TeacherCommentsonReportCards

ByLeahDavies,M.Ed.

Reportcardsprovideparentswithessentialinformationconcerningtheirchildsprogressinschool.Various
formatsareusedincludinglettergrades,numbers,checklistsandteachercommentsthatindicatehowachildis
performingindifferentareas.Foreachreportcardperiod,teachersusuallywritedescriptivecommentsfor
everystudent.Thesewrittenremarkselaborateonthestudentsstrengths,andfrequentlyofferwaysthechild
couldimprovehisorheracademicworkand/orclassroombehavior.

Writinguniqueandmeaningfulreportcardcommentstakeseffort.Ifonlynegativestatementsarewritten,the
parentmayfeeloverwhelmedandthusbeunabletohelptheirchild.Examplesofdefinitivewordsthatshould
beavoidedare:

*thechildwillnever;
*thechildwillnot;
*thechildcannot;and
*thechildwillalways.

Parentsaremorewillingtocooperateifacommentconcerningachildsweaknessfollowsapositiveone.Soit
ismoreproductivetostateastudentsstrengthfirst,thenfollowitwithyourconcernbutmakesurethatis
writteninaconstructiveway.Forexample,youcouldwrite,Billexcelsinscience,andthenadd,Heneeds
moreopportunitiestodevelophisfriendshipskills.Or,writesomethinglike,Leslieisfriendlyandwell
liked,andadd,Shewouldbenefitfrompracticingherreadingfluencyandcomprehensionskills.Teachers
needtochoosetheirwordscarefullysincethereportcardispartofthechildspermanentrecord.

ExamplesofPositiveAdjectivesthatDescribeChildren
Considerate
Wellmannered
Responsible
Fair
Friendly
Brave
Thoughtful
Thorough
Selfconfident
Intelligent
Cooperative
Helpful
Honest
Respectful
Efficient
Talented
Selfdisciplined
Sincere
Responsible
Hardworking
Dependable
Creative
Generous
Kindhearted
Mature
Curious
Artistic
Enthusiastic
Here'saphrase:Apositiverolemodelforclassmates

Sinceyourcommentsneedtobeasspecificaspossible,avoidusingambiguouswordsalonesuchaswonderful,
goodorgreat.

ExamplesofStatementsConcerningaStudentsStrengths
Hasanexpansiveknowledgeof...
Enthusiasticallyparticipatesin...
Demonstratessuperiorworkin...
Comprehendsquickly
Takesprideinhis/herwork
Demonstratesinitiative
Listensandfollowsdirectionswell
Asksforresponsibilitiesandfollowsthrough
Expressesideasclearly Writesfascinatingstories
Exhibitsorganizationalskills
Doesneat,thoroughwork
Seeksinformationindependently
Enjoysdramatization
UsesEnglishcorrectly
Hasadelightfulsenseofhumor
Iswelllikedbypeers
Demonstratesleadershipskills

ExamplesofEncouragingComments(tousewhenastudentismakingprogress)
Hasdevelopedapositiveattitudetoward...
Hasadvancedin...
Hasdemonstratedadesireto...
Hasshownsteadyprogressin...
Hasshownnoticeableimprovementin...
Hasdemonstratedincreasedsocialskills,suchas...
Isshowingenthusiasmfor...
Isgainingacademicskills,suchas...
Isdevelopingconsistentworkhabits,suchas... Islearningto...
Isbecomingselfreliant.
Isdevelopingconcentrationskills
Isgainingselfconfidence
Isbecomingagoodlistener
Isoccupyinghis/hertimeconstructively
IslearningEnglishspeakingand/orwritingskills
Isdevelopingmorepositivewaystointeractwithothers
Islearningtobecooperativewhenworkingingroups

ExamplesToUseWhenConcernsAreEvidentand
AStudentIsinNeedofAssistance

*Needshelptoincreaseacademicskills,suchas...
*Demonstratesaneedforconsistenteffortandmotivation,especiallyin...
*Requireshelpwithorganizationalskills,suchas...
*Couldbenefitfrom...
*Needstobeencouragedtocomplywithschoolrules,suchas...
*Demonstratesaneedforimprovedsocialinteractionskills,suchas...
*Couldbenefitfromimprovinghis/herworkhabits,suchas...
*Needstobeencouragedtolistenandpayattentioninclass
*Needshelptounderstandinstructions
*Requiresrepetitiontoretaininformation
*Needsencouragementtodoworkonhis/herown
*Demonstratesaneedfordirectsupervisiontocompletework
*Needstobeencouragedtoworkmoreslowlyandaccurately
*Wouldbenefitfromsupervisionofhomework
*Requiressupporttointeractwithclassmatesinapositiveway
*Wouldbenefitfromlearningselfcontrolskills
*Needstobeencouragedtoacceptresponsibilityforhis/hererrorsand/ormisbehavior
*Needstodemonstrateimprovementinacademicworkifhe/sheistogainthefundamentalsneededforthis
grade

Sincesomeparentsneverattendaparentteacherconference,ateachermaywanttocompleteandincludea
copyofthefollowingstatementorsomethingsimilarwithastudentsreportcard.

Dear(ParentsName):

Spendingtimeandhelping(studentsname)inthefollowingwayswillprovideanincentiveforhim/hertowork
harderandlearntheskillsnecessarytoachieveinschool.

(Listwaysparentcanhelp)

SinceIcareaboutyourchild,Iwouldliketomeetwithyou.Pleasecalltheschoolofficeat(phonenumber)or
seemetodecideonatimetomeetandshareideas.Theeffortyoumakeworkingwith(studentsname)today
canmakeahugedifferenceinhis/herfuturesuccess.

Sincerely,
(YourName)

Sometimesitisdifficulttoelicitparentalcooperation.However,writtencommentsonareportcardand
completingtheaboveshortformmightservetoencouragetheirparticipation.Duetolanguagebarriersorother
reasons,parentsmaybeunabletohelptheirchilddirectly(see,IncreasingParentInvolvementinSchools).
However,parentscouldtobeencouragedtoprovideaquietplacefortheirchildtocompletehisorherwork
withouttelevisioninterferenceorotherdistractions,aswellasahealthydietandadequatesleep.

Positivecommentsonareportcardcaninspirestudentstoliveuptotheirteachersobservations.Forexample,
iftheteacherwrotethatthechildexcelsinBeingdependableorShowsoutstandingsportsmanship,these
statementscouldbecomepartofthestudentsselfimage.Itisimportantforteacherstorememberthattheir
writtenwordscanmotivateandchallengetheirstudentstobetheirbest.