Whether it’s math comments or general observations, report cards offer parents and guardians a glimpse into how their child is performing in school. This is why it’s incredibly important for teachers to inspire, motivate, and offer support during their report card comments, especially when it comes to elementary students. But with so many report cards to write, how can teachers write diverse comments that speak to each student’s strengths and weaknesses? Below, we offer some tips on how to write the best report card comments for elementary students.  Celebrate Academic Achievements When it comes to writing report cards, elementary teachers should highlight each student’s academic achievements, which can include test results, assignments, and classroom participation. Regardless of how small the achievement may seem, being recognized for their successes can help students build self-confidence, self-esteem, and inspiration. Encourage Effort and Work Ethic Motivation is key with any form of report card…

We all know the importance of writing good report card comments and how they can impact a student’s academic future. But homework comments for student workbooks are just as vital to a student’s education endeavours. For many teachers, it can be challenging to provide supportive and encouraging remarks on homework submissions. The goal is to correct omissions or mistakes while concentrating on the student’s strengths. At the same time, the remarks need to guide students on how they can improve in the future. Below are 7 key principles for delivering supportive homework comments. Focus on Learning, Not Just Grades Grades are important as they act as a guideline when marking a student’s work. While it is important to provide a base grade level for comparison, the homework comments should also clearly outline the student’s strengths and weaknesses. What have they learned and how have they applied that learning to their…

Writing report card comments is an opportunity for teachers, educators, students, and parents to be informed about a student’s academic learning curve. Math report card comments can often be overlooked as the focus is placed on tests, assignments, and classroom behaviour. Understanding Common Student Struggles  Many students struggle with different subjects, primarily math. In a recent study released in December 2023, it revealed that the overall math scores of Canadian students fell 15 points between 2018 and 2022. This means that one in every five students is performing at the lowest math level.  How does this translate for math report card…

Report card comments can be a very powerful tool in strengthening a student’s engagement in the classroom. Using words of encouragement to motivate them to achieve their best can have a positive impact on their education.  Understanding the Role of Report Card Comments To understand the importance of report card comments, it’s important to acknowledge the role these comments have on a student’s progress and subsequent education path. Report cards provide a summary of a student’s learning ability by displaying grades from reports, tests, and exams throughout the school year.  Without report card comments, teachers, parents, and students don’t have…

Writing report card comments is a hit-or-miss opportunity to educate and connect with students, their parents, and other educators. There are various practices and techniques for teachers to use to produce effective comment sections to support the continuing education of each student.  Fundamental Principles of Assessment and Evaluation for Teachers The Province of Ontario regulates fundamental principles of assessment and evaluation for teachers that are to be used for writing report card comments. These pre-determined provincial standards involve fair and transparent information, provides full student support, allow for individual student learning opportunities, and provide timely feedback.  Ontario teachers are also…

A student’s report card provides more than just a glance into their academic and behavioural achievements, strengths, and weaknesses over a time period. Creating encouraging remarks within the report card’s comments section can lay a path of support and motivation for years to come. With the right encouragement and motivation, it can help a student be more effective in class, more creative, more positive, and increase their cognitive processing across all subjects. Adds Motivation and Confidence Boost Using report card comments to motivate a student requires precise wording to nurture and inspire the student’s educational journey. Without motivation, a student…

Report cards involve more than just a student’s grades. Each comment section should have positive feedback on the successes of the students while shining a light on the areas that need improvement. Why Teachers Should Highlight Areas of Growth for Students’ Report Card Comments Highlighting areas of growth with report card comments provide the teacher, student, and home support system with a baseline of the student’s academic curve. Feedback offers details of the student’s strengths and achievements while providing information on ways to improve in needed areas of study. This can be areas of growth within the student’s reading, writing,…

Report card comments are crucial to the future learning of a student. The goal of report card comments is to assess and provide information on a student’s progress and/or lack of development in a subject. They can also assess a child’s class behaviour. Understanding report card comments can be difficult for parents as many school districts have their own set of guidelines and policies in place that teachers are required to follow. Below are some tips to help parents better understand their child’s report card comments. What Do You Need to Look for on Report Cards? In Ontario, there are…

Creating personalized report card comments for average students can be challenging at the best of times. However, writing appropriate report card comments is extremely important for students that produce average grades on a consistent basis. What do you say when the student hasn’t improved or declined throughout the school year. Here are some tips to consider. Tips to Write Report Card Comments for Average Students Report card remarks are intended to offer support for all students while highlighting areas of strengths and weaknesses for each student. Having detailed and personalized report card comments for average students can be rewarding. Consider…

Creating report card comments takes innovation, not to mention extensive time. Putting in the effort to formulate a well-organized plan for writing report card comments can benefit not only you, the teacher, but the student as well. Writing report card comments involves using examples of tests, exams, and assignments the student has completed over weeks and months of schoolwork. New and experienced teachers can benefit from helpful ways to enhance tasks and save time during one of the busiest times of the school year. Here are some tips: Finalize the Template in Advance Depending on the school advisory committee, report…

The through of report card time can send shivers down the spines of even the most experienced teachers. For new teachers, the first report card can be even more daunting. Report card comments serve as a measurement of a student’s progression for teachers, parents, and the student. To be effective, comments should be properly written to provide insight into a student’s weaknesses and strengths with respect to their educational attributes. Keeping a report card comments bank may help new teachers gain their footing in their career path. Below are some tips! How to Survive the First Report Card Confused or…

Report cards are a very important tool for high school students, especially those that hope to pursue post-secondary education or enter the workforce. Report cards give students and parents a better understanding of the areas where the student thrives and the areas where they need to improve. This is valuable information to have as students embark on the next stage of their academic or professional life. To make it easier on teachers, we have provided some report card writing tips to help teachers ensure they are making the most of their report card comments. Use the Magical Comment Format A…

With March Break over, the time between now and the end of school will zip by fast! It will soon be time to begin writing comments within the report card comment section. Before the overwhelming feelings set in, we have compiled several tips and techniques to help you make the most of this important endeavour. Remember that every report card comment can have an impact on the future learning of a student. Be Honest When You Start Writing One of the vital report card comment ideas that hold true for every student is that you should always write with honesty.…

If you are in the midst of your first year of teaching or preparing to begin your career as a teacher, this article is for you! Report cards play an important role in the education and overall direction of each student. Understanding how to provide appropriate report card comments can help create a better year for both the teacher and student. Keep reading below for some report card tips for new teachers. Begin Work on Report Cards Early At report card time, there is a lot of information to sort through and put down into words for each of your…

Whether you cheer or moan at report card season, there is no avoiding it! Luckily, there are several things you can do to prepare yourself, and your mind, for writing report card comments. Start Early Start early! This cannot be stressed enough, especially when there are dozens of report cards to address. For situations where you must wait and receive the school’s template, begin jotting down remarks on the individual student elsewhere. Keeping a report card comments diary or online folder at the beginning of every semester will help monitor the student’s progress and give examples of what to write…

Even teachers need help and instruction from time to time, particularly when it comes to writing report card comments. Following a few simple guidelines can provide the answers to the most concerning of questions while saving time in the process! Experience has taught us all the basic do’s and don’ts of formulating comments for the dozens of students we teach. One rule of thumb is to keep the report card comment section to a maximum of 80 to 100 words. This allows for a sufficient amount of information without “losing” the interest of the reader. Topics to Cover via Report…

Preparing report card comments involves concentrated effort and time on the teacher’s part to ensure all students receive fair and individualized communication on their learning development. Here’s how to identify weak students in the classroom. Signs of Weak Students in the Classroom By acknowledging the reason behind a student falling behind or lack of motivation with one or more particular subjects, the teacher is then able to develop a sound learning plan. A student with poor reading skills may have trouble properly reading sentences aloud. This form of literacy weakness can be reflected in their work via poor writing skills.…

Front view portrait of African American teacher sitting at desk in chemistry class with molecule models, copy space For teachers, report card comments are a key tool in communicating the status of a student’s learning curve to students, their caregivers, and to other education professionals. By following a formulated style of grading, teachers can measure achievements, strengths, and areas where student improvement is needed. Report card comments should be based on the results of tests, homework, projects, assignments, and presentations. This section can also be used to reflect on the classroom behavior and outcome of one-on-one interactions with the student.…

Report card comments need to be clear, concise, and suggestive to help students improve along their education route. While creativity is key to writing informative report card remarks, the goal is to stimulate learning and give a true assessment of each individual student. Tracking a student’s progress and performance in class requires organization and precise evaluation. There are research-proven methods to properly form an accurate assessment. Try the following tasks to assess students’ performance. Change the Weighting Scale Common report card comments for students are based on a grade created by assignments, exams, quizzes, tests, projects, and homework completion. The…

The new school year is fast approaching. Get prepared with a report card comments collection! Report card comments can have a large impact on students, parents, and future educators, so it is important to write the appropriate words. Every student deserves to have support, particularly the ones who seem to struggle. Writing report card comments for struggling students can be challenging to organize and write. This is when it is crucial to consider each individual student’s needs and progress. Consider the report card comments for different types of students. Be careful not to use negative comments to describe a student’s…

Report card comments are intended to be a personalized roadmap of a student’s learning challenges and successes. Whether the writer uses this opportunity to express a clear message or is bound by an administration-required language, the comment section should never be left blank. Report card comments are more than a communication method to keep parents or guardians abreast of their child’s education. The purpose of report card comments varies depending on the student and teacher. For students, these comments offer feedback and suggestions on where the student needs to improve while serving as a guide on their success. For teachers,…

Report card time is one of the few chances a teacher has to influence both the student and the parent with meaningful report card comments. While the purpose of writing report card comments can differ for the teacher, parent, and student, the intention is to measure the student’s academic progress. Being responsible for setting students’ futures on track with learning techniques and notes can cause anxiety and apprehension. To alleviate some of this pressure, we have some suggestions to help teachers customize meaningful and positive report card comments. Focus on the Student’s Efforts and Strategies For positive report card comments,…

As we tell our students to be prepared for class each day, we too, as teachers, must be prepared for report card season. Report card comments are the steppingstones to a student’s future education endeavors. If you find yourself overwhelmed each time report card season arrives, here are eight tips to help you get better prepared. Be Specific Whether you have 50 report cards to complete or 20, be student-specific in the comment section. Writing a sentence or two about a specific assignment or action the student did will give you a foundation for your comments. This may include an…

Report card comments are crucial learning tools for both the teacher and the student but only if the comments convey a specific message. Rather than glossing over the strengths and weaknesses of a student’s learning curve, the message should inspire ambition by examples. Before composing any form of report statement, use the following tips to source the underlying message you want to communicate. Effective report card comments should be precise and reflective of the limitations and the strengths the student has demonstrated in their work and in the classroom. Why Do We Write Report Card Comments? Report card remarks are…

Writing student report card comments is an important task to communicate each student’s strengths and weaknesses to the parents, as well as to other educators. By measuring a student’s progress, a teacher is able to concentrate on their needs. To help with this influential task, we have compiled tips for writing effective report card comments. Employ the Sandwich Feedback Technique The sandwich feedback technique can be beneficial if applied properly and carefully. It is important to begin the comment section with a positive notation to set the stage for being a supporter of the student. By doing this, you are…

Regardless of whether you teach Science, Math, or even English, report card comments do not always come easy. Sure, the report card comments collection you may have stored away throughout the semester can help, but there are also six main mistakes you may want to avoid. Grading Too Much The first lesson for all teachers, especially new ones, is to avoid grading too much. Leave the grading to projects and tests that the students have been able to prepare for. This will give you, the parents, and the students a better measurement to gauge their learning process, their strengths, and…

Report card time? Don’t let the stress of producing an enlightening but professional report on your students’ progress overshadow the importance of being tactful and graceful in your writing. Keep in mind some parents may require more explanation than others, especially when it comes to any drastic drop in grades. Continue reading to learn some tips on how to design the perfect report card. Consider What You Want to Covey First, consider the content you want to convey. Depending on the subject(s) you are focused on, create a scenario based on the core principles or the skill sets. With math,…

The thought of report cards can often send shivers up the spine of students, and teachers alike. While the student is responsible for the grades, the report card comments are down to the teacher. This valuable assessment tool provides information on a student’s achievements, and direction for future learning.  Need help writing detailed report card comments? Below, we’ve gathered the seven main objectives for report card remarks in all English-speaking countries.  Proceed with Compassion When writing comments, put yourself in the parents’ frame of mind. Start with focusing on the students’ strengths. This will set the tone of the comment…

We all know it can be hard to write encouraging report card remarks for each student. However, it’s crucial for their future education and self-esteem to get the proper message across without focusing on just the negative. Report cards, and the comments, follow a student throughout their education. By making harsh or judgemental comments, it can create a negative imprint between the school, who you represent, and the parent(s). Follow these five steps to create a report card comment collection to help you save time for the next reporting period. Write the Easy Comments First Begin all report card messages…

Make no mistake: report cards have structure. Since so many have to be generated for so many students, it’s a time-consuming process. But it’s still an important task for any teacher to ensure they’re completed properly. Though they can be painful to read at times, report cards are actually a good way for both students and parents to track progress in the student’s educational evolution. When it comes to commenting, it’s necessary to pay attention to what phrasing is used. Too often teachers go wild with comments, both positive and negative. Certain terms are better to use, like “well-done” or…

Report card writing is one of the most cumbersome jobs for teachers. Time consuming, specific to each student, necessary for student records—all of these factors need to be considered when Canadian teachers craft report cart remarks. Sometimes writing constructive and detailed report card comments can take a heavy mental toll and you might find your mind wandering. Thankfully there are some guidelines to make report card comments writing a bit easier: Face It Head on and Start Early There really is no better way to tackle writing arduous report card comments than getting an early start and attacking it with…

Teaching comes with a lot of hardships and writing report cards for students is no exception. Arguably creating report card remarks is THE most arduous part. Grades have to be placed, comments have to be written in an exact format and with the correct tone, and your compliments and suggestions need to be articulated in the right way for students and parents. Report card writing is cumbersome and often taxing on teachers. But here are six strategies to consider that will make report card writing much easier. Employ the Sandwich Feedback Technique “Sandwiching” is a great technique for writing report…

Sometimes teachers are hard-pressed to find the motivation to complete the more menial tasks associated with their jobs. Writing report card comments is one such task. As much as you love what you do and you want your students to succeed, it can be incredibly challenging and sometimes downright difficult to describe the sum of their achievements in a semester in a few short statements. When it comes to coming up with comment ideas for report cards, a little advanced preparation can go a long way. Here are some great tips to help you get ahead and stay on track…

Being a teacher is stressful and challenging enough without having to add virtual learning curriculums to your never-ending to-do list. As much as you want to do right by your students and ensure that they’re getting the most out of their education during these trying times, you also need to take the time to come up with suitable and insightful report card comments when the grading season begins. Here are some quick and easy stress-reducing tips to help ease the burden of coming up with comment ideas for report cards. Get an Early Start One of the biggest mistakes you…

Writing report card comments can be nothing short of a tedious and time-consuming task, but it’s also a core component of being a good educator. Here are some useful tips for coming up with comment ideas for report cards that can make the process a little easier. Make a To-Do List with Strict Deadlines Create a tangible plan of action or to-do list complete with specific goals or deadlines, so that you can cross items off your list as you go. This will help you keep track of your progress and ensure that all of the top priority tasks are…

Whenever we’re tasked with doing certain aspects of our jobs that we don’t necessarily enjoy, it’s easier to get distracted by every little thing. For many teachers, writing report card comments isn’t exactly the most exciting or enjoyable part of the job, but it’s necessary to help students recognize their academic strengths and weaknesses. Here are some useful tips to help you stay focused while coming up with comment ideas for report cards. Identify Your Distractions The first step to removing distractions is identifying exactly what they are. Clutter, social media, electronic devices, uncomfortable room temperature, pets, personal issues, etc.…

After a particularly challenging year of preparing for and enduring virtual lessons, getting in the right headspace to write report cards can be tough for a lot of teachers. Unfortunately, it’s an essential part of the job. Report cards are essential tools that help students and their parents gauge the progress that has been made over the course of the school year. They provide great insight into the areas in which students excel and where improvement is needed. Report card comments allow teachers to provide valuable insight into a student’s progress and expand on why students received the grades they…

A lot of students probably don’t realize that their teachers often dread report card season almost as much as they do (for different reasons, obviously). Writing report cards can be time-consuming and challenging, especially when you’re tasked with evaluating an entire semester’s worth of progress (or lack thereof) in just a few short sentences. To help you save some time and energy, here are some helpful tips for writing thoughtful report card comments. Don’t Wait Until the End of the Term to Get Started “Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have…

Some students dread report card season, while others look forward to it. Report cards are essential teaching tools that help teachers track their students’ progress. Teachers can make appropriate report card comments and recommendations based on their observations and the learning styles of their students. Accordingly, students can see where they need to make improvements and how they can boost their grades through constructive criticism. Even in the best of times, however, teachers are often stretched thin. Coming up with unique, yet relevant report card commentary when pressed for time can be challenging, but it’s worth it. Here are a…

It’s back to school season and depending on where you live you might be going back to the classroom to teach your students. Now that the lockdown is over and school is back in session, it might be a good time to ensure that you are being as efficient as possible with your grading and report card comments. Here are some tips for making your grading as quick and high-quality as possible whether you are teaching in a classroom or online. Pick the Optimal Time When grading, choose the best time of day for you and stick to it. If…

The school year is just around the corner, and whether you’re teaching in class or online, it will be more important than ever to communicate feedback to your students. Report card comments are essential to helping students understand where they need to improve and what they’re already doing well at. However, old habits die hard. If you’ve never considered how you give feedback and how it impacts your students, here are some important tips. Keep reading to find out the major grading mistakes you need to avoid in your teacher report card comments. Highlighting Weaknesses While it is important that…

Every teacher needs to give their students feedback to help them track their progress and improve over the year. However, after teaching for years, it can be a challenge to discover new and creative ways to give feedback and help your students be more efficient. If you want to write better report card comments for your students, here are seven key tips to consider. Goal-Referenced To provide effective feedback to your students, you must write constructive report card comments that are goal-referenced. Students need to understand that there was a goal, they needed to take certain actions to achieve that…

When it’s time to write your report card comments, it is important to be as effective as possible. You want to clearly express where your students are succeeding, explain where they need to improve, and provide them actionable ways to meet their goals. Here are some helpful tips for writing productive feedback for students. Be Affirmative on What Is Right Giving feedback to your students is not about focusing on the negatives or generalizing the positives. Comments should always be framed in a positive manner, reassuring students that they are on the right path. Instead of sugar-coating your positive comments…

Feedback is crucial for all students but sometimes the comments you need to make as a teacher are hard to hear. However, there is a way for teacher report card comments to be both constructive and positive. By creating thoughtful and effective responses, you can lead your students to a greater sense of engagement, willingness in their ability to accomplish the task, and the motivation to do so. Here are some helpful tips for how to write constructive criticism in your report card comments. Think about Why You Are Giving Criticism Before you give criticism to your students, take a…

Establishing a positive and healthy student-teacher relationship can be helpful and beneficial in multiple ways. In the academic and social environment, it can improve self-esteem, boost engagement, and so much more for students, and these results can be long-lasting for both the teacher and the student. Positive relationships between teachers and students can be established through effective teacher report card comments, which communicate positive expectations, demonstrate care, and develop confidence in the classroom. Here are some important benefits to know about positive report card comments. Promotes Academic Success Through report card remarks, teachers can help students promote academic success by…

Do you feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to write report cards? Whether you’re a new teacher or have been teaching for years, it can be challenging to think of unique, effective, and clear report card comments to write for your students to help them improve and feel confident in their accomplishments. Instead of making things up or rushing with quick, vague comments, here are some tips to help you write quality report card remarks in Canada and the U.S. Get the Support You Need You can do some research online to help you get some…

Managing a large classroom, teaching children with different learning styles, creating learning exercises, and marking assignments can get overwhelming for teachers. When report card season comes around, it can feel as though there is not enough time to get through all of the work! To make life easier, the Report Card Comments Collection for teachers can help. This book is designed to provide teachers with edited comments and report card remarks that are organized by subject, positive to negative, short to long, and general to specific. With this tool, teachers can find the right comments to…

When it comes to writing report card comments, most teachers usually fall into one of the two following categories: 1. Those that do it THE HARD WAY: – Spend massive amounts of time inventing comments from scratch. – Write new comments for every report card and proofreading and editing comments. As one of my colleague routinely complained each year during the report card writing time, "Who has the time to plan lessons when all of it is taken up by writing these blasted report cards!" 2. Those that do it THE EASY WAY: Wisely and prudently save time by using a collection of completed comments such as the 181-page Report Card Comments that is already ranked and organized by: subject, most positive to most negative; shortest to longest; general to most specific and clearly marked accordingly. They browse effortlessly through cornucopia of subject and learning skills comments, locate those the…