Often, one of the most difficult and lasting effects of a poor assessment is the emotional mark it leaves. A child with a bad assessment may feel terrible and may feel like simply giving up. It is crucial that parents continue to help their child stay motivated about school. One of the ways to do so is with words. A few phrases and words that can keep your child motivated include:

•”Marks can be improved.”
•”School is important, but you can learn to be better at it.”
•”All you need is some work.”
•”I’m proud of you.”
•”I love you.”
•”You can do it.”
•”I believe in you.”
•”I know you can do this.”
•”We’ll work at it together.”
•”You do well in....(list other things that the child succeeds in)”
•”Different kids learn differently, and we’ll figure out how to help you learn.”
•”You’re smart.”
•”You’re great.”
•”You can learn this.”
•”I can help you.”
•”If you need help, just ask.”
•”What do you think I can do to help?”
•”What do you think you can do?”
•”All it takes are a few baby steps to make big results.”
•”Lots of people turn things around with hard work.”
•”You’ll make it through this.”
•”We’ll make it through this.”
•”We’ll be able to look on this someday and smile.”
•”I know there are wonderful things waiting for you in the future.”
•”You’ve done some great work (list the accomplishments the child has).”
•”You’ve overcome other things and you will overcome this.”
•”Lots of kids have trouble in school and go on to do even better than everyone else with a little work.”
•”You’ll get this - it is just taking you a bit longer.”
•”With a little work, I know you’ll be a pro about it.”
•”You teach me things every day, so I know you’re really smart.”
•”You know what I heard about you? (Relate a complimentary thing that someone else said about the child.”
•”All it takes is a little practice.”
•”You just need to build your skills a little.”
•”You’re really creative.”
•”Your teacher and I will help you - you’re not alone.”
•”We’ll do whatever it takes.”
•”You’re an A student - we just need to show your talent off.”
•”There are lots of things we can do to help.”
•”It’s not too late - there’s still lots of ways to turn this around.”
•”You’re showing a lot of courage.”
•”I’m really impressed by you.”
•”You’re a great learner.”
•”All we need is a plan so that you can get back on track.”

When you are trying to help your child get motivated for success in school, you will want to list the many benefits of great grades. To get you started, consider these many benefits of consistently good grades:

•More chances at prizes and awards.
•With good grades, it is easier to get along with teachers.
•Admiration from others.
•More choices for careers.
•The opportunity to go to great schools.
•Getting great grades actually makes it easier to do well in school.
•Opportunities for scholarships and travel scholarships that let you see the world.
•Great careers and interesting jobs.
•A sense of peace and happiness.
•No worries.
•No embarrassment.
•School takes less time.
•Learning becomes effortless.
•People who get good grades are considered more mature and are given the chance at leadership more.
•Chances at extracurricular activities.
•Students with good grades are given recognition - they may be asked to be class valedictorian, for example.
•Distinctions and class rankings stay with good students for a long time. •Easier to make friends.
•More time for play and fun things since less time is needed for studying.
•It is easier to deal with daily life. It is easier to figure out instructions and to understand things.

Since children often look up to famous people, it may be beneficial to tell children about celebrities who have done well in school. These famous figures can act as role models for many students:

•Elvis Presley. The famous singer and actor who went on to become world-famous and extremely wealthy enjoyed school very much and in fact did very well in school.

•Sarah Michelle Gellar. The star of movies like “The Grudge” and shows such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” did so well at the prestigious Performing Children’s High School in New York that she was allowed to skip two grades. She continues to enjoy reading and even has an extensive collection of rare books.

•Cindy Crawford. The famous supermodel not only got great grades all through high school - she was also chosen valedictorian of her graduating class.

•Jodie Foster. The award-winning actress not only got great marks all through her school life, but she graduated with magna cum laude distinctions from Yale in 1985.

•Natalie Portman. The famous actress is considered extremely intelligent. She did well all through school, graduating from Harvard in 2003. She is now studying at the Hebrew University while still finding time for movie roles.

Dr Simon Ronald is the CEO of RocketReader, the company that makes reading improvement software for all ages. Sound reading skills are vital for strong academic performance. For more information about effective reading strategies, visit http://www.speedreading.com. Also check out http://www.freeonlinebooks.org for a free online books collection that makes reading practice fun!