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Parents Helping Kids Make the Grade

Parents Helping Kids Make the Grade
By: Kathy Sweeney

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Do you know what you're child's grades are?

The school year may just be getting underway, but at Central Junior High School Cape, the time to learn how your child is doing is right now.

You may think teachers like Chris Kasten are just getting into the swing of the new school year but, this 7th grade math teacher's already added up his students' first few assignments and sent a mid-term home to parents.

"We try to send out grades every three weeks to keep the parents updated on how the kids are doing," said Kasten. 

In the past, this early update would only go out to the parents of kids not making the grade but this school year, administrators encourage all teachers to send out grades 12 times a school year or roughly every three weeks.

Assistant Principal Alan Bruns says, in some cases, waiting any longer may be too late.

"In six weeks, it's a few more assignments, then in a few weeks it's a few more assignments....until it's a deep, deep hole and you've got no help, no way of turning it around," said Alan Bruns. 

The word of the month here is support and administrators hope the effort causes that word to reach outside this building to parents.

"That way they can get with us, with their students, and open the communication at all times," Kasten said. 

"Ask the students, 'What's going on? Why?' Students know why they have a poor grade," Bruns said.

If you're a Missouri parent, you probably received a report card in the mail telling you how your child did on the Missouri Assessment Program or MAP test.

A look what the report looks like.

Your child receives a number score in subjects like communication arts, math, and science.

They're also ranked in one of four categories...advanced, proficient, basic, and below basic.

We've told you about local districts that didn't make the map grade, but what if your child didn't?

Randy Rook with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education suggest that if your child didn't do well in the math portion of the test, talk to his or her current math teacher.  Ask how they're doing and what you can do from home to help.

There's also a lot of great information on the DESE website.  You can find information on homework, reading, math, and helping your child succeed.

Pratical Parenting Partnerships - Guide to the MAP