How To Have a Productive Conversation About Grades

Typically, teenagers aren’t always super open, available, or excited to tell you about their report cards. That’s why, in today’s episode, we’re spilling the beans about how you can have a productive, constructive, and empathetic conversation about grades with your teen and help them go from grade-obsessed panic to independently accepting responsibility for their academic performance. Tune in as we discuss the importance of checking in regularly, asking open-ended questions, being curious about your kid’s academic life, getting additional context from their teachers, focusing on performance rather than achievement, and much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:01:41] Counterproductive ways our parents talked to us about our report cards.
• [0:03:05] How we coach kids (and parents) to discuss their academic performance.
• [0:04:44] Why you shouldn’t make the conversation all about the letter/number grade.
• [0:07:00] Open-ended, reflective ways to talk about grades before grades come out.
• [0:09:51] The role that schools and teachers play in cultivating a fixation on grades.
• [0:12:58] Reasons to talk about learning and performance rather than achievement.
• [0:15:39] Making a habit of checking in regularly versus only discussing poor grades.
• [0:18:22] Strategies to help your teens succeed, regardless of external circumstances.
• [0:25:13] How to know if a tutor would be a helpful tool for your teen.
• [0:26:37] When it’s appropriate to contact the school or a teacher about a specific grade.
• [0:31:25] Our opinion on why tutors should be temporary.
• [0:34:42] Key themes and takeaways from this conversation.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You on Instagram