6 Mistakes You Should Avoid When Writing Report Card Comments

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 their weaknesses.

Using Grades as a Form of Punishment

Before jumping to conclusions, grades can be unintentionally used as a form of punishment. At least it can seem that way in the eyes of students and parents, depending on the circumstances. It helps to be in the mindset of choosing words to help the student, not zeroing in on the weakness or an unfortunate interaction you may have had with the student. Use positive reinforcement to motivate the student.

Highlighting Weaknesses

By highlighting the student’s weaknesses only, you’re not doing them any favors. You want to strike a balance. Highlighting weaknesses allows you to focus on how to help the student improve. Most students depend on you, their teacher, to be their mentor and bring out their strengths to help improve any weaknesses.

Providing Grades Only

One of the biggest mistakes most teachers make is to place a number or letter grade on a project or report card without further explanation. A grade alone cannot come close to detailing what may need to be improved or completely showcase specific goals met. Everyone needs a form of feedback so prepare the comment section to be a “written grade”.

Equating Grades without Understanding

Another comment idea for report cards is addressing the given grade. Giving a grade on a report card has more weight than many teachers realize. Remember the grade or mark reflects a particular assumption to the student, the parents, the other teachers, and even future learning administrators such as post-secondary admissions.

Contacting Parents Only at Report Card Time

Time waits for no one, and you may feel overwhelmed at times, to say the least. It is important to draft time into your school schedule to speak to the parents throughout the year. Don’t wait until report card time to notify the family on a learning issue or even a positive breakthrough in a subject. Set up a weekly or monthly time to keep in touch with different parents.

For more detailed information and help with teacher report card comments, rely on the research provided by TIMESAVERS for TEACHERS. Featuring over 1,800 commonly used report card remarks, our Report Card Comments Collection is one of our top-selling products. We also offer these other great resources that can make report card writing a lot easier for teachers of all grade levels: The Teacher’s Binder, Substitute Teacher Instruction Kit, and Classroom Awards. Contact us today to learn more.