If your child brings home a report card that does not meet your expectations, don’t panic. Try these tips to give your child a jump-start for next time:

• Calmly discuss what report cards are and what they are not. What they are not is a judgment on whether your child is good or bad. What they are is a snapshot of how well your child dealt with the material in each subject this grading period.

• Ask your child to envision the next report card. How can she meet her goals? Focus on what can be accomplished in six or nine weeks.

• Talk about what led to each grade. If a grade is good, what strategies did your child use? If a grade is not so good, what could be keeping her from doing better? Call the teacher at once if you truly believe your child has tried her best but is not grasping the material.

• Find the good. Point out any strengths your child has shown this period. Show the connection to school, if possible. If she loves teen novels, suggest that she try a bit harder in literature next time.

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