Today is one of my favorite days. You really are a sight

when you come in after receiving progress reports the previous night.

Some are happy. Others, stunned. There's laughter and some tears.

Many were glad to see their grades. For others, it confirmed their fears.

If your grades are not quite what you hoped they would be,

and your family's mad at you (and probably me),

remember that feeling the next time you shirk

from doing your best on your home- and Morning Work.

Every grade can make a difference. Every assignment and every test.

Don't just work hard a couple of days and goof off on all the rest.

All is not lost yet, however. Your grades may still go up a bit.

And MAYBE you won't get a whoopin'at home, so bad you can't even sit!

I'll probably drop a bad grade in each subject. For some that may even raise

your report card from a spanking to a pat on the back. From a scolding or grounding to praise!

Schoolwork can be like a day at the beach, lying face down on the sand;

It can be fun just doing nothing, but if you're not careful, your rear end gets tanned!