Micromanaging Parents

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Home : 2004 : September : 22

Micromanaging Parents
By Grade 4 Teacher

I, too, have many parents who hold the belief that "once an A student, always an A student." I have been asked to please notify if so-and-so's average dips below an A. I send home graded assignments each week, but admit
to sometimes taking a week or so to turn around involved assignments. Therefore, I am uncomfortable saying anything other than, "You know, so-and-so is a really good student and he/she is performing in a satisfactory range, but I can't be more specific than that until I average for report cards." I remind the child to continue to look at every returned paper with a parent and understand

that tomorrow's grade could change the grade you have today. We report progress at 4 1/2 and 9 week intervals and I believe that to be sufficient. What I want to say is, "Rather than micromanaging your child's academic performance, advise them to always complete assignments as though they are a few points away from an A and do their best." What I've never understood is what they plan to do if the grade is a B. Never mind, I know the answer. That's when the request for "extra credit" comes into play. I understand your frustration completely!