What makes a good student?

Article

Regardless of what the report card says, at some point, every parent wonders if their child is a good student. To find out what it means to be a good student, we asked our teachers to weigh in!

Motivation

First off, our teachers seem to all agree that the best students aren’t necessarily the students with the best grades. What really matters is that they always (or almost always) give their all.

Motivation is therefore one of the key qualities of a good student. Here are a few things you can do to motivate your child:

  • Help them set goals
  • Offer encouragement
  • Show an interest in their work
  • Etc.

Perseverance

Top performers are motivated, participate in class, and take pride in their efforts. To boost your child’s perseverance in school, you can help them do the following:

  • Learn discipline
  • Maintain a healthy lifestyle
  • Set goals
  • Keep their chin up when they’re having a hard time
  • Etc.

Curiosity

The best students ask questions and are eager to learn. Curiosity is a way of showing interest in something. To stimulate your child’s curiosity, encourage them to do the following:

  • Read
  • Ask questions
  • Go to the library
  • Etc.

Respect

It seems that respect is also one of the qualities of a good student. Respect makes for a better learning environment. But what is respect? Respectful students show consideration for the following:

  • Themselves (they make sure they get enough sleep, they have good personal hygiene, etc.)
  • Others (they’re polite, they show up on time, they’re kind to their peers, etc.)
  • Their environment (they take care of their books, they keep their desk tidy, etc.)

  

Tips and tools

You can help your child develop respect for themselves, others, and their environment by teaching them healthy life habits. Reading their school’s code of conduct together will also give you a clearer idea of what it means to be respectful in an academic setting.

Autonomy

Autonomy is the ability to look after your own needs. For students, being autonomous means taking responsibility for their academic success. Here are a few tips you can share with your child:

  • Go to remedial classes
  • Study
  • Use the strategies taught in class
  • Take advantage of Alloprof’s services
  • Etc.

A student’s job

Like adults, students also have a job to do every day. Good students are the ones who do their job well. Here are some of the things your child can do to be a good student:

  • Show up for class
  • Participate in class
  • Follow instructions
  • Take notes
  • Complete all assignments
  • Hand in their work on time
  • Look over corrections
  • Go over the exercises they find most difficult
  • Ask questions
  • Ask for help
  • Learn from their mistakes
  • Etc.

What to do if your child isn’t a good student

If, after reading this article, you feel like your child isn’t always a good student, rest assured that you’re not alone. It’s impossible to be perfect, even for adults. Everyone has their good days and their bad days. What really matters is your average.

Of course, if you’re worried that your child might be a “bad student,” you can always get in touch with their teacher to set the record straight. By working together, you can come up with ways to help your child become a good student.

Collaborators

Writing : The Alloprof Parents' team

References