How to Write Report Card Comments

Filling out report cards can be difficult for teachers, particularly when it comes to the comment section. When you have many students, it's not always easy to think of report card comments that are unique, nor is it always easy to think of positive ways to word things. There are some ways, however, to lessen that burden.

Things You'll Need

• an hour or two a day for a week
• sense of each student's strengths and weaknesses
• copy of the grade-level expectations

Instructions

1. Start early and work on a few report cards each day. Waiting to the last minute to write report card comments means you'll be feeling pressured for time which, in turn, doesn't allow for personalized comments. Each student's report card deserves thoughtful, insightful and helpful comments. Last minute comments tend to be less specific.

2. Begin each comment sections with a genuinely positive observation about the student. Even the most difficult student has a trait worthy of noting, even if it's something as simple as "keeps his materials organized" or "is showing growth in _____ area."

3. Frame comments positively. You may need to make a list of the not-so positive things you have to convey and come up with a way to re-frame them. For instance, instead of saying a child doesn't listen to directions, you can say he's "beginning to improve his listening skills" or "is eager to contribute to class discussions, sometimes to the point of forgetting to wait his turn."

4. Speak with other teachers who have involvement with a student to make sure your comments encompass everything that needs to be said. Some students may spend time in a resource room or with a speech therapist, about which time you're not able to comment. It's important that parents know what these professionals are seeing as well. Ask them if there's anything you need to note or invite them to enclose their own comments with yours.

5. Provide as much specific information as possible. Parents truly want to know how their child is doing in every aspect of her learning and how it compares to the grade-level standards. Make sure to explain any grades are lower than expected and to provide feedback about how a student can improve in specific tasks, routines or subject matters.

6. Invest in a quick reference book like Scholastic's "Writing Effective Report Card Comments" (see Resources below). These books have suggestions of how to phrase comments for every subject matter, social skill sets and other issues that teachers encounter. You can also access lists of comments on teacher websites like Teachers Network or Teach Net.

Tips & Warnings

• Try hard not to compare students to each other when you write report card comments. The important thing is how each student is living up to the academic and social expectations, not whether he's doing it as well as his peers.

• As hard as it is to admit, there are some students about whom you may have a difficult time finding something positive to say. Ask your colleagues for help, a little distance may be all that's needed.