutor search to the internet when necessary and you’ll have no shortage of options.
Check Their Homework
Reviewing your child’s homework is important for two reasons: you can make sure that your child is completing all their homework, and you can look for areas where your child is struggling with the material. You may be able to spot potential problems in advance and discuss them with your child.
Get in Touch with Teachers and Guidance Counselors
Talking to people at your child’s school is a great way to figure out what specific difficulties your child is having and how they can improve. Start by contacting teachers for any subjects where your child is struggling. You can either talk to them over the phone or request an in-person parent/teacher conference. Ask the teacher what suggestions they have on how your child can improve their performance.
If you feel that there could be an issue with the teacher, such as a teacher who’s not providing enough support for your child, then you should contact your child’s guidance counselor. Explain what you think the problem is and see what solutions the counselor proposes.
Keep in mind that every staff member at your child’s school wants the best for them just like you do. When you communicate with teachers and guidance counselors about your concerns, they should be able to help solve any issues.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is by far the best way to motivate your child regarding their grades. Putting too much pressure on your child about school or reacting negatively when they get a bad grade causes stress. It’s better to encourage them and reward them for doing well.
Talk to Your Child
There may be something else going on that’s impacting your child’s performance in school. They may be experiencing bullying, rejection by a person or group, or something else. While high schoolers don’t always like to talk about their problems, you can often get your child to open up with a little gentle digging. Ask them questions about their life, and don’t focus completely on their grades. If there’s something else troubling your child, solving that issue could be all that was needed to improve their grades.
Set Realistic Goals
Having a goal to work towards is helpful for people of all ages. You can set long-term goals, such as a specific grade at the end of the semester, and short-term goals, including specific results on homework assignments, tests, or quizzes your child has that week. It’s wise to include a mix of long-term and short-term goals so your child can accumulate smaller milestones that they feel good about over the course of the semester.
