<p>One thing a parent can do is sit down with (probably horribly reluctant) student and say “Let’s review the assignment blurb and do a post mortem so you and I are totally clear on where this project went off the rails. It’s a good exercise to do before you think about going to your department chair because it will help you lay out your thinking.” The parent isn’t being critical – but this bit of research may make the disaster clearer for the student. It may reveal where the student missed instructions or misinterpreted them. </p>
<p>It may not save this grade but it does show the student that adults do look back over a trail and decipher things logically as part of project management.</p>