--- title: "Grading Grades | Denver Psychiatry Blog" description: "What if there was a parent report card? Would the classes look something like this? Patience 101: The Nightly Homework Fight. Empathy: Really? That Really Matters To You? Get Over It! Listening and Co..." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": [ "MedicalBusiness", "MedicalOrganization", "LocalBusiness" ], "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#organization", "name": "Denver Psychiatry", "alternateName": "Denver Psychiatry - Dr. Steve Sarche", "description": "Denver Psychiatry is a private psychiatric practice founded by Dr. Steve Sarche in 2004, providing comprehensive mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults in the Denver metropolitan area.", "url": "https://denverpsychiatry.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/logo.png" }, "image": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/og-image.png", "telephone": "+1-303-393-8808", "faxNumber": "+1-303-399-6069", "email": "drsteve@denverpsychiatry.com", "foundingDate": "2004", "founder": { "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#physician" }, "priceRange": "$$", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "720 S Colorado Blvd, Suite 910N", "addressLocality": "Denver", "addressRegion": "CO", "postalCode": "80246", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 39.7086, "longitude": -104.9567 }, "areaServed": { "@type": "GeoCircle", "geoMidpoint": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 39.7086, "longitude": -104.9567 }, "geoRadius": "50000" }, "medicalSpecialty": [ "Psychiatry", "Child and Adolescent Psychiatry", "Adult Psychiatry" ], "employee": [ { "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#physician" } ], "availableService": [ { "@type": "MedicalProcedure", "name": "Psychiatric Evaluation", "description": "Comprehensive initial evaluation for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning" }, { "@type": "MedicalProcedure", "name": "Medication Management", "description": "Expert prescription and monitoring of psychiatric medications" }, { "@type": "MedicalProcedure", "name": "Child & Adolescent Psychiatry", "description": "Age-appropriate psychiatric care for children and adolescents (ages 10+)" }, { "@type": "MedicalProcedure", "name": "Anxiety Treatment", "description": "Treatment for generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, and PTSD" }, { "@type": "MedicalProcedure", "name": "Depression Treatment", "description": "Comprehensive treatment for major depression and mood disorders" }, { "@type": "MedicalProcedure", "name": "ADHD Treatment", "description": "Diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit disorders in all ages" }, { "@type": "MedicalProcedure", "name": "PTSD & Trauma Treatment", "description": "Compassionate, evidence-based care for post-traumatic stress and trauma-related conditions" } ], "openingHoursSpecification": { "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", "dayOfWeek": [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday" ], "opens": "09:00", "closes": "17:00" }, "aggregateRating": { "@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": "5", "reviewCount": "50" }, "sameAs": [] }, { "@type": [ "Physician", "Person" ], "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#physician", "name": "Dr. Steve Sarche, D.O.", "alternateName": "Steve Sarche", "description": "Dr. Steve Sarche is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. He founded Denver Psychiatry in 2004 and has over 20 years of experience in comprehensive mental health care.", "image": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/sarche-2019-headshot-1.jpg", "url": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/", "telephone": "+1-303-393-8808", "jobTitle": "Psychiatrist", "honorificSuffix": "D.O.", "medicalSpecialty": [ "Psychiatry", "Child and Adolescent Psychiatry" ], "worksFor": { "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#organization" }, "affiliation": { "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#organization" }, "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Colorado" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Western University of Health Sciences" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Colorado Health Sciences Center" } ], "hasCredential": [ { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "credentialCategory": "Board Certification", "name": "Board Certified in General Psychiatry" }, { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "credentialCategory": "Fellowship", "name": "Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry" } ], "memberOf": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society", "roleName": "Past President" } ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "720 S Colorado Blvd, Suite 910N", "addressLocality": "Denver", "addressRegion": "CO", "postalCode": "80246", "addressCountry": "US" } }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#website", "url": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/", "name": "Denver Psychiatry", "publisher": { "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What happens during the initial psychiatric evaluation at Denver Psychiatry?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The initial evaluation is a comprehensive session where Dr. Sarche reviews your medical history, discusses current concerns, and works to understand your unique situation. For children and adolescents, this includes integrated meetings with parents. By the end of 1-2 visits, you'll have a clear clinical formulation and personalized treatment plan." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Denver Psychiatry treat both children and adults?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, Dr. Steve Sarche is board certified in both general psychiatry and child & adolescent psychiatry. Denver Psychiatry provides comprehensive care for patients ages 10 and older, with age-appropriate treatment approaches." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What mental health conditions does Denver Psychiatry treat?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Denver Psychiatry treats a wide range of mental health conditions including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, situational stress, behavioral problems, and relational difficulties. Dr. Sarche takes a comprehensive, holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Denver Psychiatry offer non-medication treatments?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Absolutely. While medication can be an important part of treatment, Dr. Sarche also emphasizes non-medication modalities including sleep hygiene strategies, lifestyle modifications, stress reduction techniques, and therapeutic approaches. Treatment is tailored to each individual's needs and preferences." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the difference between a D.O. and an M.D. psychiatrist?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) receive the same training as M.D.s but with additional focus on the interconnection between the body's systems. This holistic perspective informs Dr. Sarche's approach to mental health, considering how physical and emotional well-being influence each other." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I schedule an appointment with Denver Psychiatry?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "You can schedule an appointment by calling Denver Psychiatry at (303) 393-8808. The staff will help you find a convenient time and answer any questions about your first visit." } } ] }, { "@type": "Blog", "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#blog", "name": "Denver Psychiatry Mental Health Blog", "description": "Expert insights and articles on mental health topics from Dr. Steve Sarche, board-certified psychiatrist in Denver, Colorado.", "url": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/blog", "author": { "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#physician" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/#organization" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Grading Grades", "description": "What if there was a parent report card? Would the classes look something like this? Patience 101: The Nightly Homework Fight. Empathy: Really? That Really Matters To You? Get Over It! Listening and Co...", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dr. Steve Sarche", "jobTitle": "Board Certified Psychiatrist" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Denver Psychiatry", "url": "https://denverpsychiatry.com" }, "datePublished": "2014-10-23T21:51:32+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://denverpsychiatry.com/article/grading-grades" } } ] --- [ Denver Psychiatry Dr. Steve Sarche, D.O. ](#home) [](tel:303-393-8808) [ Denver Psychiatry Dr. Steve Sarche, D.O. ](#home) [Home](#home) Services ### Conditions We Treat [ ADHD Treatment Child & adult ADHD specialist care ](/adhd)[ Anxiety Treatment Generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety ](/anxiety-treatment)[ Depression Treatment Major depression, bipolar, mood disorders ](/depression-treatment)[ PTSD & Trauma Treatment Trauma recovery focused on full healing ](/ptsd-trauma-treatment) ### Specialty Care [ Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship-trained, ages 10 and up ](/child-adolescent-psychiatry)[ Performance Optimization Precision psychiatry for high performers ](/performance-optimization)[ Medication Management Expert prescription and monitoring ](#services) #### Talk to Dr. Sarche Call to schedule your initial evaluation [Call Now](tel:303-393-8808) About ### About Us [ Dr. Steve Sarche, D.O. Board-certified psychiatrist ](#about)[ Our Approach Patient-centered, evidence-based care ](#approach)[ Osteopathic Medicine Holistic medical philosophy ](#resources) Resources ### Educational Resources [ General Information Learn about psychiatry and mental health ](#resources)[ Sleep & Wellness Tips for better sleep and health ](#resources)[ Nutrition & Mental Health Diet's impact on mood and cognition ](#resources) ### Patient Info [ Blog Articles Latest insights and updates ](#blog)[ FAQs Common questions answered ](#faq) #### New Patient? Learn what to expect at your first visit [Learn More](#services) Contact ### Get In Touch [ Contact Form Send us a message ](#contact)[ Call Us (303) 393-8808 ](tel:303-393-8808)[ Our Location 720 S Colorado Blvd, Suite 910N ](#contact) [Call Dr. Sarche](tel:303-393-8808) [Back to Blog](/blog) Child & Adolescent # Grading Grades Dr. Steve Sarche Board Certified Psychiatrist • Thursday, October 23, 2014 • 6 min read Share: [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdrsteve.lovable.app%2Farticle%2Fgrading-grades)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrsteve.lovable.app%2Farticle%2Fgrading-grades&text=Grading%20Grades)[](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrsteve.lovable.app%2Farticle%2Fgrading-grades&title=Grading%20Grades)[]() What if there was a parent report card? Would the classes look something like this? Patience 101: The Nightly Homework Fight. Empathy: Really? That Really Matters To You? Get Over It! Listening and Communication: Hold On Son, Let Me Finish This Email. School Support: Huh? Stress Management: Whine Or Wine? Turning Down The Thermostat: How To Be A "Cool" Parent. Despite being bright, hard-working, loving and caring, we parents would not make straight A's. If that is all we cared about any way, I would say that we are focusing on the wrong outcome. Do we really need to worry so much about what our grade is as a parent or is there a better way to approach the challenge of raising a child? We are a society built on grades. There is a strong emphasis on getting an "A" in school. We should, however, question things we learn at times, so let's question what good grades truly have to do with learning and how much they affect our future. There is very little research that examines the link between grades and future success as an adult. There is no evidence that people with a grade point average (GPA) above, say, 3.5 are more successful than those with a GPA below 3.5. We can therefore only speculate how important grades truly are. The obvious conclusion is YES! Of course good grades matter! In our culture, I certainly agree that good grades are important. Our education system is so focused on good grades that a student must achieve a high grade point average to be considered for a university education. Additionally, good grades are necessary for certain jobs. Medical schools don't even look at applications with grade point averages under a certain amount. There should be an emphasis on doing well in school; parents should expect good effort in school. It is much easier to function well in our society when you have general knowledge, can do math, and are good at reading and writing. In many instances, things fall in place academically; home support is good, school support is good, expectations are met, the child cares, work is done, and the production is there. Grades become a huge problem when those things are not in place. Often a power struggle ensues. These kids are told over and over how important good grades are. Here's a secret: they already know that. The repetition is incredibly stressful annoying to them.  They certainly don't need to be told how smart they are and how much potential they have when they are achieving good grades. This tends to piss them off.  Teens process first with their amygdala (emotional brain) rather than their frontal cortex (thinking brain). We must therefore be patient with them. Also, in the age of social media, can you imagine how stressful earning high marks must be for students? Not only do parents have digital access to their scores, but they can get updated constantly and therefore have the ability to constantly nag about them. Also, kids can much more easily compare themselves to others, and tend to judge negatively against themselves. I am seeing kids get so stressed about grades that they, and in some cases, their parents, lose sight of what is more important in life; health and happiness. Additionally, I have seen kids that can learn anything in ten seconds. Due to other problems they are experiencing, however, ten seconds on the school clock may as well be 10 hours. The results are poor quality of work, avoidance of work and ultimately, bad grades. For kids who are struggling academically, the emphasis tends to remain locked on getting good grades at all costs. Battles at school and home over those grades escalate and the stress builds. As the stress builds, the academics worsen. This results in threats, punishments or bribes for good grades. The angry merry-go-round of letters gains momentum. The dizzying path spins to more stress leading to, of course, worsening performance. For children stuck in this cycle, we should shift the focus off of phrases like "you are lazy, not reaching your potential, don't care about your future, and you need good grades". Forcing teens will likely result in rebellion instead of results. Work with them on understanding what school and grades mean to them; the context in which they view their struggles. This helps to figure out what is getting in the way of their academic success and starts the process of solving the problem(s). We also can help them learn what school can really teach them. Besides academics, kids in school can grow and mature emotionally and socially. They have the opportunity to build confidence from handling difficult situations and problems. They can learn to accept who they are as a student and person.  They can learn how to learn, and how to apply that to managing life. If a kid is nurtured in these ways, the good grades will likely follow. A school day also provides an amazing amount of opportunity to learn how to organize, be on time, manage stress, problem solve, be part of a group, prioritize, and learn how to do things you don't want to do but still be successful. (If you've been to my office, you've seen my poster about this). Perhaps this is a concept we need to teach ourselves about raising our kids. We don't always need to get an "A" on what we do. There is no way to do it perfectly any way. We can learn from the difficult and baffling situations that will arise. Nobody has ever asked me my GPA. What they want to know is that I do a good job, that I am updated on the latest research in psychiatry, I show up for work every day, am on time, and that I persist. Persistence, I believe, may actually be a better predictor for future success than grades. Additionally, I suspect that confidence, social success and high emotional IQ are more important than grades. A pressured, stressed and frustrated student will be delayed and may not acquire these skills and the transition to adulthood will be much more difficult. All that being said, I sure hope that my 10th grade English teacher does not see this. She was notorious for not giving A's. It terrifies me to think of the red marks I would likely see all over this page. ….Actually, now that I think about it, go ahead and read this Ms. Redpen. Give me your token "C". You know what I give your grade? An "F". Share: [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdrsteve.lovable.app%2Farticle%2Fgrading-grades)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrsteve.lovable.app%2Farticle%2Fgrading-grades&text=Grading%20Grades)[](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrsteve.lovable.app%2Farticle%2Fgrading-grades&title=Grading%20Grades)[]() ### Need Help With Your Mental Health? Dr. Steve Sarche provides compassionate psychiatric care for children, adolescents, and adults in the Denver area. [Call to Speak With Dr. Sarche](tel:303-393-8808) ### Get new articles from Dr. Sarche We'll only email you when Dr. Sarche publishes a new article. Unsubscribe anytime. Subscribe ## Related Articles [ Child & Adolescent ### The Communication Fix Up Communication Fix Up. This article is inspired by a talk given by Charles Duhigg, a journalist and best-selling author during the Aspen Ideas Festival on June 29th, 2024. The talk is titled, “Super co... Jul 23, 2024 5 min read ](/article/the-communication-fix-up)[ Child & Adolescent ### Recognizing Depression in Teenagers: A Guide for Parents Teen depression often looks different from adult depression. Know the warning signs and how to help. May 20, 2024 1 min read ](/article/teen-depression-warning-signs)[ Child & Adolescent ### My Session With Santa (part 2) (This is a recycling of an article I posted over 11 years ago. It is mostly the same, just some minor changes. I figured it would be nice to post something light). “I stopped believing in Santa Claus ... Dec 18, 2020 5 min read ](/article/my-session-with-santa-part-2) ### Denver Psychiatry Dr. Steve Sarche, D.O. Providing compassionate, comprehensive psychiatric care to children, adolescents, and adults in the Denver area since 2004. [(303) 393-8808](tel:303-393-8808)[Patient Portal](https://www.valant.io/portal/sarche) #### Quick Links - [Home](#home) - [Services](#services) - [About Dr. Sarche](#about) - [Our Approach](#approach) - [Resources](#resources) - [Blog](#blog) - [Contact Us](#contact) #### Contact - The Galleria 720 S Colorado Blvd, Suite 910N Denver, CO 80246 - [(303) 393-8808](tel:303-393-8808) - Fax: (303) 399-6069 © 2026 Denver Psychiatry. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)[HIPAA Notice](/hipaa-notice)[Accessibility](/accessibility) [Made with by HEARD Digital Marketing](https://heardmarketing.io)