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A former school administrator I deeply respect had a saying: “School is about second chances.” It’s a saying that has stuck with me through the years. Many times, the best thing that parents and teachers can do for school-age children is teach them how they can recover from poor choices and turn their lives around in ways big and small. As the year draws to a close, the calendar serves as a reminder that the school year is nearly half over. For some students, that means they might think they are running out of second, third and fourth chances — the end of Semester 1 is just around the corner and report cards are looming. If your child is beginning to worry out loud about his or her grades, in most cases that is a good thing. Students who are underachievers might have finally reached a moment of clarity regarding their need to change habits. Others who are on the cusp of a higher grade might find the motivation to finish the semester strongly. If your child asks you for advice — or it is time to have a heart-to-heart with him or her about grades — here are some suggestions. Tell the student to talk to his or her teacher about their grades — Communication is always the first step toward improved grades. When it comes to what a student should discuss with his or her teacher, urge the student to be specific (“What do I need to do to raise my grade?”), review upcoming assignments with the student and heed what the teacher says about steps toward academic improvement. Arguing with the teacher or blaming him or her for poor grades usually will get the student nowhere. Don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk. If the student has a record of poor performance because of bad choices — tardiness or “skipping” class, failure to complete homework or turn the work in, failure to study — promises to improve are always music to my ears as a teacher. Actually changing habits and improving attendance impresses me even more — and the teachers I know feel the same way. Any student who turns his or her performance around and begins to display genuine diligence will earn the benefit of the doubt from most teachers. I can’t guarantee a student with a long string of F's will suddenly appear on the Honor Roll by the end of the semester, but I will risk an opinion: That student stands a good chance of earning better-than-passing grades in the end. Work to finish strongly — To steal a saying from baseball, “It isn't over until it is over.” There is still time to earn higher grades on remaining assignments, turn in missing work if the teacher agrees to accept the work, and (yes) earn extra credit if it is offered. However, there is one other tactic that also might make a real difference in last-minute student performance: Use a tutor. If your child is a student at Ashland High School, there is an excellent Student Tutor Center that offers peer tutoring in mathematics and humanities classes. The tutors are not just there for struggling students. Many of my students who are on the verge of earning the next higher letter grade study in the Tutor Center in an attempt to ace the big final exam. Speaking of the big final, that could also be a way to increase a final semester grade — urge your student to study hard in an effort to earn those last semester points. Failure is not an option if your student is willing to make some changes for the better, even in the waning days of Semester 1. That is why school can be about second chances — and it might be the most important lesson a child ever learns. A former reporter who covered politics and government for newspapers in California and Oregon, Paul R. Huard teaches social studies and English courses at Ashland High School. The opinions he expresses are his own.