I say this as a teacher, a mother, and a grandmother: It's good that your child got their first C in 4th grade. Fourth grade grades mean very little and there are no lasting consequences. This experience allows your child to learn that they currently need to either put more effort in, step up responsibility (maybe they weren't finishing or turning in work), or ask for help because a current skill is challenging them. This is a lesson that will serve them well in the future. They got a C, they survived it, and they (hopefully) do what they need to do to go back to their usual higher grades. Honestly, some skills are going to be more challenging than others and it's likely your child just hit a bump. It definitely is not something to lose sleep over.

What's more important to you? The grade or learning the material? You wouldn't want her to cheat to get As would you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader who are both very interested in their own grades and each other’s grades. I tell them that grades are a signal to let us know where learning is going smoothly and where you may need more help. Your daughter probably needs some help with math. I strongly dislike it when parents act like their kids get mediocre grades on purpose. Some kids may not know how to properly learn the material, but they are not getting bad grades on purpose!

We have a 7th grader and have to remind ourselves that he doesn’t have the experience to know how to study. We suggested that he review his past tests and quizzes for a unit test, paying attention to the things he got wrong. He was like “that is a good idea.” He came home after taking the unit test and seemed to be genuinely surprised that past test and quizzes informed the unit test. After that we focused more on telling him about the basics of studying and preparing. It is all new to the kids.

Which is why I say talk to your child and ask what is going on. Talk to the Teacher and see what is going on. Support in the areas that is needed.

Oh please. What kind of third rate schools are you people sending your kids to? Are you trying to say that you needed to “suggest” how study for a test? That he never knew that? And he was surprised that the past tests and quizzes would lead up to the unit test?

Learning how to study and prepare is a long process taught starting in elementary school and up to high school. It shouldn’t be new to a 7th grader.

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader who are both very interested in their own grades and each other’s grades. I tell them that grades are a signal to let us know where learning is going smoothly and where you may need more help. Your daughter probably needs some help with math. I strongly dislike it when parents act like their kids get mediocre grades on purpose. Some kids may not know how to properly learn the material, but they are not getting bad grades on purpose!

You're a great parent. This is also how we approach grades. So we praise, praise, praise for the effort scores because that is really important, and then for the actual skills scores, we know what our kids have to work on and find them support with those things. One of them had a reading tutor for years and finally caught up to grade level and gets good grades now, the other has a math tutor and grades are improving.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has been on the honor roll her entire school career. recently she received her first C, which was in math.

If you have high academic standards for your kids, how do address lackluster grades?

You talk to her teacher to find out what’s going on and how to support your kid’s learning. This isn’t that difficult.

+1 and if it's an ongoing issue, you hire a tutor. My kids' school doesn't do letter grades, but my child got the equivalent and we hired a tutor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I care more about effort than grades. Did she try her hardest?

This is a terrible mentality and will set them up for failure later.

This is the CORRECT mentality. It’s the only one that truly supports the child.

If she tried her hardest and got a C, then what else do you want her to do? How do you try harder than your hardest? And how do you get a kid to do that without damaging them?

I teach. I see what happens when parents push children to be people they aren’t. I’m the one who sits in the hallway with them, tissues in hand.

This might seem a little out there, but if this is uncharacteristic for her, can she see the board ok? The only C I ever got was in fourth grade math, and it was because I needed glasses! My mom figured it out, and once I got them, everything was fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has been on the honor roll her entire school career. recently she received her first C, which was in math.

If you have high academic standards for your kids, how do address lackluster grades?

I tell them that C’s get degrees. Because they do.

Yes dummy

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader who are both very interested in their own grades and each other’s grades. I tell them that grades are a signal to let us know where learning is going smoothly and where you may need more help. Your daughter probably needs some help with math. I strongly dislike it when parents act like their kids get mediocre grades on purpose. Some kids may not know how to properly learn the material, but they are not getting bad grades on purpose!

We have a 7th grader and have to remind ourselves that he doesn’t have the experience to know how to study. We suggested that he review his past tests and quizzes for a unit test, paying attention to the things he got wrong. He was like “that is a good idea.” He came home after taking the unit test and seemed to be genuinely surprised that past test and quizzes informed the unit test. After that we focused more on telling him about the basics of studying and preparing. It is all new to the kids.

Which is why I say talk to your child and ask what is going on. Talk to the Teacher and see what is going on. Support in the areas that is needed.

I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader who are both very interested in their own grades and each other’s grades. I tell them that grades are a signal to let us know where learning is going smoothly and where you may need more help. Your daughter probably needs some help with math. I strongly dislike it when parents act like their kids get mediocre grades on purpose. Some kids may not know how to properly learn the material, but they are not getting bad grades on purpose!

How does an elementary school give letter grades? That doesn't make sense. And any "As" she was getting also dont make sense. Ask the teacher for more details on what she needs to improve, then work on that at home. That's it.