The Fragility of School Grades
Dec 03, 2024It’s report card season.
As parents, we scan the pages, our eyes darting between grades and teacher comments, looking for signs of our children’s brilliance, or maybe just reassurance.
Most reports are split into two major headings - results and effort.
It’s natural to be seduced by results. They’re tidy, measurable, and easy to pin on the fridge.
But they’re also fickle. A tough test, a bad day, or a tricky subject can look like a bigger problem than it is.
Effort is different. It’s not shiny, not something you can frame. It’s more like a muscle that grows stronger with use.
When kids focus on effort, they’re learning skills that no test can measure. How to show up, especially when it’s hard. How to wrestle with challenges, ask for help, fail and try again.
Effort builds resilience. It fuels curiosity. It builds grit. It builds muscles your kids will call on long after their report cards are forgotten.
Ironically, when we prioritise effort, results tend to follow. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but over time, the consistent work pays off.
So this report card season, don’t just celebrate the grades. Celebrate the effort.
Grades fade. Effort compounds.
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