Steps You Can Take to Help Your Child Improve Their GPA

School is a big source of stress in a lot of kids’ lives, as well as their parents’. The grades we get play such a crucial role in what college we can get into and how the rest of our lives play out. This isn’t to say that grades are in any way a marker for how smart you are or what your knowledge level is, because the public school system is pretty much broken. That being said, we know that their GPA is important and if they have goals, their GPA probably plays a part there. Here are some tricks for getting your child’s GPA as high as possible before those applications start being sent out.

Choose classes wisely

Sure, if they get straight A’s in Honors Calculus, that’s impressive, but if they’re getting Cs, then it doesn’t look that great, and if they dropped to a lower-level class, they will probably be getting straight As, which is not only a great boost of morale, but also translates to a 4.0 counting towards their GPA. So, at the beginning of every year, make sure they’re playing to their strengths, and don’t be afraid to ask for a transfer in the middle of a semester. If you see that they’re brilliant in a lower-level class and could be taking something more advance, ask the teacher whether they agree and if they’d give the recommendation for a transfer. 

Don’t leave an empty schedule

If your kid is brilliant in all of their classes, they can get a high GPA no matter how few classes they take. But, if you’re reading this, they probably need a little boost in their scores, and while taking up more classes might seem like a counter-productive idea, since it will take more time away from studying, elective classes also count towards your GPA, meaning that picking up an elective that they can easily pass with good grades, like music if they are talented musicians or a sport if they have great coordination can be an easy boost to their average.

Help from the outside

Sometimes, kids just struggle with certain subjects or areas. And if it’s a mandatory class, like English, it can wreck their GPA really fast, especially if the teacher isn’t understanding or doesn’t know how to deal with a child who can’t work with the standard system. In this case, you’ll be best off by hiring an English tutor that will work with them and use methods that they don’t use in school to help them get a grip on the subject. They may use games, learning through media and ways other than reading from a book and writing down notes.

Be strict with homework

Kids don’t like homework. But if they’re in high school, they’re old enough to know that it’s important and don’t have to be coaxed into it with treats or rewards. Them doing their homework regularly is important because of two things: Firstly, it allows you to go over the material as it’s taught and figure out if there are any holes in their understanding that need plugging. If they can’t do their homework by themselves, they can ask their teacher the very next day to explain again the things they’re struggling with. And secondly, it teaches them the importance of finishing up tasks on time, which is crucial once they get started with assignments, as well as later in life.

Use all resources

Schools often offer an abundance of resources that can help with studying, from labs to after-school classes with study aids. All of this is there to help students succeed, but students often aren’t even aware that these resources exist. You might actually find academic counseling and tutoring within the school, so you don’t have to pay extra for it.