Teaching can be equal parts fulfilling and exhausting. However, coming up with report card comments can be especially difficult because we are exhausted after teaching, assessing, & juggling all the extra duties. We have students with IEPs, ESL students, gifted students, and students with all sorts of challenges. Writing these comments can be downright daunting. However, writing report cards does not have to be a painful experience. I’m here to help take some of the overwhelm out of the end of the year & make the process more manageable. These pre-written, editable sentences, you can save hours of time and still provide thoughtful and personalized feedback to your students and their families. These comments cover a range of topics, from academic progress to social skills and behavior. Check out the editable report card comments I use HERE.
1. Be Specific & Clear
When writing report card comments, it’s crucial to be specific and clear. Avoid using vague language that doesn’t provide any real insight into the student’s progress. Instead, use specific examples of their achievements and areas that need improvement. For example, instead of saying, “Johnny is a good student,” you could say, “Johnny consistently completes his assignments on time and shows a strong understanding of math concepts, but needs to work on his spelling.”
2. Focus on the Positive
While it’s important to highlight areas that need improvement, it’s also crucial to focus on positive achievements. Start by mentioning something positive about the student’s progress before discussing areas that need work. For example, “Emily has shown excellent progress in her reading comprehension this semester, and with some additional practice, she will continue to improve.”
3. Use Age-Appropriate Language When Possible
When writing report card comments, it’s essential to use language that is age-appropriate. Keep in mind the grade level of your students and use language that they will understand. Avoid using jargon or technical language that may confuse students or parents.
4. Be Objective
Avoid personal biases and stick to the facts. For example, if a student is struggling in math, avoid saying things like “I think Johnny doesn’t like math.” Instead, use objective language like, “Johnny needs additional support with understanding multiplication and division concepts.”
5. Provide Constructive Criticism
It’s essential to provide feedback that is helpful and actionable. Instead of saying, “Samantha needs to improve her behavior in class,” provide specific examples of the behaviors that need improvement and suggestions on how to make improvements. “Samantha can improve her behavior in class by raising her hand before speaking and listening to her classmates.” It’s always nice to sandwich any criticism between two positive comments.
Don’t forget to proofread and double-check report cards. During crunch time, mistakes can easily be made. As communication with parents reflects on teachers’ professionalism, report cards should be as perfect as possible.
To make the report card writing process more efficient, here is a list of general report card comments that can help you get started in a pinch.
- I am concerned about _‘s organizational skills and his/her responsibility related to turning in assignments on time.
- _ is helpful and kind and is a pleasure to be around.
- _ has done well in many areas but I am concerned that his/her lack of listening/focus/motivation and following directions/working independently/working quietly has contributed to his lower grade in _.
- _ has made good/excellent/outstanding progress in all academic areas.
- _ is bright, motivated, and hardworking and can be proud of his/her accomplishments this year.
- Unfortunately, _‘s grades have suffered from missing assignments.
- _ is gaining confidence in _ but would benefit from _.
- _ follows classroom rules consistently and is a good role model.
- Please encourage _ to _ each day to help him/her improve in _.
- _ has a positive attitude and is a joy to teach.
- _ seems to find _ challenging and would benefit from reading nightly/practicing math facts/working online…
- _ is a(n) awesome/wonderful/fabulous grader and I have enjoyed getting to know him/her this year.
- _ is capable of achieving a higher grade in but needs to _ in order to make progress.
If you would like to generate comments in half the time, I also have a full collection of report card comments / remarks for elementary school teachers. This is the template I reference each year. I just edit, cut, and paste into my report cards each trimester. The trimesters are color coded. 1st trimester is green, 2nd trimester is red, and 3rd trimester is black. Behavior and work habits tend to coincide with academic achievement, but as you know, that is not always the case. Since each student is so unique, I have organized my comments from highest academic performance to lowest. It is my hope that these drafted comments will make writing report cards just that much easier for you too!
They cover social skills, personal responsibility, and academics for students at grade level, below grade level, and above grade level. I also provide specific comments for students who joined the class later in the grading period. If you want SAVE HOURS writing report card comments then these editable, polished, pre-written sentences are for you!
While report card writing may not be the most enjoyable part of teaching, following these general principles and using a handy list of phrases can help make the process less stressful and more efficient. We can provide honest and constructive feedback that encourages students’ growth and development.
Need a new marking pen for your report cards? These are my favorite! I love the bright colors that don’t bleed through.
Happy Teaching!
~ Melissa
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