My son is eight, and recently started at a private school that gives out written school reports, one for each class subject. They also grade the children (A,B,C). The report is very long and fairly detailed (although there are clearly stock phrases in there).
My son was a very high achiever at his last school, which was not a particularly good school (it's why we moved him). In this school he is far more average, and he has been given Bs in two of his favourite subjects. He is used to being top of the class in both of these.
I don't care what grade he gets, but my concern is that if he sees he is doing only OK it will put him off trying. He is doing his best at the moment, and I don't think he should be aiming for As if his natural work level gets him a B. He's only little.
Should I share the reports with him? I am pretty certain that the teachers won't mention them. And there is nothing worrying to flag up: it's all full of nice comments.
Last term I didn't (even though he'd done quite well). I just don't want him to judge or grade himself. i didn't share the reports from the former school either, but these were far more generic, far less inclined to flag any weaknesses and also he was always top in everything!
What do you do? How do you play it?