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Your middle-schooler just got her first D. What's an appropriate response?

Parent advice:

Try not to overreact and then try to find out the reason by calmly discussing it. If the reason is vague, request a conference with the teacher as soon as possible to find out what's going on from the teacher's perspective.

Dodie Hofstetter

Wendy Donahue

Expert advice:

An appropriate response is to step up your own game, says pediatric neuropsychologist Karen L. Schiltz, author of "Beyond the Label: A Guide to Unlocking a Child's Educational Potential" (Oxford University Press).

"Now is the time to be your child's advocate," says Schiltz. "Report cards only give a portion of the story."

Your job is to get the rest of the story by starting a regular dialogue with your child.

"A lot of parents say, 'My child never wants to talk to me when I get home,' " says Schiltz. "She's probably picking up that you're forcing a conversation. Take her outside and throw the ball around. Take a walk. Go skating with her. It's amazing how much she's going to tell you over time when you take the time to be in the moment and have fun with your child.

See the article here:
Damage control when your daughter brings home her first D