Report cards are wordy documents. Yet when we think of report cards we think of letter or number grades, and the reactions are often to these letters and numbers alone. Twice a year, teachers get to write a report for parents on how their child is performing in school. Performance is put into two columns: behaviour and academics. Sometimes I wonder if parents even read what I've spent so long toiling over.
What are the purpose of report cards?
One Ontarion School Board describes it like this:
Report cards are intended to assess, evaluate, and report on student progress... Assessments are based on oral, performance, and written tasks, and are designed to improve learning. Report card assessments are used to measure:
- What students already know and can do
- How to help students improve
- How much students have learned in a period of time
Based on evidence of achievement, teachers apply professional judgment to assign a letter or number grade in a subject. The grade reflects the student's consistent level of achievement throughout the course, and may give special weight to recent achievement.
Here is a sample Learning Skills comment from my reports this year:
Student’s effort to complete assigned work varies. He is a strong auditory learner and, despite nearly constant off-task behaviour, can readily repeat what has been discussed both orally and in written form. He is a confident speaker and enjoys presenting to the class. Unfortunately, he chooses to use his presentation skills in off-task behaviours as well. He is not motivated by a need to complete assignments or by grades. While Student can be charming, he is often in direct defiance of school rules due to behaviour issues on the schoolyard and after school. He sits next to the teacher for most of the day and will work with the teacher to complete assignments. When he focuses, assignments are completed quickly and to a high level. There are alternative outlets for Student's classroom antics, for instance seeking out age-appropriate improv and drama groups in the community would address his need to entertain in an appropriate manner as well as perhaps motivate Student to do better in school.
This section of the report card is meant to assess the skills needed for success. I use it to report on what I see the student doing (the student above is off-task and needs to redress his behaviour). I try to describe specific behaviour I see that accurately represents the student. I also try to be encouraging and positive.
I like to use phrases like these
| - Attempts to, Makes attempts - Continues to Need Help with - Encouragement with - Experiences Difficulty with - Is being encouraged to - Is benefiting from practice with |
- Is learning to - Is receiving additional help with - Is working at - Needs more opportunities to - Needs ongoing help with, Needs ongoing assistance with - Needs support |
- Needs to develop - Needs to improve, Needs improvement in - Requires adult support for - Requires more time - Tries to, Makes attempts to |
How do you note a bad attitude?
Although there has been some improvement in Student's attitude toward his schoolwork, it is not consistent. He will need continual guidance from home and school throughout the rest of the year.
Verbs to Leave Out: Always, Never, Won't, Can't....
As a parent, I value EVERYTHING you write in your reports. And I read, sometimes two or three times, those reports with great interest. And if I don't fully understand what you've written, you can expect to hear from me...as soon as the following day.
ReplyDeleteQuite often, parents just glance at the letter grade and forget to concentrate on the remarks section. That's the "meat and potatoes" of the whole report.