TIPS AND SUGGESTED REMARKS ON REPORT CARDS

Four times a year I’m given the monumental task of creating report cards that leave an accurate record of my
students’ performance in the classroom without making anybody cry. As a teacher, it is our duty to be truthful,
but we also need to be tactful. This week I’ll share with you some of the tried and true report card comments
that I have used over the years. I’ll also give you a peek into over forty of my actual report card  comments that
may give you a few ideas and save you valuable time when you write your own comments this year. 

Start on a Positive Note

I always begin each comment with a general statement letting the parents know how happy I am to be
teaching their child, or how much their child is learning and growing:
 It has truly been a pleasure getting to know your child this quarter.
 Your child has made great progress across the curriculum since the beginning of the school year.
 Your child has made very good academic and/or social progress this quarter.
 Your child has done a very nice job this quarter, taking pride in her work and completing assignments
with quality in mind.
 Your child continues to have a great year in 3rd grade.
 It has been a pleasure having the opportunity to work with (student) during his 3rd grade year.

Provide Specific Information across Several Different Areas

Next, include formative evidence that lets the parents know how you view their child as a person, a classmate,
and a student. You may notice several of the reading, writing, communication, and math stems come from the
Common Core State Standards.
Personal Attributes
The student . . . 
 is an enthusiastic learner.
 tackles new challenges seriously/eagerly and with a positive attitude.
 arrives at school each day with a smile, ready to learn.
 is an active participant in small group discussions.
 puts evident effort into his work as he completes assignments with quality in mind.
 shows perseverance in all he does.
 has many insightful ideas to share with the class.
 is kind, caring, and friendly character makes her a role model for classmates.
 has a cheery demeanor that has made her a friend to many in our classroom.
 uses common sense to problem solve independently and in a positive manner.
 is respectful of others.
 adapts easily to new situations.

Behavior
The student . . . 
 consistently makes good choices in all parts of the school day.
 demonstrates behavior that sets the standard for our class.
 is able to separate work and social times.
 is polite to adults and peers in and out of the classroom.
 manages his feelings and emotions well in the classroom.
 reacts appropriately in adverse situations.
 is a role model for our class with his good behavior.

Work Habits
The student . . . 
 always completes daily assignments in a timely manner.
 returns homework on time and well done.
 stays focused on the task at hand.
 uses class time constructively.
 consistently uses personal best effort on a daily basis.
 completes work with quality in mind.
 is a self-motivated worker.
  demonstrates hard work and produces quality results.
 is an inquisitive learner who enjoys analyzing situations and making new discoveries in all parts
 of the school day.
 actively engages in working carefully and conscientiously.
 pays attention to detail in daily work.
 follows directions.
 works independently and stays on task.
 uses higher level thinking strategies to apply learned skills to new situations.
 has a passion for [subject area] that shows through the resolve he puts into every single
 assignment.
 works very well with others in a group.
 shows perseverance on challenging assignments.
 is able to transition easily from one activity to the next.

Social Skills
The student . . . 
 is always willing to help a classmate.
 values what others have to say.
 treats others fairly.
 gets along well with others in the classroom and/or on the playground.
 is polite to peers and/or adults, in and out of the classroom.
 takes the thoughts and feeling of others into account before speaking or acting.
 handles disagreements with peers appropriately and diplomatically.
 makes friends easily.
 enjoys spending time with friends.

Communication
The student . . . 
 effectively participates in a range of conversations with diverse partners.
 builds on other’s ideas and expresses her own clearly and persuasively.
 is an active participant in small and/or large group discussions.
 is an active listener and important member of group discussions.
 asks and answers questions that demonstrate understanding.
 asks questions or seeks clarification when needed.
 listens well and shares ideas frequently.
 shares appropriate and relevant information.
 listens to the ideas, opinions, and comments of others without interrupting.
 responds appropriately to other’s comments during partner/turn-and-talk time.

Reading
The student . . . 
 retells events from a story in a sequential manner. 
 reads closely to determine what the text says explicitly and makes logical inferences from it.
 goes back to the text and cites evidence to support conclusions drawn from the text.
 has a good sense of story structure. She's able to identify the setting, characters, problem, and
 solution.
 describes characters in a story and explains how they impact the story.
 analyzes how two or more texts are similar.
 uses taught reading strategies well to gain meaning, especially . . . 
 uses strategies such as making connections, asking questions about the text, and inferencing to
 aid their comprehension.
 has very good fluency and intonation.
 reads dialogue with expression.
 uses text features and search tools to efficiently locate information relevant to a given topic.
 uses information gained from illustrations to demonstrate understanding of the text.
 reads and comprehends informational texts, including those for science and social studies.
 chooses books that are at her “just right” reading level.
 has very good reading stamina. The student is able to read for ___ consecutive minutes.
 works well and participates in small, guided reading groups.
Writing
The student . . . 
 shows strong knowledge and application of writing conventions such as capitalization and
 punctuation.
 has shown very good/great improvement in spelling and word work over the past several weeks.
 produces writing that has been a joy to read over the past few weeks. I especially liked [examples
 of what the student wrote that you felt was well done.
 has language arts skills that continue to blossom, especially in the areas of . . . 
 conveys her thoughts and ideas clearly.
 writes sentences that are complete thoughts.
 writes opinion pieces with well thought-out, supportive reasoning.
 shows a strong grasp of organization in her writing. She stays on topic and uses relevant details.
 uses details to expand upon the great written thoughts she is already putting on paper.
 uses strong descriptive language, allowing the audience to clearly visualize what is being
 described.
 uses an appropriate voice in her writing that allows her personality to come through in her written
pieces. 
Math
The student . . . 
 knows basic math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).
 uses various strategies to solve one- and two-step word problems.
 identifies and extends mathematical patterns.
 understands place value and uses it to round numbers to the nearest . . .
 solves real-world mathematical problems involving perimeter and area.
 understands the relationship between addition and subtraction, and multiplication and division.
 can identify the attributes of two- and three-dimensional objects.
 uses measurement tools well to determine length/volume/time/money/temperature.
 uses data to create charts and graphs.
 uses data from charts and graphs to solve problems. 

Set a Goal
While the students may be learning and growing, there is always room for improvement. Provide at least one
specific goal that you will be working on with the student the following quarter. Use all of the comments
above to help you set your goals. Simply add beginnings such as:
 Your child would benefit from . . .
 This quarter we will be working on . . .
 I would like to see your child work on . . .
 Your child needs to pay closer attention to . . .
 One area for improvement is . . . 

Closings
I always close on a positive note, giving a boost to my students' confidence. I let them know how proud I am of
what they have been doing, and how I look forward to what is to come:
 I am so proud of all you have accomplished. Keep up the wonderful things you are doing!
 You are an amazing student, and you truly shine!
 I can hardly wait to see how you impress me during the next quarter!
 You have had a terrific quarter, and I am confident the next one will be even better!
 
50 Quick Report Card General Comments For Assessing Students
Making general comments on a student's report card is a great way to inform their parents or guardians of
how their child is performing in school. Unlike subject-specific comments, these report card general
comments will be able to give parents of the students a greater understanding of their child's school work
habits.
1. Your child is working well with others and is also excelling in all study areas.
2. _____ is a dedicated worker, and is eager to learn new skills and techniques.
3. This student was struggling in _____ at the beginning of the reporting period, but has improved their
overall performance in this subject area.
4. ____ always uses his or her spare time to complete past assignments.
5. Your child is learning to become a great listener, and takes directions well.
6. _____ has a great personality and is a true asset to this classroom.
7. This student has worked very hard for their high marks on this report card, and is showing constant
improvement.

8. While _____ was having a hard time earlier in this reporting period, he or she has been working very hard
to improve their overall grade level.
9. Your child is gaining self-confidence in the areas of study where they had a difficult time in at the beginning
of this reporting period.
10. _____ is constantly increasing their skills in every subject.
11. Although _____ is having trouble in several subjects, he or she is trying their hardest to improve.
12. _____ has a great attitude towards learning, and is willing to take direction and construction when
needed.
13. _____ is a great asset to this classroom and actively volunteers to help around the room.
14. Your child seems excited every morning and is willing to try their hardest to overcome problems and
issues.
15. _____ is a joy to have in the class, he or she has a great sense of humor and is constantly filling their spare
time reading stories.
16. _____ is a very pleasant student, and is working well with others.
17. Your child understands the importance of sharing and works well when in a group setting.
18. _____ has above-grade-level achievements and has consistently shown improvement throughout the
reporting period.
19. This student is able to respond well with direction and takes constructive criticism very well.
20. Your child is making great strides in their academic standings, and has consistently shown improvement in
weak subject areas.
21. If needed, your child accepts responsibilities and is willing to accept the consequences to their actions.
22. _____ needs to learn how to listen better, and is often a distraction to fellow students. I suggest clarifying
the importance of concentration and respecting others with your child.
23. _____ has been working very hard in this reporting period, and has shown outstanding progress in the
following subject areas:
24. While _____ is excited to learn about all subject areas, he or she is exceptionally enthusiastic to work on
his or her _______
25. Due to your child's exceptional quality of work, he or she may exceed this grade's expectations in the
following subjects:
26. _____ does well in class; however, he or she needs to learn how to work well with others. He or she is
able to perform well alone, however, in group settings _____ does not perform as well.
27. Your child is exceptionally mature when compared to the rest of his or her classmates.
28. _____ is excited to learn new ideas and can grasp this new information quickly.
29. _____ does not seem to enjoy class, and is frequently disrupting students around them. I would like to
meet with you to discuss ways to eliminate this issue.
30. Your child can organize his or her thoughts in a well-laid-out manner.
31. _____ is one of the most creative students in my class, and they are more than willing to try out new
ideas and concepts.
32. _____ needs to improve their overall work habits and concentration skills. I feel that he or she would
excel once they gain a better understanding of concentration.
33. Your child's handwriting needs to be improved to meet standard grade-level.
34. _____ loves learning his or her alphabet and is readily grasping new ideas.
35. _____ is sensitive and cries easily during stressful situations within the classroom.
36. Your child is able to make friends quickly and easily and is often found in the center of most classroom
discussions.
37. _____ needs to apply themselves more to all areas of study in order to meet the minimum standard
requirements for this grade level.
38. _____ needs to increase his or her ability to listen and follow directions carefully. While this student has
been performing well overall, they need to follow directions more carefully.
39. Your child enjoys learning about new things and reading stories.
40. _____ is very respectful of other students in the classroom and waits till it is his or her turn to speak.
41. ______ has the ability to put together large sentences and is also a creative thinker. He or she is one of
the most creative thinkers in the class.
42. ______ is able to point out and discuss various shapes and is currently progressing ahead of the rest of
the class.
43. Your child is a great helper within the classroom, and is more than willing to help out any classmate.
44. This student is extremely creative, and has created many interesting forms of artwork.
45. Because _____ is unable to complete an entire task on his or her own, I suggest encouraging your child to
complete homework assignments on his or her own with minimal supervision.
46. While _____ has shown mass improvement within their subject skills, I suggest having your child continue
studying the following subjects in order for him or her to retain what they have learned.
47. As the year progresses, _____ is showing great improvements.
48. ______ is capable of producing better work; all he or she must do is concentrate harder on their work.
49. I have enjoyed having _____ in my class.
50. _____ is a real asset to my classroom.