HOW TO WRITE REPORT CARD COMMENTS
I don’t know about you, but when I was at university, we were not taught how to write report card comments.
Most teachers will agree that it is one of the most important tasks in terms of providing meaningful feedback to parents about how best to support their child’s learning.
Even so, ask any teacher and they would probably say that writing report card comments for elementary students is probably one of the most challenging tasks on a teacher’s calendar!
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HOW TO WRITE REPORT CARD COMMENTS
Over the years, I have found an effective formula for writing professional report card comments.
These are my tips:
- Begin with a positive comment about the student’s strong points in that particular learning – even for report card comments for struggling students
Eg:: “Cindy has made steady progress in her reading skills and consistently participates in our daily Story Time sessions.”
- Use specific examples to support your comments as this helps parents and students understand what the student has achieved and what areas they can improve on.
Eg: “In math, Jonah displays a strong understanding of addition and subtraction and in sow working on developing his understanding of building his multiplication and division knowledge.”
- Use constructive and meaningful feedback so parents have a clear knowledge of where their child needs to improve in.
Eg: “May is a confident reader, however to further progress, she will need to improve her comprehension skills by taking her time to read and focusing on the key details in the text.”
- Write using clear and concise language that parents and students can easily understand. Avoid using ‘education’ jargon that often is unfamiliar to parents or families.
Eg: “It is pleasing to see Ben begin to interact well with his peers and learned how to wait his turn during small group activities.”
- Be honest and objective when writing student report card comments – personal opinions or emotive language are not part of professional report card writing.
Eg: “Tim is a hard worker and always tries his personal best, however he can benefit from more spelling and grammar practice at home.”
When I read my finished report card comments, I put on my parent hat and ask myself, ‘Does this provide me specific feedback on how to best support my child’s learning and growth?’
HOW TO WRITE REPORT CARD COMMENTS
Everyone has their own report card writing method, however following a specific formula to start with will ensure that report cards comments are:
- Professional
- Clear and succinct
- Provide parents and families with constructive feedback about their child’s learning and growth
- Effective, fair and respectful towards the student and parents.
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