School is in session and that means…GRADES!   Whether your children tend to earn A’s, B’s, C’s, or F’s, children often define “who they are” based on the grades they receive.   “I’m an A-student” “I’m not very smart” “I’m an average student”   It's unfortunate when children identify themselves based on grades, as it can have a detrimental impact on their self-esteem, even for those with a consistent "A" average. This is because receiving an "A" grade may make them feel great about themselves, while receiving a "C" grade may cause them to feel down on themselves. This cycle can create yo-yo self-esteem, as we've noted in earlier articles. The question then arises, how can we talk to our children about grades without having an adverse effect on their self-esteem? The answer lies in viewing grades as feedback. Feedback is the result of an action taken, and it is simply a measure of how well a student has learned the material. Grades do not determine...