5 Steps on Making Parent-Friendly Report Card Comments

Posted by | October 22, 2021

Father And Teenage Son Having Discussion With Female Teacher At High School Parents Evening

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 with a positive note for each and every student. The reports of students who seem to require less attention and support may be easier to start with. Take heed and address any concerns with a tactful note.

Provide a Meaningful Summary of What Students Know and Can Do

When addressing concerns, be mindful of the strengths of the student. Highlight these strengths and suggest how they can be used in ways to boost any problem areas. Save serious concerns and solutions for a phone call or a parent-teacher meeting.

Collect Consistent Evidence about Student Behavior

It may help at report card time if you have a collection of notes taken over the semester. Keep tabs on the student’s writing, test scores, and any extra help given. Having a folder with samples of the student’s work would help both you and the parents at meeting time.

This can also help to monitor progress between reporting times. With the responsibility of teaching so many students, it is nearly impossible to remember every significant moment with each student.

Helping Parents Understand Performance Standards

Just as every student is unique, every parent should be thought of the same way. The performance standard of the student needs to be outlined in layman’s terms. This will help the parent and the student to understand what is expected and how it is measured with the school’s standards. Having samples of the student’s work throughout the course of time will not only encourage the student but will also help the parent to understand their child’s strengths.

Begin with an Adjective Brainstorm

Two or three weeks before report cards are due, make a list of the students with blank sections beside each name. Over the course of time, write down a couple of adjectives that portrays the student’s learning style. Using these examples when writing personalized report card comments may make the process easier.

TIMESAVERS for TEACHERS provides online resources for teachers to help meet all of their demands, including The Teacher’s BinderSubstitute Teacher Instruction Kit, and Classroom Awards. From classroom time-saving resources to comment ideas for report cards, our website offers assistance and guidance. No subscription is required to gain access to our interactive PDFs that can be downloaded time and time again. To see our resources on report card remarks in Canada and the USA, email us at info@timesaversforteachers.com with any questions.

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