In order for a student to learn, he must have the proper 'learning skills'.

Report cards differ from state to province to country. Most report cards contain a section called 'learning skills'. These learning skills are essential for success in most subject areas. For example, if your child received a low grade in 'class participation', it may be a sign that he generally doesn't get involved with the lesson and misses out on important instruction. The result is a poor grade. Or perhaps your daughter received a poor grade in 'goal setting'. This indicates that she doesn't realize which areas or a particular subject area she should be working on, therefore she doesn't have definite goals.

If your child receives a poor grade in a learning skill on the report card, it is a clear indication as to why your child may have received a D or a C in math, English, or any other subject area. You can help your child improve his or her learning skills thus improving his or her grades.

Here are some common learning skills comments that are found in report cards throughout North America.

Class Participation
-your child does not involve himself with the topic
-create a reward system with your child based on his participation in class...he can write down how he participated that day and show you when he gets home

Independent Work
-lack of organization and responsibility
-Help child organize schoolwork, room etc...
-Have more responsibilities at home

Homework Completion
-your child has not reviewed his work from the day
-your child may not be ready for next lesson

-maintain contact with your child's teacher via. your child's agenda
-have your child explain her homework to you or go over her homework when she is done

Goal Setting to Improve Work
-your child does not know what he or she must improve upon
-determine with your child (use the report card and/or parent teacher interview) and write down your child's academic goals

The learning skills are related to subject letter grades just as a cold is related to a virus. Both the learning skills and virus are the causes whereas the letter grade and sniffles are the symptoms.

Initiative
-your child doesn't want to accept new challenges or enthusiastically learn new concepts
-build your child's confidence by having him learn and explain the topics he is interested in, then he will be more interested in learning

Use of Information
-your child doesn't see the bigger picture (i.e. he doesn't make connections between different subject areas)
-help your child integrate his learning
E.G.
1) While learning about prisms and pyramids in geometry, you can also have your child learn about the Great Pyramids.
2) While learning about decimals, have your child help add up the bill the next time you go out to eat.

Cooperation with others
-your child has difficulty learning and communicating with others, this can affect both grades and interpersonal relationships
-enroll your child in an extra curricular hobby of interest

Conflict Resolution
-your child may have difficulty communicating, this can affect cooperative learning and oral communication grades
-do some role playing situations at home and model appropriate communication skills

Problem Solving
-students may have difficulty understanding problems and finding solutions, this carries over in every subject area including math and reading
-model to your child how you think through a problem the next time one presents itself, say out loud everything you are thinking
-ask your child to write down or verbalize the steps needed to solve a problem

By following these suggestions, you can help improve your child's learning skills which will definitely help raise his/her grades in every subject area.

Stuart Ackerman is the founder of Tutorgiant.com.
http://www.tutorgiant.com