homework comments for students

100+ Positive Comments to Write on Student Papers That’ll Have a Lasting Impact

by Sara Ipatenco

Everyone loves to hear something nice, and that includes your students! Students of any age will feel so good about themselves when they read positive comments written right on their assignments. Seeing positive words will also give students the motivation to keep working hard because they know their efforts are being recognized. Positive and meaningful praise will also help students form a close bond with their teacher, which encourages children to work hard and learn a lot. Pick up your favorite pen and get writing.

Here are more than 100 positive comments your students would love to read!

• This is some awesome thinking!
• What terrific math skills you’re showing!
• You are an amazing writer!
• Wow! You have improved so much!
• You are showing excellent understanding!
• This is clear, concise, and complete!
• What a powerful argument!
• I knew you could do it!
• Wonderful ideas!
• It was a pleasure to grade this!
• Keep up the incredible work!
• My goodness, how impressive!
• You’re showing inventive ideas!
• You’ve shown so much growth!
• Interesting thoughts!
• I love your neat work!
• Doesn’t it feel good to do such great work?
• First-rate work!
• This is fascinating information!
• You inspire me!
• This is right on target!
• What an astounding observation!
• This is very well thought out!
• I can tell you’ve been practicing!
• You’ve come a long way!
• This has pizazz!
• I can tell you’ve been paying attention!
• Reading this made my day!
• This is very perceptive!
• What an accomplishment!
• You make a great point here!
• I really like your creativity!
• You are an exceptional student!
• You have brilliant thoughts!
• This is beautiful!
• Dazzling examples!
• Vivid language choices!
• You express your ideas so well!
• This was a delight to read!
• This is a persuasive argument!
• You show an impressive grasp on this subject!
• You are gifted!
• You are so clever!
• What a great learner you are!
• I value these thoughts!
• You are such a motivated worker!
• You show great attention to detail!
• You are so artistic!
• I am so proud of you!
• Lovely handwriting!
• Great example!
• You worked so hard!
• You are a star!
• You learned so much!
• You are so smart!
• You’ve made a lot of progress!
• What bright thinking!
• You rocked this!
• Great thinking!
• You did your best!
• I love this!
• You can do hard things!
• You are talented!
• You amaze me!
• You discovered something new!
• I enjoyed reading this!
• You are so ambitious!
• I appreciate your hard work!
• This is magical work!
• You did it!
• You’ve achieved so much!
• You really challenged yourself!
• I admire you!
• You are unstoppable!
• You have great ideas!
• This really sparkles!
• What a great vision you have!
• You have really improved!
• You’ve really grown!
• You are a snappy problem-solver!
• This really shines!
• You make me want to learn more!
• This made me smile!
• You are a winner!
• I love your creativity!
• You are so intelligent!
• You should be proud!
• You have amazing potential!
• This is top-notch!
• You deserve a high five!
• Way to think it through!
• This blew me away!
• These are fabulous ideas!
• This gets my seal of approval!
• This is quality work!
• You reached your goal!
• Out of this world!
• You’re on top of it!
• I can tell this is your best effort!
• I love how motivated you are!
• You are so focused!
• I’m so lucky to grade your work!
• I love your enthusiasm!

Your students will glow when they review their work as they read your positive comments. They’ll love it so much that you can look forward to even more excellent work to comment on!

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150 Positive Comments for Student Papers

August 31, 2023 //  by  Maria Van Norman

Teaching is often a time-consuming job, especially for a teacher who must grade papers. It often feels daunting when staring at that stack of papers and wondering how writing constructive feedback on each one is feasible.

However, a teacher knows that even when she is tired, as she grades paper after paper, it is extremely important to give the students constructive comments on their work. The feedback for students is what helps students learn.

The positive feedback outweighs the negative feedback as well, so make it a common strategy to give positive feedback on students’ papers. It is a tremendous opportunity for students to grow.

1. I never thought of it this way. Great job analyzing!

2. What an amazing sentence!

3. This is a wonderful thesis! Good job!

4. I can tell you worked really hard on this!

5. This thesis statement is superb!

6. Wow, this is some of your best work yet!

7. Way to stay focused! I’m proud of you!

8. This is an excellent analytical paper!

9. I can tell you are motivated! I love it!

10. I feel privileged to have gotten to read this work! Great effective paper!

11. Your enthusiasm shows! Wonderful job!

12. This is not just a sheet of paper. It’s wonderful work!

13. This is one of the more superior papers I have read!

14. I really love how creative you get with your descriptions!

15. Out of this world!

16. There is so much to be proud of with your paper assignment!

17. This part made me smile!

18. You are a star!

19. Clever argument!

20. You worked hard; I can tell!

21. What brilliant thinking!

22. Terrific persuasive argument!

23. You have learned so much and it shows!

24. You rocked this essay!

25. I can tell you did your best!

26. You are so smart!

27. What a powerful argument! Keep up the good work!

28. You should be proud of this work!

29. You have made great progress!

30. Your handwriting is just lovely!

31. This is a great example! Good job!

32. I love your thoughts here!

33. I’m very impressed!

34. You have a sophisticated argument! Awesome job!

35. You are artistic and creative!

36. I love your attention to detail!

37. This is a very powerful sentence!

38. You show great promise!

39. What a terrific learner you are!

40. The sentence structure you used here is brilliant!

41. Your skills are stellar!

42. This hypothesis is amazing! I can’t wait to see where you take it!

43. I knew you could do it!

44. Every single sentence in this paper is wonderful!

45. You have a lot of fabulous ideas in this paper!

46. It doesn’t surprise me a bit that I smiled throughout your whole paper!

47. Keep up the incredible work!

48. Way to grab the reader’s attention! Great job!

49. Your handwriting is so neat!

50. This part moved me!

51. You certainly made me open my mind even more! Wonderful job!

53. I see so much improvement in your work! I’m proud of you!

54. I like the way you tackled this assignment!

55. Very impressive!

56. You have very inventive ideas here

57. Smart thinking!

58. You were very clear, concise, and complete!

59. Phenomenal job!

60. This is well thought out and I enjoyed grading it!

61. You outdid yourself with this assignment!

62. What a wonderful assignment!

63. Your work has flair!

64. Such a wonderful perspective on this topic!

65. This is clever!

66. I can tell you had fun with this assignment!

67. You rock!

68. This is stellar work!

69. Your use of this example moves your argument forward!

70. Your algebra is on fire!

71. This is a great metaphor!

72. Nice idea!

73. This is great work!

74. You did it!

75. I knew you could do it!

76. You went above and beyond here! I’m impressed!

77. Magnificent!

78. Marvelous!

79. You did a tremendous job!

80. This paragraph is brilliant!

81. Your science experiment was awesome!

82. Your artwork is exquisite!

83. What an excellent point!

84. Great job making connections here!

85. This sentence is excellent!

86. You chose a great quote!

87. This is a powerful point! Great job!

88. Your argument is very focused and solid!

89. Terrific explanation!

90. I love how you connected these ideas!

91. You are so smart!

92. Perfect!

93. Great stuff!

94. I love this! It made me laugh!

95. Outstanding work!

96. These are amazing ideas!

97. What an amazing way of thinking! Great job!

98. You made me think here! Good job!

99. A wonderful way to present this information!

100. You are showing exceptional understanding!

101. You are an awesome writer!

102. I love reading your essays!

103. You have shown incredible growth!

104. Your work is so neat! Great job!

105. This sentence is right on target!

106. You have an excellent idea here!

107. I can tell you’ve been practicing!

108. You are very preceptive!

109. This sentence is beautifully written!

110. I love your vivid word choice!

111. The way you express your ideas is wonderful!

112. You are quite gifted!

113. You show outstanding attention to detail!

114. You are a superstar!

115. I can tell that you did your best! Way to go!

116. You are very talented!

117. This paragraph is simply tremendous!

118. I appreciate how hard you worked on this assignment!

119. You made me so proud with your examples!

120. You are unstoppable!

121. This sentence sparkles!

122. This is one of the best essays I’ve read!

123. You have exceptional potential!

124. I’m giving you a high-five for this essay!

125. This sentence blew me away!

126. You did quality work! Great job!

127. This is a terrific piece of evidence for your argument!

128. No grammatical errors in this paragraph! I’m so proud!

129. You are an amazing writer!

130. Your organized paragraphs make me very proud!

131. You’ve shown creative problem solving here!

132. Superb word choice in this sentence!

133. What a critical piece to your argument! Great job!

134. You’ve reached your goal! Be proud of yourself!

135. This essay may be your best work yet!

136. Tremendous use of sentence syntax to prove your point!

137. You amaze me with your attention to detail!

138. Great writing!

139. Profound statement!

140. Brilliantly worded!

141. You prove that you can do hard things! Good work!

142. The connections you have made to the real world are stellar!

143. Way to tackle a tough topic! I’m proud of you!

144. Your talent shines through!

145. Terrific answer!

146. Your similes are sensational!

147. You are very intelligent!

148. I love your clarity in this paragraph!

149. This paper really shines!

150. You make me want to learn more about this topic!

Closing Thoughts

Teachers hold a piece of their student’s future in their hands. The responsibility is great. Therefore, even when wanting to mark up all of the errors on a paper, remember to add the positive comments as well. Make sure that students can grow and not feel defeated or frustrated. By including positive comments on students’ papers, students’ spirits will soar in ways you can not even imagine.

MAKE WAVES WITH THIS FREE WEEKLONG VOCABULARY UNIT!

100 Report Card Comments You Can Use Now

When teachers talk about the joys of teaching, I’m pretty sure they aren’t talking about report card writing. It may just rank right up there with indoor recess, yard duty, and staff meetings. But report cards don’t have to be such a pain.

Here are a few report card general principles, followed by my handy dandy list of editable go-to phrases…

Three Report Card Comment Principles

1. Be Truthful but Kind

A report card’s main purpose is to inform parents about their child’s progress. While there should be no major surprises ( BIG/major issues should have already been discussed with the child’s parents/guardians ), regardless of how well the child is doing or how poorly, the report card should be an honest reflection of that child’s performance.

Having said that, of course, we want to word things in a way that is as positive as we can be and in a way that is encouraging, offering suggestions for improvement, rather than discouragement.

2. Follow the Magical Report Card Comment Format

If the child is doing well overall… you are golden!!! An easy report card is one that I LOVE to do. Unfortunately, not all students are Einsteins or angels, and we have to mention some areas that need improvement. That’s when we use the magical format, which is…

A. Start with a compliment… you might have to dig deep here and get creative, while still being genuine. Remember, every student has attributes we can praise, even the most challenging ones. You might mention the child’s attitude, personality, social skills, sense of humor, willingness or desire to help, special skill in art/music, etc.

B. Next, add a line or two about what is challenging the child , and how he/she struggles in a certain area. Don’t include a laundry list of 20 things to work on. Prioritize the list and highlight the MOST important issues. Also, do make sure to offer a solution or suggestion that is practical and helpful .

C. End on a positive note. Again, a compliment is a nice touch any time of the year, and for the end of the year report card, a best wishes for ____ grade or have a wonderful summer, or I’m so glad to have been ____’s teacher this year, and so on works well.

3. Proofread and Check, then Proofread Again

Report card time is crunch time, and when we’re trying to speed through things and get them done, those nasty little typos pop up where we least expect them.

Do make sure to double-check everything before you hit enter/print to send them home. All communication with parents is seen as a reflection of ourselves as teachers and should be as perfect as we can make it.

Now that the principles are out of the way, here is my list of 100+ report card comments (updated to include 150 comments!).

I’ve included a wide variety of comments for the wide variety of ability levels and behavioral challenges of the students that we teach in our classrooms..

Want your own set of 150 comments in three formats – Printable PDF, editable PowerPoint, and Editable Digital? Click here to take a peek!

OPENING / CLOSING – POSITIVE:

• _____has worked very hard this semester/year, and I am proud of all of his/her accomplishments.
• ______ is making/has made good/excellent/wonderful/outstanding progress in _____ grade.
• _____ has done a(n)/fantastic/exemplary/wonderful/excellent job this year/semester in _____ grade and has worked so very hard.
• I appreciate _____’s quality work/motivation to do well/attitude, and I am enjoying/have enjoyed being his/her teacher.
•  ______ arrives at school each day with a positive/cheerful/happy attitude, ready to learn.
• _____ is an excellent _____ grader, and he/she has made our classroom a better place.
• _____ is doing/has done an(a) excellent/ outstanding/wonderful/ great/ fantastic job overall this semester/year.
• _______has made good/excellent/extraordinary/fantastic/outstanding progress in all academic areas.
• _____ is bright, motivated, and hard-working and can be proud of his/her accomplishments this semester/year.
• _____ is intrinsically motivated and strives to please/produce top-quality/excellent work. I am enjoying/have enjoyed being his/her teacher.
• _____ seems to enjoy school, and his/her positive attitude brightens up our classroom.
• _____is a bright and inquisitive student who enjoys learning. He/she is a pleasure to have in class.
• _____ has learned a great deal this semester/year and has shown particular progress/improvement in _____.
• _______ is a(an) hard-working/attentive/determined student and is working/doing well in all subject areas.
• _____ is a very polite/hard-working/bright student and a pleasure to be around. I am enjoying/have enjoyed being his/her teacher.
• _____is a(n) awesome/wonderful/amazing/fabulous ____ grader, and I have enjoyed getting to know him/her this year.
• I am so proud of _____ and wish him/her well for _____ grade and beyond.
• I have truly enjoyed being _____’s teacher and will miss him/her next year.
• I have enjoyed teaching ______ this year. He/she loves to learn and has shown growth throughout the year. Wishing him/her continued success.
• _____ has been a wonderful_____ grader, and I’m so glad to have him in class. His/her great attitude/strong work ethic/hard work/determination are to be admired. He/she has a bright future ahead.
• _____ is a hard-working/bright/likable/motivated student. I have thoroughly enjoyed having him/her in class this year. Have a wonderful summer!

ACADEMIC – POSITIVE :

• _______has made good/excellent/wonderful/fantastic/outstanding progress in all academic areas.
• _______ is a(an) hard-working/attentive/determined student and is working well in all subject areas.
• _____ shows strong knowledge/strengths in the area of _____.
• _____ has exceeded expectations in ______.
• _____ demonstrates superior work in ______. I appreciate his/her dedication and effort.
• _____ consistently puts forth his/her best effort in _____, which is wonderful/lovely/great to see.
• _____ shows special/unique/particular strengths in the area of social studies/science/reading/writing/math… and has done very well this trimester/year.
• _____ seems to enjoy reading/writing/math/science/social .. and has done an excellent/amazing job this year.
• _____ has a good understanding/sense of theme/the main idea/ characters/ plot/ inferences, which strengthens his/her reading ability.
• _____ reads smoothly and with good expression.
• _____ is able to use data from graphs and charts/use a compass successfully/convert measurements correctly.
• _____ uses reading strategies such as _____ effectively, which increases his/her reading comprehension.
• _____ has a large/extensive/rich vocabulary, which adds to his/her ability to write effectively.
• _____ enjoys poetry/reading/music/science/art… and excels in it.
•  _____ is a very talented artist/writer, and I truly enjoy the detail/attention/ passion he/she puts into his/her artwork/writing.
• _____ excels in creative/narrative/opinion/expository/report writing…
• _____ produces stories/essays/paragraphs/research reports that are well-organized/ developed.
• _____ has strong reading comprehension/math computation skills.
• _____ is a creative student, and I have enjoyed seeing the wonderful writing/art projects/drawings he/she has created/written.
• _____ uses higher-level thinking skills to complete challenging assignments.
• _____ demonstrates a good understanding of math/reading/social studies/science… concepts.
• _____ shows strong problem-solving skills in math/decoding skills in reading/grammar skills in writing/map skills in social studies…
• _____ goes beyond grade-level expectations in _____. He/she often/ consistently sets and meets/exceeds academic goals.
• _____ demonstrates a deep understanding of _____ concepts.
• _____ has an impressive understanding and knowledge of _____.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS SHOWN – POSITIVE:

• ______has strengthened his/her skills in _____.
• ______has made good/excellent/wonderful/fantastic/outstanding progress in all academic areas.
• ______ has made good/great/tremendous/significant improvement in _____.
• _____ has worked hard to raise his/her grade in _____, and I appreciate his/her effort.
• _____ has learned a great deal this semester/year and has shown particular improvement in _____.
• _____ has shown steady progress/strong gains/excellent progress in the area of _____. I’m pleased with his/her effort.
• _____ is making good progress in ______ this semester. Please encourage him/her to continue to ______.
• _____ has shown improvement in _____, which is great to see. Please encourage him/her to continue to _____ each day/in the coming weeks to keep the momentum going.
• _____ is making good progress in ______ but would benefit from ______ to continue showing growth.
• I have been pleased to see that _____ is continuing to grow/consistently progressing/improving steadily in independence in/with ______.
• _____’s quality of work has shown good/great/exceptional growth this semester.

ACADEMIC – IMPROVEMENT NEEDED:

• _____is intelligent but works below his/her capacity/potential due to a lack of motivation/attention to quality work.
• Unfortunately, _____’s grades have suffered from missing assignments.
• _____is gaining confidence in _____ but would benefit from _____.
• Please encourage _____ to _____each day to help him/her improve in _____.
• _____ seems to find _____ challenging and would benefit from reading nightly/practicing math facts/working online…
• _____ is capable of achieving a higher grade in _____ but needs to______ in order to make progress.
• _____ seems to have difficulty at times with reading comprehension/ math computation/writing paragraphs… and would benefit from _____.
• _____ needs to slow down in order to produce quality/carefully done work.
• _____ needs to memorize his/her basic math facts in order to complete complex math problems more easily/efficiently/quickly.
• _____ would benefit from _____ to fully memorize basic math facts.
• Memorizing basic addition/multiplication math facts would be very helpful to _____.
• Science/social studies tests have been very difficult for _____, and he/she would benefit from increasing the time spent studying the material.
• This trimester, I would like to see _____ to work on _____.
• This trimester, it would be helpful for _____ to focus on _____ in order to _____.
• _____ needs lots of repetition and practice in order to retain _____.
• I would like to see _____ pay closer attention to _____ in order to _____.
• When ______ is motivated, he/she does well on class assignments.
• _____ is excelling in many skills but needs to concentrate on ______.
• I would like to see ____ focus on _____ each day/in the coming months.
• _____ shows interest/has enthusiasm/seems motivated for everything we do in class. However, he/she is having some difficulty with ______. It would be helpful if he/she would ______ each night.
• Even with extra help, _____ experiences difficulty with _____. It would benefit ______ to ______.
• _____ rarely asks for help when he/she is confused/doesn’t understand something. We will continue to encourage _____ to ask for assistance whenever it is needed.
• _____ exhibits minimal confidence in his/her ______ skills. It would be helpful to _____.
• _____ is struggling to meet/maintain grade-level expectations in _____. Let’s work together to help _____ be successful in this area.

WORK HABITS AND QUALITY OF WORK – POSITIVE:

• _____ completes his/her work carefully and completely/thoroughly.
• I appreciate _____’s neat work, which is carefully done.
•  _____ is very organized and finds needed materials easily.
• ______ pays attention to detail in his/her assignments, and I appreciate the high quality of his/her work.
• _____ turns in work that is beautifully/carefully/thoroughly done.
• _____ has a strong work ethic and never completes any assignment halfway.
• _____ is very responsible and turns in assignments/homework on time.
• ____ takes tremendous pride in his/her work and completes assignments carefully.
• _____ is focused on creating quality work and completes assignments carefully/thoroughly.
• _____’s attention to detail can be seen in the quality of his/her work. I appreciate the care he/she takes in each assignment.
• _____ takes pride in his/her work and consistently turns in neat and carefully completed work.
• _____’s motivation/attitude is reflected in the work he/she turns in/creates. I am pleased to see his/her well-thought-out/thoroughly completed assignments.
• I appreciate ______’s dedication to his/her learning/studies in class.

WORK HABITS AND QUALITY OF WORK – IMPROVEMENT NEEDED:

• _____ needs to complete his/her work carefully and completely/ thoroughly.
• _____ would benefit by taking responsibility to turn in assignments and/or homework on time.
• I am concerned about _____’s organizational skills and his/her responsibility related to turning in assignments on time.
• ______ struggles with organizational skills in the classroom and needs to keep his/her desk/workspace neater to make his/her day run more smoothly.
• _____ struggles to find needed papers/materials and would benefit from using a folder/a binder/keeping a neater desk…
• _____ tends to work too quickly, often resulting in careless mistakes.
• I would like to see _____ focus on _____ in the coming months.
• This trimester, I would like _____ to work on _____.
• I would like to see _____ pay closer attention to ____ in order to _____.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR – POSITIVE:

• _____ follows classroom rules consistently and is a good role model.
• _____ has a positive attitude and is a joy to teach.
•  _____ is on task regardless of the activity.
•  _____ seems to enjoy school, and his/her positive attitude brightens up our classroom.
•  _____ listens attentively to directions, and I appreciate his/her ability to understand the assignment and to start work right away.
•  _____ has an excellent attitude and is always willing to lend a hand.
•  _____ is a(an) wonderful/excellent helper and a classroom leader.
•  _____ is polite to classmates and to all adults on staff at school.
• _____ arrives at school each day with a positive/happy attitude, ready to learn.
• _____ works independently and is able to complete enrichment activities when he/she is finished with required assignments.
• _____ is able to focus and stays on task during independent working times.
•  _____ uses class time constructively/efficiently/wisely.
•  _____ works respectfully during independent work times.
• ____ is a hard-working student who sets goals and reaches them.
• _____ is a dependable/responsible/conscientious student.
• _____ has made great strides this year in terms of _____ in the classroom/on the playground.
• _____ has a strong work ethic and takes responsibilities seriously.
• _____is a very respectful/kind/caring/considerate classmate/student, and I appreciate having him/her in class.
• _____ shows determination/perseverance when faced with a challenging task.
• _____ enjoys participating in class lessons, and his/her background knowledge adds a great deal to our discussions.
• _____ is able to share appropriate and relevant information, which adds to classroom discussions.
• _____ is an active participant in small groups as well as whole-class discussions/activities/projects.
• _____ listens well and takes an active role in class lessons/class discussions/class activities/group work.
• _____’s persistence/determination/hard work in _____ is exemplary.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR – IMPROVEMENT NEEDED:

• _____ is intelligent but works below his/her capacity/potential due to off-task behaviors/a lack of motivation/attention to quality work.
• _______ 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 _____.
• _____ struggles with following classroom rules and needs to focus on working quietly/staying in his/her seat…
•  _____ is very talkative during quiet working periods and distracts others around him/her.
•  Working quietly is very difficult for _____, and I would like him/her to focus on his/her work so that he/she, as well as others around him/her, are able to attend to the task at hand/learn more effectively/concentrate…
•  _____ needs to listen and follow directions carefully during class time.
•  I would like to see _____ put more effort into showing respect/kindness/ thoughtfulness to his classmates to strengthen social skills.
•  _____ needs to work on taking turns speaking/working more cooperatively with classmates.
• _____ needs to focus on raising his/her hand to speak/listening to others/waiting for others to finish before speaking/listening skills.
• ______’s listening skills need improvement.
•  This trimester, I would like _____ to focus on _____ in order to _____.
• Academically, _____ is doing well overall. I would like him/her to focus on showing more kindness/respect/cooperation to his/her classmates.
•  _____ needs frequent reminders to stay on task throughout the school day.
• _____ needs to follow school rules at lunchtime and on the playground.
•  _____ gets along well with classmates, but needs to work on staying on task and not socializing.
• _____ is an intelligent student with great potential. However, he/she needs to work on staying focused in class and following directions.
• _____ is very social and is well-liked. His/her conversations during independent work times, though, have made it difficult for _____, as well as those around him/her, to finish work successfully/to create quality work/to concentrate on the task at hand/to learn/ to complete assignments.
• _____ has a social personality, but his/her chatting in class can be disruptive. He/she needs to work on staying focused during class so he/she and others around him/her can complete class assignments/stay on task.
• _____ is often eager to participate in class discussions but needs to remember to raise his/her hand/wait to be called on…
• _____ has made progress with ______ but is still struggling. Let’s continue to encourage ______ to ______.

MOTIVATION – POSITIVE:

• _____ succeeds at whatever task he/she puts his/her mind to.
• _____ sets high standards for himself/herself and reaches them.
• _____ is intrinsically motivated and strives to please/produce top-quality/excellent work.
• _____ enjoys being challenged and would benefit from _____.
• I appreciate _____’s quality work/motivation to do well/positive attitude, and I am enjoying/have enjoyed being his/her teacher.
• _____ is truly/genuinely eager to learn and asks questions appropriately when needed.
• _____ shows interest and enthusiasm for classroom activities and seems to enjoy learning.
• _____ shows determination/perseverance when faced with any task/a challenging task.
•  _____ is a hard-working student who sets goals and reaches them.
• _____ is self-motivated and consistently produces quality work.

SOCIAL SKILLS/CHARACTER – POSITIVE:

• _____ is respectful to his/her classmates and is very well-liked.
•  _____ is helpful and kind and is a pleasure to be around.
• _____ works well with other students.
•  _____ not only works well with his/her classmates but is a natural leader.
• _____ is very compassionate and always shows kindness to others.
• _____ is polite to classmates and to all adults on staff at school.
• _____ is respectful and considerate of others.
•  _____ demonstrates positive character traits in the classroom.
• _____ is positive/confident and is a great role model for his/her classmates.
• _____ is an exceptionally thoughtful student who is consistently considerate/respectful/kind to others.
• _____is a very respectful/kind/caring/considerate classmate, and I appreciate having him/her in class.
• _____ is a likable student with strong social skills. He/she works well with others.
• _____has a positive attitude/is a very polite student and is a joy to teach.
• _____ is a hard-working student who sets goals and reaches them.
• _____ is a problem solver and shows a great deal of persistence.
• _____ displays good citizenship in our classroom.
• _____ has an excellent attitude and is always willing to lend a hand.
• _____ is a(an) wonderful/excellent helper and a classroom leader.
• I am enjoying/have enjoyed _____’s sense of humor in our classroom.
• _____ has a wonderful personality, and his/her sense of humor makes me smile.
• _____ is a flexible learner and adapts easily to new challenges.
• _____ works respectfully during independent work times.
• _____ makes a sincere effort and works hard in class.
• _____ is a kind and caring student who is a good friend to others.
• _____ does his/her best in school each day. I appreciate his/her positive attitude/motivation/determination.
• _____ is an enthusiastic member of the class and comes to school each day ready to learn. I appreciate his/her positive outlook/hard-working attitude/approach to learning.

SOCIAL SKILLS/CHARACTER – NEEDS IMPROVEMENT:

•  _______ is an intelligent student with great potential. He/she needs to work on staying focused in class and following directions.
•  ______ needs frequent reminders to stay on task/focus throughout the school day.
•  _____ is excelling in many skills but needs to concentrate on ______.
• I would like to see ____ focus on/work to improve _____ in the coming months.
• ___ needs to focus on/practice raising his/her hand to speak/listening to others/waiting for others to finish before speaking/listening skills.
• I would like to see _____ put more effort into showing respect/kindness/ thoughtfulness to his classmates to strengthen/improve social skills.
• _____ needs to work on taking turns speaking/working cooperatively with classmates.
• _____ has a wonderful personality but needs to work more respectfully during independent/quiet work times…
• _____ needs to work on showing more respect/kindness/ compassion/ cooperation to his/her classmates.
• _____ needs to practice showing cooperation when working with other students/in small groups/during centers/during specials…

If you’d like your own set of report card comments in three formats (printable PDF, editable PowerPoint, and editable Digital in Google Slides) from The Teacher Next Door, please click here: 👉 100+ Report Card Comments You Can Use Now

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168 Sample Report Card Comments (Plus a Printable Version)

Help has arrived just in time for report cards!

Each progress report and report card provides an opportunity for you to give parents insight into their child’s performance beyond a letter or numerical grade for conduct or academics. Parents want to know how their child is doing, but they also want to know that you get their child. Report cards also help students understand what they are doing well … as well as areas where they could improve. The best way to get these points across is via meaningful comments. Need help? We’ve got dozens of sample report card comments below that are sorted for students at every level: emerging, developing, proficient, and extending standards, plus comments that address behavior, social skills, and more.

Get a free Google Slide version of these comments by submitting your email.

Tips for report card comments

Before using the list below, it’s important to know that teacher comments should be accurate, specific, and personal. The comments below are structured to allow you to fill in the blank for a particular subject or behavior, and then expand the comment. Sometimes you might require an action like a meeting with the parent. Other times you may be encouraging the student to do something in school or at home to improve on a skill or get more practice. Either way, these sample report card comments will establish the how that attaches to the what of any number or letter grade you are documenting.

Sample report card comments for students with emerging skills

It’s often difficult to know the cause of why a student’s skills are still emerging. In these situations, parents can often help you get to the bottom of it. Be specific about areas of difficulty in these comments, and don’t be afraid to ask for a parent’s help. Here are some ideas:

• Your student could use some extra practice in [subject]. Please have them study [skill] for [time] each night.
• Your student hasn’t yet had the chance to master [specific skill]. Review sessions are available [time frame].
• Your student may need additional assistance with [skill/subject]. Completing classwork and homework is the first step to improving.

• Your student needs more practice with [specific skill]. Please check that they have completed their homework each evening.
• We will continue focusing on reinforcing your student’s positive efforts.
• Your student should put more effort into [subject area] to avoid incorrect or incomplete assignments.
• Your student would benefit from more active participation in small-group activities.
• This semester/trimester, I would like your student to work on …

Sample report card comments to encourage a follow-up phone call

We can think of many situations where a report card comment can be the first step in scheduling a phone call or meeting to discuss a concern. Write something positive about the child’s personality while requesting a parent meeting or phone call. Some examples are:

• Your student is always respectful, but I am concerned about their work. When can we meet?
• Your child is inquisitive and engaged in class, but they have quite a bit of missing work. Please call me to discuss some strategies.
• Your child has a wonderful sense of humor/is helpful/is kind but fails to turn in their assignments. Let’s meet to come up with a plan to move forward.

• Let’s work on strategies that will help your student follow through on their assignments.

Sample report card comments about (negative) behavior

Parents want to know how their child has behaved, even if they are not surprised by the behavior. Behavior can be even more difficult to write about than academics. Be careful to avoid personal attacks or statements that can make the parent or child feel judged. For difficult behaviors, stick to statistics and/or basic descriptions. Try things like:

• Your student struggles with [DESIRED behavior]. We will continue to work on this behavior at school.
• Your child struggles with [UNDESIRABLE behavior] and needs to focus on [DESIRED behavior].
• When your student is focused, they are a pleasure to have in class. Let’s meet to discuss strategies to keep them on track.
• Your student often struggles to focus in class, which harms their ability to engage well with class activities and assignments.
• [Student] is working on independent work production and staying on task.
• [Student] often struggles to focus in class, which impacts their ability to engage in class activities.
• I encourage [student] to use time wisely to finish tasks in a timely manner.
• I encourage [student] to be more responsible in completing tasks without frequent reminders.
• I encourage [student] to show that they are properly engaged in learning by improving quality of work and use of class time. Please support this at home by [idea here].
• Your student needs to slow down in order to produce quality/carefully done work.

• Your student needs to follow classroom rules more closely throughout the school day.
• Your student has exhibited [UNDESIRABLE behavior]. We will continue to reinforce appropriate behaviors.
• Your student exhibited [UNDESIRABLE behavior] [this many] times this quarter. Let’s work to reduce the incidence of this behavior to [goal] times.
• [Student] is encouraged to demonstrate more responsible attitudes and behaviors in the classroom.
• [Student] is working on using appropriate language at all times.
• [Student] requires encouragement to listen attentively during group instruction.
• [Student] requires frequent reminders to remain attentive during instruction.
• [Student] is working on voicing feelings and opinions and listening to others.

Sample report card comments for students with developing skills

For students who are still developing, focus on any improvement while also providing suggestions to keep the momentum going. Try these comments:

• Your student has come so far in [subject]! Focusing on [important skill] is the next step.
• Your student has made so much progress! They still struggle with [important skill], so that should be our next focus.
• Your child has done well, but I am concerned that their lack of [listening/focus/motivation] has contributed to a lower grade than I know they could achieve.
• Let’s work on motivating your student to reach their potential.
• I would like to see your student pay closer attention to [subject/topic] in order to get a better grade.

• If your student works as hard on [important skill] as they have worked on [improved subject], then they will be caught up in no time!
• Your child is very engaged during whole-group [subject instruction] but struggles to work independently.
• Your student’s persistence is exemplary.
• When motivated, your child does well on class assignments. We need to extend that motivation further.
• Your child has improved significantly but still needs to slow down and check their work to make sure that all answers are correct.
• Your student is struggling to understand new concepts in [subject]. Paying closer attention to the assigned reading and class lecture would be beneficial.
• The hard work is paying off! Let’s keep it up when we start working on [next skill].
• Your child is enthusiastic but still doesn’t understand [topic]. Additional work on this topic would be incredibly helpful.

• Your child requests a great deal of adult assistance when completing school work. Let’s work on encouraging independent work.

Sample report card comments for students with proficient skills

Let the parent know all the positives about their child and perhaps encourage students to dig just a little bit deeper.

• Your student comes to school each day prepared to work hard.
• I appreciate that your student does their best every single day.

• Your student is an enthusiastic member of the class and shows a willingness to learn.
• I enjoy how invested your child is in their learning.
• I appreciate your child’s dedication to their studies in my class.
• Not only is your student strong academically, but they are also a leader in the classroom.
• I appreciate that your student is always committed to doing their best.
• Your student understands the material well. Let’s find a way to help them shine.
• Your child has the potential to be at the top of the class.
• With a little more effort, your child could move up to the advanced group in [the subject where effort is lacking].

• Your child puts in great work in [preferred subject]! If they apply those skills to [non-preferred subject], there’s no stopping them.
• Your child excels at applying what they learn in the classroom to real-world and real-life situations. With a little more work, they could really go far!

Sample report card comments for students with advanced skills

Positive behaviors deserve just as much (if not more) attention as negative behaviors. These comments can be the most fun to write. Begin with a simple stem and then fill in the personal details that will make the parent smile. Example sentence starters are:

• Your child exhibits exceptional focus and diligence in their work.
• Your student is excellent at taking ownership of their learning.
• I appreciate that your child is committed to doing their best.
• Your student seeks new challenges.
• Your child has a fantastic work ethic.
• Your child exceeds expectations on a regular basis.
• Your student avoids careless errors through attention to detail.

• Your child sets high standards for themself and achieves them.
• Teaching your child is always an adventure! I love it when they …
• Your child conducts themself with maturity.
• Your child is able to focus and stays on task during independent work times.
• Your student uses instincts to deal with matters independently and in a positive way.
• I have enjoyed your child’s sense of humor in our classroom, as well as …
• Your child has an impressive understanding and knowledge about their interests.

Sample report card comments to showcase students’ strengths

Students who excel at helping out others deserve to have their skills mentioned in comments!

• [Student] is confident, positive, and a great role model for their classmates.
• [Student] is a valuable part of class. They are among the first to help and mentor classmates.
• [Student] has shown an ability to set goals and work to achieve them.
• [Student] is engaged and able to set their own learning targets.
• [Student] is an active participant. They listen attentively and make an effort to avoid distractions that could disrupt their learning.
• [Student] is accountable for their actions and takes opportunities to improve.
• [Student] relates well to classmates and appreciates peers’ perspectives.
• [Student] demonstrates emotional maturity and responds appropriately to feedback.
• [Student] always looks for ways to be helpful in the classroom.
• [Student] is dependable and reliable and follows through on commitments.
• Your student relates well to classmates and is appreciative of different perspectives and experiences.

• It is a joy teaching your student! I can always count on them to …
• Your child makes the classroom a brighter place. They often …
• Your student’s conduct is exemplary. They …
• Your student works well with classmates and often takes a leadership role.
• Not only is your child a strong student, but they are also a wonderful human being.
• Your student displays good citizenship by assisting other students.
• Your child demonstrates responsibility daily by caring for the materials in our classroom conscientiously.
• Your child is exceptionally organized and takes care of their things.
• Your child is thoughtful and kind in their interactions with others.
• Your student plans and carries out group activities carefully.
• Your child is a very special student and one that I will never forget. I will miss them next year!

While all of these comments can supplement the grades on a report card, you don’t have to wait to use them. Sending notes home between progress reports and report cards with little comments like these can bolster the parent-teacher relationship. Write them in communication folders or on postcards for that extra school-home connection.

Sample report card comments to highlight positive behavior

Sometimes you’ll have a lot to say about a student’s positive behaviors. Parents love to hear that their kids are model citizens. Here are comments that communicate all the good behaviors you see in class.

• [Student] works well with classmates on group work and often takes a leadership role.
• [Student] shows a positive attitude when working with peers. They take and give suggestions and directions effectively.
• [Student] excels at applying what they learn to real-world situations.
• It is a pleasure to have [student]’s enthusiasm and maturity in class.
• [Student] is an enthusiastic member of class and shows a willingness to learn.
• [Student] shows responsible behavior, works well in a group, and shows appreciation for classmates’ efforts.

• [Student] is focused during class activities and participates in discussions.
• [Student] works on independent work with focus and confidence.
• [Student] has overcome big challenges this year.
• [Student] follows directions promptly and accurately.
• [Student] transitions easily between classroom activities without distraction.
• [Student] is polite and uses good manners in the classroom.
• [Student] responds appropriately when corrected.
• [Student] takes classroom jobs seriously and demonstrates responsibility when completing them.

Sample report card comments for math

Providing specific information about how a child is doing in core subjects helps parents know exactly what to expect on the grades portion of the report card. And providing a positive statement about a subject can help you lead into a statement about what the child needs to work on.

• [Student] has a good understanding of math concepts taught this year. They continue to complete work correctly and enjoy math activities.
• [Student] has a positive attitude toward math but has trouble in a few key areas [list here]. Practicing every night at home will help them improve in these areas.
• [Student] demonstrates a good understanding of math concepts and communicates clearly and with strong justification.
• [Student] seems to need continuous encouragement in math. They continue to struggle with foundational math concepts for [grade level].

• [Student] is having a difficult time with certain concepts in math. Areas in need of extra work include [list here].
• [Student] is struggling to maintain pace in math. They could benefit from [practice activity here].
• [Student] is easily distracted during math and this impacts their learning.
• [Student] does well on math assignments but struggles with tests. Please make sure they study and prepare for tests as they approach.

Sample report card comments for reading and writing

Just like with math, it’s good to comment on the specific aspects of academics that students are doing well and those that they can work on. Use these comments to explain where a student is in their reading and writing progress.

• [Student] has made great improvements in [spelling, comprehension, reading] and could use support in [spelling, comprehension, reading]. Please reach out if you need supplemental learning materials to use for practice at home.
• [Student] always puts effort into their writing work.

• [Student] is able to take new skills and apply them to writing assignments.
• [Student] is able to offer responses to text and supports ideas with sound reasoning and examples.
• [Student] reads with fluency and comprehension.  
• [Student] is working on reading fluency. They would benefit from reading aloud at home.
• [Student] is able to understand and discuss text read aloud.
• [Student] consistently reads grade-level material.
• [Student] is able to choose books to read that they really enjoy.
• [Student] uses editing skills to edit writing to improve grammar and punctuation.
• [Student] organizes writing well and organizes thoughts into complete paragraphs.

• [Student] is able to analyze character actions and story plots and make inferences from what they read.
• [Student] is thoughtful and insightful in class discussion and written work. They express their ideas clearly.

Sample report card comments about social skills

As much as school is about academics, parents also worry about social skills and how their child is doing in terms of fitting in, making friends, and managing social situations. For some kids, this will be a strength and for some it will be an area of focus, but make sure to include whatever information parents need to know.

• [Student] has made many friends in the classroom.
• [Student] is well liked by classmates.
• [Student] treats other students with empathy and fairness.

• [Student] handles disagreements with peers appropriately.
• [Student] appears comfortable in new situations.
• [Student] chooses to spend free time with friends.

Sample report card comments about communication

Communication is another important skill that students are learning and honing in school that you can report on. Particularly for kids whose communication skills are either a strength or something they need help with, a comment about this can be very helpful to parents.

• [Student] has a well-developed vocabulary.
• [Student] expresses their ideas clearly.
• [Student] has a vibrant imagination and uses their imagination in storytelling and writing.
• [Student] always participates in whole-group discussions.
• [Student] can make a logical and persuasive argument in oral discussion or in writing.

• [Student] listens to the comments and ideas of others without interrupting.
• [Student] is working on participating in class. Please encourage them to raise their hand or engage in group discussion.
• I would love to hear from [student] more. Please encourage them to participate in class.
• [Student] is working on using their words to solve problems/communicate well with peers.

Sample report card comments about group work

Group work gets at a child’s ability to work with peers, solve problems, and communicate. It’s also often a barometer for social skills. Giving comments about group work can tell parents a lot about how their child is able to succeed in teamwork and if there are any red flags.

• [Student] offers constructive suggestions to peers.
• [Student] accepts recommendations of peers and acts on them when appropriate.
• [Student] takes various roles in group work as assigned or as needed.
• [Student] welcomes leadership roles in groups.
• [Student] shows fairness in distributing group tasks.
• [Student] plans and carries out group activities carefully.

• [Student] works democratically with peers.
• [Student] encourages peers during group work.
• [Student] is working on accepting their share of the work during group assignments.

Sample report card comments about time management

Managing time is a skill that gets more and more important as kids move through school, and it is something that all parents can help with at home. Help parents know how their child is doing managing time with these comments.

• [Student] approaches classroom assignments, tasks, and group work in an organized way.
• [Student] is on time and prepared for class each day.
• [Student] works at an appropriate pace.
• [Student] is able to pace their work for long-term assignments.

• [Student] completes makeup work in a timely fashion.
• [Student] is working on using time wisely.
• [Student] is working on managing time, especially when there are multiple tasks to complete during a work period.
• [Student] is working on organizing their materials and using organization to support work completion.

Sample report card comments about work habits

Same as time management, comments about work habits are helpful for parents because they explain how a student is approaching their work and how their academics are impacted because of these habits.

• [Student] is self-motivated.
• [Student] exceeds expectations with the quality of their work.
• [Student] readily grasps new concepts or ideas.
• [Student] produces neat and careful work.

• [Student] checks work thoroughly before submitting it.
• [Student] pays attention to work and submits work that does not have errors.
• [Student] is working on producing neat work.
• [Student] is working on checking work thoroughly before submitting it.
• [Student] is working on submitting work that does not have errors. They frequently require additional review to ensure that all errors are corrected.

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107 Report Card Comments to Use and Adapt

Written by Justin Raudys

Reviewed by Sarah Tino, M.Ed.

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With Prodigy's reports, teachers can easily track student progress and see their strengths and growth opportunities – all while the student has fun playing Prodigy Math!

• Teacher Resources

Learning skills (positive comments)

Learning skills (needs improvement), addition and subtraction, skip counting, place value, comparing numbers, addition with regrouping.

• Word problems
• Language (general)

Reading responses

Reading comprehension, response journal, note taking, distance learning.

• Tips for writing effective report cards
• Key considerations for effective end-of-year report cards

Just about every teacher agrees: report card comments are important to provide insights and next steps to students and families. But there are few who actually look forward to writing them.

Because every instructor knows working under tight deadlines to create upwards of 20 unique and detailed reports at the end of the year or term isn’t exactly straightforward (or particularly fun). That's especially true in the era of distance learning.

And while no one at your school knows your students better than you do, writing valuable report card comments for each of them can be a huge challenge.

That’s why we created a list of 107 sample report card comments — starters to help you find ideas, inspiration, and insights while writing your own report cards.

The 107 report card comments in this list will help you:

• Instill a  growth mindset in students
• Build stronger home-to-school connections
• Write stronger leads and use livelier language
• Choose the right phrasing when writing positive and constructive report card comments

Report card comment starters

You'll notice that the report card comments below can act as a springboard for more fully developed ones. But don't worry, using them you'll be able to take some of these one-liners and turn them into insightful and actionable next steps!

For example, you'll be able to take a 1st grade number sense comment like "Your child is able to add and subtract numbers up to 20 using various manipulatives" and transform it into:

Your child is able to add and subtract numbers up to 20 using various manipulatives. This was evident when he was working independently to solve a real-world problem by adding toys in the classroom toy bin. As a next step, they should continue to add to larger numbers to encourage his skills. You can support him by asking him to add his own toy piles at home.

Or taking a responsibility-related learning skill comment from "Your child is able to take responsibility for her own actions both in and out of the classroom" to:

Your child is able to take responsibility for her own actions both in and out of the classroom. She often checks her agenda and day planner to make sure she has all of the necessary materials to complete work at home before leaving. During indoor recess, she takes time to tidy up everything she was playing with.

Notice the difference?

Compared to a single number or letter grade, report card comments can provide even more value to your students and their families. In other words, a number or letter or grade captures the what , while an accompanying comment captures the how .

Depending on the age group or grade level you teach, a letter or grade letter might be enough. However, research in Phi Delta Kappan, the professional journal for educators, suggests:

Comments that identify what students did well, what improvements they need to make, and how to make those improvements, provided with sensitivity to important contextual elements, can guide students on their pathways to learning success and ensure that all learn excellently.

Gather insights into student performance all year long and make report card writing easier with Prodigy, the adaptive math game that students love.

• ________ is confident, positive and a great role model for his/her classmates.
• ________ is frequently among the first to help and mentor other classmates. He/she is a valuable part of the classroom.
• ________ has shown excellent ability to set goals and be persistent in achieving them.
• ________ is interested in his/her own learning, listens attentively, and makes a solid effort to avoid distractions that could interrupt the learning process.
• ________ is accountable and responsible. He/she makes smart decisions, admits mistakes and listens to opportunities to improve.
• ________ relates well to classmates and is appreciative of different perspectives and experiences.
• ________ manages his/her emotions maturely and responds to feedback appropriately.
• ________ always looks for ways to be helpful in the classroom.
• ________ is dependable and reliable, follows directions effectively, and follows through on his/her commitments to him/herself and others.
• ________ is thoughtful, insightful and thorough in written and verbal communication, and has a talent for expressing his/her ideas clearly.
• ________ works well with classmates in group work and often takes a leadership role.
• ________ shows a positive attitude with classmates in group projects and activities, and both takes and gives suggestions and directions effectively.
• ________ shows maturity when solving problems with classmates and uses good communication.
• ________ excels at applying what he/she learns in the classroom to real-world and real-life situations.
• It has been a pleasure to have _______'s enthusiasm, positivity and maturity in my class.
• ________ is an enthusiastic member of the class and shows a willingness to learn.
• ________ shows responsible behavior, works well with a group and shows appreciation for the efforts of classmates.
• ________ is focused during classroom activities and willingly participated in class discussions.
• ________ performs independent work with confidence and focus.
• ________ works independently and takes pride in work done well.
• ________ is focused in class and willingly participates in group discussion.
• ________ is very conscientious and shows excellent effort and care with daily work.
• ________ demonstrates a willing and conscientious effort in his/her daily work.
• ________ shows a conscientious effort to learn.
• ________ has done a great job facing and overcoming big challenges this year. Please continue to nurture and encourage this behavior over the summer.
• ________ shows responsibility and follows directions whenever they are given.
• ________ listens to and follows directions precisely and attentively.
• ________ follows directions promptly and accurately.
• ________ is an active participant in class.
• ________ is a hard worker who calmly perseveres through challenging topics.
• ________ is encouraged to demonstrate more responsible attitudes and behavior in the classroom.
• ________ needs to show more appropriate behavior when interacting with classmates.
• ________ needs to pay attention to the use of appropriate language at all times
• ________ requires encouragement to listen attentively during group sharing times.
• ________  needs to listen to directions more attentively during lessons.
• ________ would benefit from showing a greater desire to contribute ideas in class.
• ________ needs frequent reminders to be attentive during instructions and lessons.
• ________ needs to improve his/her cooperation in group settings. He/she should work on voicing feelings and opinions and listening to others.
• ________ needs to improve his/her work with others. He/she must ensure to accept a share of the work when participating in a group assignment.
• ________ needs to improve on working independently and be sure to ask for assistance only when it is needed.
• ________ often struggles to focus in class, which harms his/her ability to engage well with class activities and assignments.
• ________ is encouraged to use time wisely to finish tasks in the time required.
• ________ is encouraged to be more responsible in completing tasks without needing regular reminders.
• ________ needs to show by the quality of work and use of class time that he/she is properly engaged in the learning process.
• ________ consistently needs reminders to focus on time management.
• ________ needs to follow classroom rules more closely throughout the school day.

Math (general comments)

• ________ is having considerable difficulty with math. I recommend he/she work on studying ________ and ________. This extra practice will help him/her feel more relaxed when doing math in the classroom. Please contact me if you need materials to get him/her started.
• ________ has a good understanding of all math concepts taught so far this year. He/she continues to turn in excellent assignments and especially enjoys hands-on math activities.
• ________  has a positive attitude towards math but continues to have trouble in a few key areas. He should practice every evening at home. Areas that need extra attention are ________  and ________ .
• ________  demonstrates a good understanding of all math concepts studied and communicates with clarity and good justification of reasoning.
• ________ needs to work on increasing his/her speed in math facts. He/she should continue with daily practice with a focus on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• ________ seems to need continuous encouragement in math. He/she continues to struggle with basic math concepts for his/her grade level.
• ________ is having a difficult time in certain areas of math. Areas in need of extra work are ________ . Working on these problem areas every night would help improve his/her learning outcomes.
• ________ is struggling to keep up in math. He/she could benefit from practicing the multiplication table and should also continue to practice the long division process.
• ________ is easily distracted during math lessons and behavioral issues are interfering with his/her learning. We will be working on more difficult subjects and he/she will struggle if he/she does not pay attention in class.
• ________ is having trouble with math tests. He/she does well on assignments, but does not seem to retain information for tests. I always give a week’s notice before tests, so please be sure ________ studies and adequately prepares for them as they approach.
• ________ is able to calculate addition and subtraction facts to 18 with confidence and accuracy.
• ________  is becoming more able to calculate addition and subtraction facts to 18 with confidence and accuracy.
• ________  requires more time and practice in calculating addition and subtraction facts to 18
• ________ needs to put more effort into learning to calculate addition and subtraction facts to 18.
• ________  is able to skip count forward and backward by twos, fives, tens, and hundreds to complete short patterns.
• ________  is learning to skip count forward and backward by twos, fives, tens, and hundreds to complete short patterns.
• ________  needs practice with skip counting forward and backward by twos, fives, tens, and hundreds to complete short patterns.
• ________  needs considerable practice with skip counting forward and backward by twos, fives, tens, and hundreds to complete short patterns.
• ________  is able to demonstrate place value concepts to give meaning to numbers from zero to 1000, identifying ones, tens, and hundreds.
• ________  is developing an understanding of place value concepts to give meaning to numbers zero to identifying ones, tens, and hundreds.
• ________  requires more time and practice to demonstrate place value concepts to give meaning to numbers 0 to 1000, identifying ones, tens, and 100s.
• ________ is able to compare numbers to 1000 using terms such as greater or less and greatest or least.
• ________ is learning to compare numbers to 1000 using terms such as greater or less and greatest or least.
• ________ requires support to compare numbers to 1000 using terms such as greater or less and greatest or least.
• ________ demonstrates a limited understanding in comparing numbers to 1000 using terms such as greater or less and greatest or least.
• ________ can demonstrate and explain the process of addition of whole numbers up to 100, with and without regrouping.
• ________ requires ongoing support to demonstrate and explain the process of addition of whole numbers up to 100 with and without regrouping.
• ________ requires considerable attention and individual instruction to demonstrate and explain the process of addition of whole numbers up to 100 with and without regrouping.

Word problems (math)

• ________ is able to complete word problems using one- and two-digit addition, showing his/her work and writing a full sentence answer.
• ________ is becoming more confident in his/her ability to complete word problems using one- and two-digit addition, showing his/her work and writing a full sentence answer.

As we move into language and literacy, the following sections include starter report card comments which cover reading, writing, oral communication and critical thinking skills.

Language arts (general)

• ________ ’s (comprehension, spelling, reading) has greatly improved, but he/she still needs extra work in (comprehension, spelling, reading). Please contact me if you need supplemental learning materials to use at home for practice.
• ________  is conscious of putting care into his/her daily writing work, and frequently goes beyond the minimum requirements for assignments.
• ________ has trouble with his handwriting. I believe he/she can form letters well, but has to slow down and take a little more time. Neater handwriting will improve his/her schoolwork overall.
• ________ makes a good effort to make his/her handwriting legible. He/she is able to print on the lines, use good spacing, and form letters correctly.
• ________ needs to focus on her spelling. More improvement is needed in the areas of (dictation, weekly spelling tests, sentence structure). Daily practice at home will help improve his/her results.
• ________ shows the ability to quickly use spelling, punctuation and grammar rules that were recently taught. He/she is able to quickly learn new skills and is eager to apply them to his/her writing.
• ________ is having considerable difficulty with reading, particularly with fluency and comprehension.
• ________ speaks well in front of the class, but requires improvement in written language. He/she is having trouble with (dictation, copying words correctly, story writing, creating logical sequences). Further practice is needed in this area.
• ________ continues to make excellent progress in spelling and reading. He/she works hard to submit work that is free of grammatical errors.
• ________ has difficulty remembering previously discussed writing skills and often makes errors with punctuation, grammar, and overall sentence structure. Basic writing skills need improvement.
• ________ is able to offer direct responses to his/her readings and supports ideas with sound reasoning and specific examples.
• ________ is learning to offer more direct responses to her reading experiences supported by reasons, examples, and details.
• ________ needs frequent support to offer direct responses to his/her reading experiences supported by reasons, examples, and details.
• ________ shows good ability when completing reading comprehension tests.
• ________ would benefit from extra practice with reading aloud and discussion of content.
• ________ consistently demonstrates comprehension of short spoken texts by answering questions, and explaining the events described.
• ________ consistently reads grade-level material independently.
• ________ uses good editing skills and correctly places capitals, quotation marks, question marks, apostrophes, commas, and periods.
• ________ is doing a good job of breaking a story into paragraphs
• ________ determines various forms of writing and identifies important ideas through the development of insightful questions and answers.
• ________ is able to analyze character actions, story plots, and shows strong fluency with reading.
• ________ uses correct spelling, grammar and punctuation when writing simple sentences.
• ________ is encouraged to show increased attention to the use of correct spelling, grammar and punctuation with general writing skills.
• ________ needs more time and practice in the use of correct spelling, grammar and punctuation with general writing skills.
• ________ requires considerable assistance to achieve the correct spelling, grammar and punctuation when writing simple sentences.
• ________ shows an excellent understanding of note taking from lectures and readings in preparation for tests and assignments.
• ________ requires ongoing support to develop an understanding of note taking from lectures and readings in preparation for tests.
• ________ was very engaged and focused during distance learning activities, and participated in class discussions.
• ________ stayed motivated to complete assignments during distance learning, and turned in all required materials on time. 
• ________ needed some extra prompting to stay engaged during online lessons, but participated well in discussions when called upon. 
• ________ modeled good online learning behavior for other students.
• ________ was disruptive during online learning and did not meaningfully participate in class discussions.
• ________ handled technical problems well and was always prepared.
• Although he/she couldn’t always access a device, _________ consistently completed online assignments and asked thoughtful questions.
• ________ should ask more questions during online discussions to avoid confusion later.
• ________’s attendance during online lessons was infrequent and assignments were not always completed.
• ________ worked well independently and in a group setting during distance learning activities.
• ________ is excellent at completing distance learning activities independently, but struggled to engage with his/her classmates during breakout sessions or class discussions.
• ________ is a technology superstar! He/she rarely needed assistance and even helped other classmates troubleshoot issues.
• ________ asks good questions and always reaches out proactively when he/she needs help with an assignment or lesson.

Tips for teachers to write more effective student report card comments

1. give yourself extra time and start writing comments early.

Somewhere around the halfway point to your deadline for report cards, you make your best effort to use time at the end of each week to reflect — and jot down notes — about your students’ performance and class week.

What are their strengths and weaknesses? How are their social skills developing with classmates? How is their class participation - are they an enthusiastic learner? Have they shown great improvement in one particular subject area? Are homework assignments getting done? Have any new challenges come up that affect learning?

Even just a few minutes of note-taking in the weeks preceding report card deadlines will help to ease your stress when the time comes to write your final comments.

Moreover, having a dated log of information detailed throughout the school year will help you remember how students are performing throughout each week, which can be valuable information come parent-teacher conference time.

This will also help to engage and reassure parents who want relevant and detailed commentary about their child’s performance at school.

2. Use free, curriculum-aligned apps for teachers

Use Prodigy to write insightful report cards with a minimum of hassle. Prodigy Math is an engaging math adventure for students where success depends on correctly answering adaptive math questions. 

As students play, you’ll get insights into:

• Which skills students are practicing
• How far they’ve progressed through the curriculum
• What they’ve mastered and where they need more support

Use one of Prodigy’s eight reports to track student progress throughout the year. When the time comes to write report card comments, you’ll have detailed reports on all your students’ achievements.

Just getting started with Prodigy? No problem! The first time students explore the world of Prodigy Math, they’ll start completing the Placement Test — without even knowing. Once they’re done, you’ll have a snapshot of the grade level they’re at, what they know and specific skills they still need to work on.

Spend more time teaching and less time grading

Prep for standardized tests, deliver adaptive skill practice or test students on a new skill — all while they play Prodigy Math, Prodigy English, or both!

3. Be encouraging, informational and professional

Although every report card cannot be glowingly positive, do strive to write in an encouraging and informational tone. As you write constructive report card comments, use encouraging language that focuses on the student’s opportunity for improvement.

For example, instead of describing a student struggling with listening as a “bad listener,” remark that the student “would benefit from listening more carefully.”

If appropriate, frame a negative comment in terms of what students are doing well -- and consider how this more successful characteristic can help them bolster performance in other areas.

4. Use a consistent format

Lead your report card comments with the positive comments, followed by areas that need more attention.

Choosing the right format for reporting information will simplify the entire process, while resulting in a clearer and more organized final product.

If you are unclear about your school’s format for report cards, request samples or consult with other teachers or staff members to clarify.

5. Be honest

Being open and honest about a student’s performance requires tact and consideration with regard to how you  express  those comments. Be transparent, and remain mindful that your goal is to improve your students’ learning experience.

Openness and honesty are key to ensuring that experience is the best it can be. If possible, discuss what  intervention strategies  you can use to help improve the student’s learning outcomes. 

As elementary teacher Donna Donaghue remarks in her book  A Guide for Beginning Elementary Teachers: Getting Hired and Staying Inspired :

If there is a problem, most parents will be grateful to you for telling them and will want to help you correct it as soon as possible. Many problems that show up at school are also problems noticed at home, so your comments will not surprise parents. Ideally, at some point prior to receiving the progress report, parents have already discussed the problem with you.

6. Move on if you get stuck

If you get stuck completing the comments for a particular student, move on to your other students and return to it later. You will likely have more trouble completing comments for students who have multiple areas needing further improvement and attention.

Feel free to move on and return to those students periodically or as you find the right language to express your insights.

7. Keep parents and guardians in mind

While every report card comment is ultimately about your student, think of your students’ parents or guardians as much as possible and offer suggestions for their participation.

In fact, if you can, keep parents up to date on an ongoing basis. This will help ensure they don't get caught off guard by any of your comments.

As you make note of your students’ strengths and weaknesses, endeavor to include practical insights into how parents can involve and support their child at home. If possible, make reference to how you use  differentiated instruction  to support the student in question.

Simple examples of tips for parents include:

• "Encourage your child to read. It doesn't have to be on your own either. Dedicating time before bed to read together can help make it seem like less of a chore."
• "Find homework help for your child if needed. Myself and other parents who are also getting homework help for their child are great resources to get started."
• "Ensure that your child completes their homework by creating a homework routine with your family where incentives like TV or computer time come after homework."
• "Help your child with organization skills at home. If a room in your house could be tidier, try using that as an opportunity to sort things like toys or dishes and utensils."
• "Help your child prepare for math tests by focusing their skills in addition and subtraction. If they don't like studying with traditional worksheets, try a digital game-based learning tool to help get them excited about the process."

As high school educator and teaching comprehension expert Anne Goudvis writes in her book Strategies That Work:

It is important that you include the parents in your comment so they know the child’s education is a joint mission. Sometimes you need to sound firm so that parents know you need their help and that you will not allow their child to continue inappropriate behavior.

8. Try not to repeat yourself

It is unlikely that your students or parents will compare their report card comments, but it is still a best practice to aim for unique commentary for each student that reflects each, individual learning outcome.

9. Proofread, even if you don’t want to

Report card time is perhaps your busiest period of the year, and it is understandable that you want to simply get them over with.

Despite this, you should make sure to double check all your comments before hitting print and handing them out. All your communications to parents are a reflection of you as a teacher, and should mirror the care and attention you show your students in class.

10. Notify parents

Make use of your school’s parent portal or email system to let parents know — as needed — that report card time is coming up.

This will help parents be prepared, and will also ensure that any important questions they may have are addressed before the final report cards are delivered.

Did you know?

If you're using Prodigy Math in your classroom, you can connect parents to follow their child's progress. A free parent account comes with a monthly report card and insights into classroom learning, helping them stay informed of how their child is doing in class. They can also send their child an encouraging message to cheer their child on as they play and practice skills in Prodigy!

11. Use specific examples with the help of direct observation

Record and use classroom anecdotes in your assessments. No matter how involved you are in your students’ progress, it can still be difficult to produce specific examples related to their performance if you haven’t recorded them along the way.

When you notice a positive or negative skill, ability, strength, or weakness in a class activity or assignment, be sure to note it down so that you may refer to it in your report card comments. Likewise, consider noting a sample of a student’s work every week or two.

To help with ease of access, keep ongoing files of this work in a personal folder or use a digital tool such as a Google Doc.

Putting this into practice is a time-saver and helps prevent last-minute stress. A strategy like direct observation and note-taking (as soon as possible) is far more reliable than trying to recall information and behaviors from weeks or months prior.

12. Try using tech to help

Writer's block happens to all of us, including teachers. If the report card comments in this article didn't help, fear not, there are still plenty of tools and resources to give you a helping hand.

One new option for teachers is using artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with report card ideas. For example, teachers can use tools like ChatGPT to generate examples for their specific needs.

When using chat technology, try to keep your prompt concise and easy to follow. A good template prompt to follow is:

"Write [number] report card comments for students studying [subject] in [grade]."

Here are some more specific examples to help get you started:

• Write 50 report card comments for students studying social studies in 5th grade.
• Generate 20 report card remarks commending a student for a positive attitude to learning.
• Create 10 report card comments that focus on a student needing to improve their attitude to learning.

Alternatively, you can use spreadsheets and report card builders to manually piece together a report card based on a template of comments.

Important tip: When using AI chat technology, make sure you don't submit any personal details about you or your students. Instead let the tool use a placeholder like "Student".

Key considerations for report card comments at the end of the year

Report card comments should aim to deliver feedback to students and parents that is  personalized, detailed,  and  meaningful .

Writing report card comments doesn’t have to be stressful. Use these strategies to create livelier, more meaningful evaluations.

Effective report card comments emphasize and discuss:

• The specific, notable strengths that a student has shown and should attempt to continue to show
• The specific elements of knowledge, skills, and other outcomes recognized in the curriculum that are the most pertinent to a student’s achievement or development in the period of assessment
• The major next steps for improvement that will: identify the student’s most important learning needs, offer next steps for students and offer specific recommendations for how parents and guardians can help the student’s learning habits and skills (or the development of those habits and skills)

Effective report card comments are personalized – customized to each, individual student – and discuss:

• The student’s learning preferences, willingness to learn, and interests
• Detailed evidence of learning or skill-development gathered from in-class observations, and/or student assignments

Effective report card comments are expressed with clear and simple phrasing, using:

• An encouraging and/or positive tone
• Language that is easy to understand for both students and parents, as opposed to educational jargon used from the curriculum

Report Card Comments: Final Thoughts

Common Sense Education observes that "effective parent communication is crucial in helping students learn. But, for busy teachers it can be challenging just to keep up... Transparency and equity are key to managing any communication between home and school."

Personalized report card comments that are clear, precise, and meaningful are essential for informing students and their parents about what students have learned, what their strengths are and how they can effectively progress.

Among the pressure and deadlines of writing report cards, it can be helpful to keep these key goals in mind.

Get inspired by the report card comment examples — and strategies for success — above to ensure that precision, clarity, and meaning shine through in your report card comments.

When it comes time to hand out your report cards, you can do so with the full confidence that you are doing yourself — and each of your students — the justice your hard work deserves.

Gather student insights on Prodigy

Create or log in to your free teacher account on Prodigy — a standards-aligned, game-based learning platform that assesses student progress and performance as they play. Use Prodigy to motivate student learning, control the questions they answer as they play and collect student learning insights all year long.

• Try for free

Report Card Comments & Phrases—Work and Study Habits

Report Card Comments & Phrases—Work Habits

Report card comments.

As I have explained in my previous reports, ________ does not use his/her time wisely in class. Please help him/her to understand that we study in class and play at only certain times in school.

When _______ is able to settle down, he/she does much better work. However, he/she is often seeking the attention of his/her classmates, which causes distraction for everyone.

As we have discussed in previous meetings, __________ must continue to improve his/her study habits. We need to encourage him/her to be much more serious about the work he does.

_______ loves artistic activities. However, I am concerned about the amount of time he/she spends drawing when he/she has other work to do. Can we please meet to discuss strategies to help _________ correct this issue?

________ is doing grade-level work at this time. However, I am sure he is capable of turning in better work. When he improves his concentration abilities, I know the work will improve.

_______ misuses much of his work time daydreaming and then does not complete the work in time. He is capable of finishing the work in the allotted time and needs to start doing so.

________ has been doing good work at times, but it is not consistent. She can be very social and restless and often does not finish his/her work on time. Thank you for your help at home. Please continue to work with him/her on this issue.

________ is very anxious to get his/her work done, yet he/she tends to be bothersome to other students around him/her. Although he/she has shown progress in this area over the past month, he/she still needs to work on it.

_______ is having difficulty because he frequently talks out loud and disturbs the other students. He is trying to improve this bad habit and has shown some growth in the past few weeks.

Looking for more report card comment examples?

Download or purchase over 90+ pages of grading comments examples, tips, and advice for managing student grades.

Report Card Phrases

______ works well in groups, planning and carrying out activities.

______ needs to work democratically with others in groups.

______ needs to develop a better sense of responsibility.

______ wants responsibilities and follows through.

______ now accepts responsibility well.

______ is an attentive student.

______ is gaining self-confidence.

______'s work habits are improving.

______ has the ability to follow directions.

______ requires incentives.

______'s assignments and/or homework are incomplete and/or late.

______ needs to pay attention in class.

______ needs better study skills.

Please encourage him/her to do things on his/her own.

______ is learning to listen to directions more carefully.

______ is learning to be a better listener.

______ is learning to share and listen.

______ listens carefully.

______ is a good worker and an attentive listener.

______ evaluates what he/she hears.

______ needs to listen to all directions.

______ has difficulty following directions.

______'s hand work is beautifully done.

______ enjoys doing neat, careful work.

______'s work is neatly and accurately done.

______ does colorful and interesting art work.

______ takes pride in work well done.

______ makes careless errors.

______ is disorganized.

______ needs to proofread work.

______ is learning to occupy his time constructively.

______ always uses his/her time wisely.

______ never completes assignments in the allotted time.

______ is becoming more dependable during work periods.

______ is gaining independence.

______ is becoming more self-reliant.

______ works independently on assignments.

______ fails to finish independent assignments.

______ comprehends well, but needs to work more quickly.

______ needs to be urged.

______ lacks independence.

______ is too easily distracted.

______ works too slowly.

______ does not complete assignments in the allotted time.

______ seems unable to finish required work.

______ often completes work early.

______ is not very appreciative of the value of time.

______ is sacrificing accuracy for unnecessary speed in his written work.

______ has great potential and works toward achieving it.

______ is working to full capability.

______ is a steadfast, conscientious worker.

______ is enthusiastic about work in general.

______ seeks information.

______ is a hard-working student.

______ is extremely conscientious.

______ is a pleasant, conscientious student.

______ is a hard worker.

______ is an enthusiastic worker during the ____ period.

______ is a polite and conscientious pupil.

______ must improve work habits if he is to gain the fundamentals needed for ___ grade work.

______ is inconsistent in his/her efforts, especially in _______.

______ makes little effort when not under direct supervision.

______ is anxious to please.

More Report Card Comments and Phrases.

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100 Sample Report Card Comments and 5 Strategies for Simplifying Report Cards

April 7, 2020 by Evan-Moor | 1 Comment

I don’t know any teacher who looks forward to doing report cards. This time always seems to be packed to the max with additional testing days and long to-do lists. Despite this, report cards are an important tool that schools employ to show parents how their child is progressing in school and should be completed with careful consideration.

Report card comments should be personalized for each student and provide meaningful feedback to help parents understand their child’s progress. The most important concept to remember when writing report card comments is to frame each statement in encouraging and positive language.

Here are a few tips to help you provide honest and valuable feedback while being encouraging and professional, including 100 sample report card comments that you can use today.

Download a free PDF of 100 Report Card Comments here! 

5 strategies for simplifying report cards, 1. employ the sandwich feedback technique:.

• Always begin with a positive comment and end with a positive comment. This approach can help parents receive any negative feedback with the understanding that you “see” their child and are approaching his or her learning with a “growth mindset” and not criticism.

2. Highlight areas of growth

• Every student has areas of growth throughout the school year. Find an area he or she has improved on and mention it. It could be in a field of study such as reading comprehension, fluency, math facts, handwriting, asking important questions or a personal attribute such as persevering, helping others, leadership in the classroom, etc.

3. Expand on areas of improvement

• Highlight important areas for improvement and provide practical advice/examples of how to work on this at home. Provide simple strategies that parents can implement that will give them a tangible tool to help their child at home. Even if you think the parent won’t or isn’t interested, it is a good idea to provide documented options for your school files.

4. Be transparent

• Being honest about students’ progress takes careful consideration. Be tactful in your comments and back up your observations with specific examples. (I recommend taking notes on students’ progress throughout the semester and using this documentation during report card time.) This is also a great time to include helpful strategies/ resources and offer advice on how parents can support their student at home.

5. Proofread

• Always proofread your reports before sending them. Report cards reflect you as a teacher and should be treated with the same consideration you show your students in the classroom.

100 Report Card Comments

Participation/behavior/attitude.

• Takes an active role in discussions.
• Consistently cooperates with the teacher and other students.
• Listens well and shares ideas frequently.
• Works democratically with peers.
• Shows self-confidence in…
• Works well in groups, planning and carrying out activities.
• Follows directions well.
• An enthusiastic learner who enjoys school.
• Tackles new challenges with a positive attitude.
• Has a positive attitude about school.
• Consistently makes good choices during the school day.
• Shows respect for peers and teachers.
• Transitions easily between classroom activities and is not a distraction to others.
• Is sensitive to the thoughts and opinions of others.
• Is a leader and positive role model for students.
• Is enthusiastic about participating.
• Takes an active part in discussions about (topic).
• Speaks with confidence.
• Volunteers often.
• Has a great sense of humor and enjoys our class assignments.

Needs Improvement

• Has difficulty staying focused and on task. · Needs to actively participate in classroom discussion.
• Needs to work on not distracting others during class.
• Is learning to be careful, cooperative, and fair.
• I would like to see him/her work on…
• One area for improvement is…
• Eager to participate in class but needs to raise his/her hand.
• Is becoming more independent when completing class assignments.
• Needs frequent reminders to stay focused throughout the day.
• When motivated, does well on class assignments.
• Needs to work on following written and oral directions.
• Needs to actively participate in classroom discussions.
• Frequent absences are affecting (name’s) schoolwork.
• Needs to work on treating others with respect.
• Needs to work on completing homework assignments on time.
• Frequently comes to class unprepared.
• Often seems tired at school.
• Gets upset easily when (topic).
• Although _____________’s growth in social skills and maturity is continuing, it is not consistent.
• _______ continues to make nice progress this year concerning his/her attitude in the classroom and on the playground.

Time Management/Work Habits

• Uses class time wisely.
• Is a self-motivated student.
• Completes work on time.
• Is very organized.
• Demonstrates problem-solving skills and is persistent.
• Has done a great job facing and overcoming big challenges this year.
• Is very responsible and turns in work on time.
• Is a flexible learner and adapts to changes easily.
• Has made improvements in the area of…
• Has strengthened his/her skills in…
• Does not complete assignments on time. Seems unable to finish.
• Is encouraged to use time wisely to finish tasks in the time required.
• Struggles to stay organized and find appropriate materials (paper/pencil).
• Needs to slow down to improve the quality of his/her work.
• Is not working to full potential.
• Is easily distracted.
• Needs to listen and follow directions more carefully.
• Needs more opportunities to…
• Grades are suffering because of missed assignments.
• Would benefit from…

Growth Mindset

• Has demonstrated very good progress this year.
• Is learning how to be a better listener and takes direction well.
• Has worked very hard this year and has made strong gains in the area of ______.
• Has shown great improvement with ______.
• Is progressing nicely and shows consistent improvement in many areas of schoolwork, including ______.
• Is learning to be cooperative when working in groups.
• Is developing more positive ways to interact with others.
• Is listening to directions more carefully.
• Has continued to make steady progress with…
• Has shown noticeable improvement in…

General Subject Area Comments

• Has good reading and decoding skills.
• Is reading well at level…
• Uses reading strategies to increase his/her reading comprehension.
• Is reading smoothly and with good expression.
• Struggles with reading comprehension.
• I would like to see (name) read for 15 minutes each night.
• Is choosing books that are too simple for his/her level.
• Has difficulty using reading strategies to decode new words.
• Needs to learn basic sight words to improve decoding skills.
• Needs to build reading vocabulary.
• Uses various strategies to solve one- and two-step word problems.
• Demonstrates a good understanding of math concepts.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills.
• Has strengthened his/her critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Has difficulty understanding/solving word problems.
• Understands skills and strategies but has a difficult time explaining processes.
• Would benefit from memorizing math facts.
• Has difficulty solving multi-step problems.
• Needs to slow down and check work.
• Memorizing basic math facts would be helpful to…
• Is willing to learn new writing skills and quickly applies these skills within his/her writing.
• Understands and applies the correct use of punctuation within writing.
• Writing is clear and follows grammar and punctuation rules.
• Enjoys writing stories and can construct unique and interesting sentences.
• Is able to create clear and effective writing that is interesting to read and easy to comprehend.
• Has shown great improvement with his/her writing skills and is consistently increasing his or her writing comprehension and techniques.
• Has difficulty writing clear and understandable sentences.
• Words are often misplaced throughout his/her writing.
• Frequently displays grammatical errors within his/her writing.
• (Name) needs to slow down and review his/her writing.

Report cards are used to show parents what students have learned, areas they excel in, and areas for improvement. Although report card grades reflect how well a student is performing against a set of standards, I would refrain from any comparisons on report cards. Every student matures and develops at a different rate, and it is important not to focus on how well children compare to their classmates, but rather to highlight how they are excelling in their personal goals/growth.

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51 Constructive Feedback Examples for Students

Constructive feedback is feedback that helps students learn and grow.

Even though it highlights students’ weaknesses, it is not negative feedback because it has a purpose. It is designed to help them identify areas for improvement.

It serves both as an example of positive reinforcement and a reminder that there is always room for further improvement. Studies show that students generally like feedback that points them in the right direction and helps them to improve. It can also increase motivation for students.

Why Give Constructive Feedback?

Constructive feedback is given to help students improve. It can help people develop a growth mindset by helping them understand what they need to do to improve.

It can also help people to see that their efforts are paying off and that they can continue to grow and improve with continued effort.

Additionally, constructive feedback helps people to feel supported and motivated to keep working hard. It shows that we believe in their ability to grow and succeed and that we are willing to help them along the way.

How to Give Constructive Feedback

Generally, when giving feedback, it’s best to:

• Make your feedback specific to the student’s work
• Point out areas where the student showed effort and where they did well
• Offer clear examples of how to improve
• Be positive about the student’s prospects if they put in the hard work to improve
• Encourage the student to ask questions if they don’t understand your feedback

Furthermore, it is best to follow up with students to see if they have managed to implement the feedback provided.

General Constructive Feedback Examples for Students

The below examples are general templates that need to be edited so they are specific to the student’s work.

1. You are on the right track. By starting to study for the exam earlier, you may be able to retain more knowledge on exam day.

2. I have seen your improvement over time. As a next step, it is a good idea to…

3. You have improved a lot and should start to look towards taking on harder tasks for the future to achieve more self-development.

4. You have potential and should work on your weaknesses to achieve better outcomes. One area for improvement is…

5. Keep up the good work! You will see better results in the future if you make the effort to attend our study groups more regularly.

6. You are doing well, but there is always room for improvement. Try these tips to get better results: …

7. You have made some good progress, but it would be good to see you focusing harder on the assignment question so you don’t misinterpret it next time.

8. Your efforts are commendable, but you could still do better if you provide more specific examples in your explanations.

9. You have done well so far, but don’t become complacent – there is always room for improvement! I have noticed several errors in your notes, including…

10. It is great that you are trying your best, but don’t stop here – keep pushing yourself to get even better results. It would be good to see you editing your work to remove the small errors creeping into your work…

11. You have put in a lot of hard work, and it is starting to show. One area for improvement is your tone of voice, which sometimes comes across too soft. Don’t be afraid to project your voice next time.

12. You are making good progress, but don’t forget to focus on your weaknesses too. One weakness to focus on is…

13. Your efforts are commendable, but it would have been good to have seen you focus throughout as your performance waned towards the end of the session.

15. While your work is good, I feel you are becoming complacent – keep looking for ways to improve. For example, it would be good to see you concentrating harder on providing critique of the ideas explored in the class.

16. It is great that you are trying your best, but don’t stop here – keep pushing yourself to get even better results! Try to improve your handwriting by slowing down and focusing on every single letter.

17. You have put in a lot of hard work, and it is starting to show. Keep up the good work and you will see your grades slowly grow more and more. I’d like to see you improving your vocabulary for future pieces.

18. You are making good progress, but don’t forget to focus on your weaknesses too. One weakness to focus on is…

19. You have potential and should work on your using more appropriate sources to achieve better outcomes. As a next step, it is a good idea to…

Constructive Feedback for an Essay

1. Your writing style is good but you need to use more academic references in your paragraphs.

2. While you have reached the required word count, it would be good to focus on making sure every paragraph addresses the essay question.

3. You have a good structure for your essay, but you could improve your grammar and spelling.

4. You have made some good points, but you could develop them further by using more examples.

5. Your essay is well-written, but it would be helpful to provide more analysis of the topic.

6. You have answered the question well, but you could improve your writing style by being more concise.

7. Excellent job! You have covered all the key points and your writing is clear and concise.

8. There are a few errors in your essay, but overall it is well-written and easy to understand.

9. There are some mistakes in terms of grammar and spelling, but you have some good ideas worth expanding on.

10. Your essay is well-written, but it needs more development in terms of academic research and evidence.

11. You have done a great job with what you wrote, but you missed a key part of the essay question.

12. The examples you used were interesting, but you could have elaborated more on their relevance to the essay.

13. There are a few errors in terms of grammar and spelling, but your essay is overall well-constructed.

14. Your essay is easy to understand and covers all the key points, but you could use more evaluative language to strengthen your argument.

15. You have provided a good thesis statement , but the examples seem overly theoretical. Are there some practical examples that you could provide?

Constructive Feedback for Student Reports

1. You have worked very hard this semester. Next semester, work on being more consistent with your homework.

2. You have improved a lot this semester, but you need to focus on not procrastinating.

3. You are doing well in most subjects, but you could improve your grades by paying more attention in class and completing all your homework.

4. You are doing well in most subjects, but you could still improve your grades by studying more and asking for help when you don’t understand something.

5. You have shown great improvement this semester, keep up the good work! However, you might want to focus on improving your test scores by practicing more.

6. You have made some good progress this semester, but you need to continue working hard if you want to get good grades next year when the standards will rise again.

7. Next semester, focus on completing all your homework on time and paying more attention in class.

8. You have worked hard this semester, but you could still improve your grades by taking your time rather than racing through the work.

9. Next semester, focus on completing all your homework in advance so you have time to check it over before submission.

10. While you usually understand the instructions, don’t forget to ask for help when you don’t understand something rather than guessing.

11. You have shown great improvement this semester, but you need to focus some more on being self-motivated rather than relying on me to keep you on task.

Constructive feedback on Homework

1. While most of your homework is great, you missed a few points in your rush to complete it. Next time, slow down and make sure your work is thorough.

2. You put a lot of effort into your homework, and it shows. However, make sure to proofread your work for grammar and spelling mistakes.

3. You did a great job on this assignment, but try to be more concise in your writing for future assignments.

4. This homework is well-done, but you could have benefited from more time spent on research.

5. You have a good understanding of the material, but try to use more examples in your future assignments.

6. You completed the assignment on time and with great accuracy. I noticed you didn’t do the extension tasks. I’d like to see you challenging yourself in the future.

Related Articles

• Examples of Feedback for Teachers
• 75 Formative Assessment Examples

Giving and receiving feedback is an important part of any learning process. All feedback needs to not only grade work, but give advice on next steps so students can learn to be lifelong learners. By providing constructive feedback, we can help our students to iteratively improve over time. It can be challenging to provide useful feedback, but by following the simple guidelines and examples outlined in this article, I hope you can provide comments that are helpful and meaningful.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
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2 thoughts on “51 Constructive Feedback Examples for Students”

Very helpful to see so much great developmental feedback with so many different examples.

Great examples of constructive feedback, also has reinforced on the current approach i take.

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325 amazing report card comments and remarks to save your time!

What's more difficult than creating your student report cards? Writing unique and meaningful report card comments. Creating report card comments and remarks can be a daunting and tedious task for teachers.

Every teacher will agree that writing unique report card comments is important as it helps the parents to understand their child's progress, they can take necessary action by understanding the report card comments.

We have made your task easier by providing a list of report card comments for every feedback category and applicable to all grades. Just copy and paste the comment, insert the student's name and you are good to go! You can edit and modify the comments as you like.

• Save your time.
• Help parents understand the feedback in a better way.

Achievement and Improvement - General Comments:

• If _____ continues to put out the effort he has demonstrated in the last two reporting periods, he will benefit greatly from his education.
• The following ideas might help him enhance his _____.
• I'm hoping that the current level of enthusiasm and progress will continue.
• In all academic disciplines, _____ is improving. She's having a hard time with____.
• She has a long way to go, but if she works hard enough, she will see results soon.
• _____ takes tremendous pride in his work and always completes it neatly.
• _____ is a frequent volunteer who makes significant contributions to the class. She has a tendency to work too rapidly, which leads to a lot of unintentional mistakes. At home and at school, we can assist her in correcting this.
• For his age, _____ is a hard worker with outstanding vocabulary skills. He likes to read and write.
• The quality of _____'s work reflects her positive attitude. Thank you for all of your hard work.
• Despite his best efforts, _____ finds it difficult to keep up with the rest of the class. Can we meet to discuss this?
• As we mentioned at our latest meeting, ______'s work is not up to par. I am confident that with more effort and concentration, he will quickly improve.
• _____ is genuinely interested in everything we do in class. She, on the other hand, is experiencing some difficulties with . Please go through this with her every night.

Achievement and Improvement - Academic Achievement:

• In ______, _____ is quite strong.
• _____ has received an excellent grade on his report card.
• ______ is something that _____ knows a lot about.
• _____ is a bright and hardworking student who excels in_____
• In all of the fundamental subjects, _____ is performing admirably.
• In ______, _____ is working over grade level.
• _____ is particularly skilled at______.
• Because of her low achievement level, _____ finds it challenging to keep up with the rest of the class.
• In the domains of ____, _____ is capable of reaching a higher average.
• We will concentrate on _____ in the coming term because _____ has had problems learning .
• _____ is capable of doing a much better job.
• Both you and I must continue to guide and assist _____.
• To get her up to _____ grade level, _____ has been really cooperative and only needs to improve her social studies skills.
• _____ has been getting poor grades on quizzes and tests.
• _____ does not work to her full potential.
• The material is tough for _____ to comprehend.

Achievement and Improvement - Improvement:

• The independence of _____ is increasing.
• _____ has steadily improved.
• _____ has been steadily improving.
• In ______, _____ has demonstrated a positive attitude toward wanting to improve.
• _____ appears to be eager to learn more. In _______, _____ has experienced rapid expansion.
• Academically, _____ is making steady progress.
• The quality of _____'s work is improving.
• _____ has improved her _____ abilities.
• _____ has demonstrated a positive desire to improve herself in _____.
• If he were more interested in _______, his performance would increase.
• This reporting period, _____ has made significant progress.
• I'm pleased to see that _____ is maturing well, and I hope that this trend continues.
• The classroom attitude of _____ has improved.

Work habits - General Report Card Comments:

• As I have stated in my reports, _______ does not manage his time effectively in class. Please explain to him that we study in class and play only at particular times during the school day.
• When ______ is able to relax, she produces considerably better results. She does, however, frequently seek the attention of her peers, which causes everyone to be distracted.
• _________ must continue to improve his work habits, as we mentioned in earlier meetings. We need to encourage him to take his work much more seriously.
• ______ enjoys participating in artistic pursuits. However, I am concerned about how much time she spends painting when she has other responsibilities. Could we possibly meet to explore methods for assisting ________ in resolving this problem?
• _______ is now working on grade-level material. I am confident, though, that he is capable of producing superior work. I'm confident that his work will improve as his attention improves.
• ______ wastes a lot of his work time daydreaming and then fails to finish on time. He is capable of doing the work in the time provided, and he needs to get started.
• _______ has done some good work, but it hasn't been consistent. She is a very gregarious and restless person who frequently does not complete her assignment on time. Thank you so much for your assistance at home. Please keep working with her on this matter.
• _______ is very eager to do her work, yet she can be a nuisance to the other pupils. Despite the fact that she has made improvement in this area over the last month, she still has work to do.
• ______ is having trouble because he frequently speaks out loud, disrupting the other pupils. He's working on changing this unhealthy behaviour, and he's made some progress in the last several weeks.
• _________ needs to continue to improve his work habits, as we mentioned in earlier meetings. We must motivate him to take his task more seriously.
• _______ has done some excellent work, but it hasn't been consistent. She is a social butterfly who is often agitated and frequently fails to complete her tasks on time. I appreciate your assistance at home. Continue to collaborate with her on this matter.
• _______ is very eager to do her work, yet she can be a nuisance to the other pupils. She has made progress in this area over the last month, but she still has work to do.

Work habits - listening skills:

• _____ is improving her ability to pay attention to directions.
• _____ is working on improving her listening skills.
• ______  is learning to listen and share.
• _____ pays close attention to what is being said.
• _____ is a hard worker who listens carefully.
• _____ assesses what she hears.
• All instructions must be followed by _____.
• Directions are tough for _____ to follow.

Work habits - Quality of work:

• The handiwork of _____ is superb.
• _____ appreciates doing nice, meticulous work.
• The work of _____ is tidy and precise.
• _____ creates vibrant and intriguing artwork.
• Work well done is something that _____ is proud of.
• _____ is prone to making careless mistakes.
• _____ is untidy.
• Proofreading is something that _____ must do.

Work habits - Time management:

• _____ is learning to use his free time wisely.
• _____ is always efficient with her time.
• _____ never finishes assignments in the time provided.
• During work hours, _____ is getting more dependable.
• _____ is on the verge of being self-sufficient.
• _____ is growing more self-sufficient.
• On assignments, _____ works autonomously.
• _____ is unable to do individual assignments.
• _____ is a good listener, but she needs to work faster.
• _____ needs to be pushed.
• _____ lacks self-sufficiency.
• _____ is prone to being easily distracted.
• _____ operates at a slow pace.
• _____ does not finish assignments in the time allotted.
• _____ appears unable to complete the required work.
• _____ frequently completes work ahead of schedule.
• _____ is indifferent about the value of time.
• In his written work, _____ sacrifices accuracy for the sake of speed.

Work habits - Work potential and effort report card comments:

• _____ has a lot of potential and is working hard to realise it.
• _____ is performing to the best of his or her ability.
• _____ is a dependable and conscientious worker.
• _____ is enthusiastic about his or her job in general.
• _____ is looking for information.
• _____ is a dedicated student.
• _____ is very conscientious.
• _____ is a pleasant and responsible student.
• _____ is a dedicated worker.
• During the ___ period, _____ is a hard worker.
• _____ is a respectful and conscientious student.
• If _____ is to gain the fundamentals required for ____ grade work, he must improve his work habits.
• _____'s efforts are inconsistent, particularly in ____.
• When not directly supervised, _____ makes little effort. _____ is eager to please.

Personality and Attitude - General report card comments:

• Although ______'s attitude toward his schoolwork has improved, it has not been consistent. Throughout the rest of the school year, he will require consistent guidance from both home and school.
• This report card reflects _______'s attitude toward school. He could do better if he worked harder and cooperated more.
• This reporting quarter reflects ______'s attitude toward our school rules, other students, and myself. She has the potential to be a successful student if she works hard enough.
• As my previous reports have shown, _____ does not complete his schoolwork. He can do better if he makes the decision to work harder and finish his assignments.
• Although _____'s attitude toward her classmates has improved, she still needs to be reminded to be respectful on a regular basis.
• As we discussed in our last meeting, _______ has a negative attitude toward basic skills. Please continue to do a nightly review with her, focusing especially on .
• Thank you for your enthusiasm for our class. I am pleased to report that ______ is improving in terms of his attitude in our classroom.
• ______ has made great strides this year in terms of her attitude in the classroom and on the playground.
• If ______ is to overcome her attitude and social difficulties, I will continue to need your assistance and support. If she can make a positive effort in this area, she will find school much more enjoyable.
• ________'s attitude has improved over time. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Personality and Attitude - Attitude:

• _____ has a fantastic attitude.
• _____ has a great attitude toward school.
• _____ maintains a positive attitude toward school.
• _____ takes responsibility well and has a pleasant demeanour.
• _____ takes the initiative and thinks things through on his own.
• _____ is changing his attitude toward __ grade.
• _____ must improve his or her classroom demeanour.

Personality and attitude - Personality:

• _____ is a nice student to work with.
• _____ is an exceptionally thoughtful student.
• _____ has a pleasant demeanour.
• _____ is a pleasant and friendly person.
• _____ is cooperative and content.
• _____ is courteous and cooperative.
• _____ has a friendly attitude.
• _____ is a joy to be around.
• _____ is a pleasant and helpful person.
• _____ is a pleasant and cooperative youngster.
• _____ is a cheerful, well-adjusted child, but_____.
• _____ is self-assured and well-mannered.
• We all enjoy _____'s sense of humour.
• _____ is amusing and enjoys the stories we read.
• _____ is easily disturbed.
• _____ is prone to crying.
• _____ appears tired a lot at school.
• Although ____________'s social maturity is increasing, it is inconsistent.

Personality and Attitude - Participation:

• _____ is excited about taking part.
• _____ contributes significantly in class.
• _____ is a frequent volunteer.
• _____ is eager to participate in all classroom activities.
• _____ is enthusiastic about what we do.
• _____ contributes significantly.
• _____ participates actively in discussions about ____
• _____ responds nicely.
• _____ addresses the group with confidence.
• _____ takes turns speaking.
• Participating in conversations and discussions is something that _____ enjoys doing.
• In class, _____ should take an active role in the discussion.

End of Year - General Report Card Comments:

• This year has seen a significant improvement in ______'s study habits. Please keep working on these abilities over the summer.
• Thank you for your interest in this year's schoolwork of _____ . Her work will provide her with a great deal of satisfaction if she continues to put forth the effort.
• ______ is a good citizen who works hard. I've had a great time having him in my class this year. Have a fantastic summer!
• This year, ______ has matured nicely. His progress over the last three months has been impressive. I'm hoping that this effort and attitude will continue into the next school year.
• Thank you for your interest in our class this year and for your support. ______ is a diligent student who should do well in the ____ grade.

End of Year - Phrases:

• This year, both academically and socially, ______ has matured nicely.
• ______'s friendly, genuine demeanour has made him a popular member of the __ grade.
• This summer, ______ would benefit from reading a lot of library books.
• If ______ is to succeed in the _____ grade, he must improve his reading speed and comprehension.
• As the year progressed, ______ continued to bloom.
• ______ made my year more enjoyable.
• ______ is a very pleasant and willing worker who takes a keen interest in all of her work. It's been great having her in my room.
• Thank you for the assistance I'm sure you've provided her.
• Please continue with _____ review and as many reading experiences as possible over the summer.
• Thank you for your interest in ______'s personality.
• I'm sorry I couldn't meet you this year.
• Thank you for your help.
• With her friendly, cooperative demeanour, ______ will always be a welcome addition to any class.
• I've had a good time being associated with ______.
• I had a great time having ______ in my class.
• It was a pleasure having ______ in my class.

Language Arts and Reading - Report Card Remarks:

• ______'s reading has improved significantly over the course of the year. Please continue to read with her every night.
• ______ is an excellent public speaker. Her written work, on the other hand, could be much better. With more effort, progress should be made gradually.
• ______ has made significant progress in her creative writing. She's gotten better at using more colourful words.
• ______ is making great strides in her reading of sight words. Please keep practising with him every night.
• Since the beginning of the school year, ______'s spelling scores have significantly improved. The fact that he studies his spelling words every night has made a significant difference. Thank you for your assistance.
• ______ is having trouble writing clear, fluent sentences, despite her best efforts. Is it possible for us to meet to discuss some useful strategies?

Language Arts and Reading - Listening:

• ______ pays close attention to stories.
• ______ can tell the difference between sounds in words.
• ______ has trouble differentiating between sounds in words.

Language Arts and Reading - Reading and Vocabulary report card comments:

• ______ picks up new words rapidly.
• ______ needs to improve his reading speed and comprehension.
• _______ has a well-developed reading vocabulary.
• ______ is a voracious reader.
• ______ is now aware of and proficient in the use of ____ consonant and vowel sounds.
• The sounds ____ and ____ are mixed up by _____ .
• ______ may blend short words without help by utilising the vowel(s) .
• ______ is working on attacking words on his own.
• The reading of ______ is.. (smooth, jerky, hesitant, rapid, irregular, or fluent).
• ______ understands what she is reading.
• ______ enjoys reading and is passionate about literature.
• ______ is able to read and follow instructions.
• _____ sight words are now recognised by ____ .
• ______ enjoys reading.
• To retain reading vocabulary, ______ requires a lot of repetition and practise.
• ______ continues to mix up words that appear to be the same.
• ______ is starting to read phrases and groupings of words.
• The reading of ______ is getting habitual.
• The reading of ______ is still not automatic.
• ______ enjoys talking about the stories we've been reading.
• ______ can read his sentences back

Language Arts and Reading- Speaking:

• ______ uses entire sentences when speaking.
• ______ expresses himself clearly.
• (Pronouns, verbs) are difficult for ______ to correctly use.
• Dramatization is something that ______ appreciates.
• ______ possesses a strong oral vocabulary.
• ______ employs proper punctuation.
• When speaking, ______ utilises a lot of colourful words.
• When speaking, ______ utilises (complicated, basic) sentences.
• ______ takes part in a group storytelling session.

Language Arts and Reading - Writing:

• ______ must use his or her abilities in all written work.
• ______ is a fantastic writer of creative stories and poetry.
• ______ can accurately arrange periods and question marks.
• In his writing, ______ employs a variety of colourful words.
• In her work, ______ employs (complicated, simple) sentences.
• ______ can now compose a complete sentence on his own.
• ______ can compose a two- to four-sentence original tale.
• ______ arranges words in the correct sequence.
• In writing, ______ demonstrates self-assurance.
• ______ can put together a number of similar sentences.
• ______ is working on expanding his spelling vocabulary.
• To look up unusual words, ______ consults a dictionary.
• ______ enjoys learning new words to spell.
• ______ has an easy time learning to spell words.
• ______ has a tendency of reversing letters in words.
• ______ has trouble memorising non-phonetic word spellings.
• To recall spelling, ______ makes use of hand or body motions.

General and Handwriting - General Report Card Remarks:

• ______'s basic skills are all on grade level, but he is not working to his full potential.
• Over the last quarter, ______'s schoolwork has improved. I sincerely hope that this work will continue.
• ______'s actions are still inconsistent. She continues to struggle with obeying school rules and treating other pupils with respect. Please call to schedule a meeting. Thank you for your unwavering support and assistance from home. It's clear that you've been spending extra time with ______ on his schooling.
• Since our last meeting, ______ has improved. I recommend that you keep working on ______ every night.
• ______ is a well-mannered and vigilant ____ grader. He needs to be encouraged to engage in class because he is a quiet boy. Any assistance you can provide from your own home would be really valuable.
• ______ has made a good transition to her new school. Could you please contact me as soon as you have moved into your new home to arrange a meeting?
• ______ is becoming more self-assured.
• ______ is adhering to grade-level standards.
• ______ does a fantastic job in everything he does.
• ______ is a hard worker who excels in all areas.
• ______ is a person who thinks clearly.
• ______'s thoughts are well-organized.
• It is important to encourage ______ to .
• ______ requires a lot of encouragement.
• ______ is a creative person.
• ______ is a frequent latecomer.
• ______ takes a lot of time off.
• ______ has not completed her makeup work.
• ______ is a bright student who appears to ponder deeply.
• ______ is quick to pick up on new concepts.
• ______ is a person who talks a much.
• ______ should devote more time to his or her allotted job.
• ______ does not devote enough time to his or her homework.
• ______ has to work on his or her self-control.
• A meeting has been requested.
• Please call to schedule a meeting.
• Your unwavering cooperation and assistance are greatly appreciated.
• It is conceivable for ______ to achieve higher grades than expected.

General and Handwriting - Handwriting:

• The handwriting of ______ needs to be improved.
• ______'s motor skills are good/ bad/ fine.
• ______ can print along the lines.
• ______ appropriately spaces letters and words.
• The work of ______ is untidy.
• ______ does not properly form letters.
• Although some of ______'s printing is excellent, it is frequently clumsy in daily assignments.

Category wise:

• Demonstrates perseverance in distance learning and serves as a role model for other students.
• TEAMS is used to submit class assignments and communicate with teachers and classmates.
• Has done an excellent job of navigating new technology and troubleshooting technical issues.
• Completes asynchronous and autonomous work and always meets deadlines.
• When it comes to completing learning assignments, she goes above and beyond in terms of detail and quality.
• With online learning, ____ has successfully maintained his/her class demeanour and work habits.
• _____ is methodical in his approach, thinks things through for himself, and is a quick and eager student.
• _____ is fascinated by the nature of learning and always puts in his or her best effort to find the greatest available solutions.
• _____ is a focused and enthusiastic participant in the online learning session, and works with zeal and determination.
• _____ is able to reach his or her full potential, as evidenced by his or her contributions to conversations and work submitted.
• Maintains focus in online learning despite technological challenges and changes associated with remote learning.
• ___ enthusiastically engages in class discussions and works effectively with peers.
• ___ takes charge of his or her own education and always asks for support when needed.
• Always arrives on time for class and is a dedicated student.
• ___ was usually well-prepared, well-organized, and enthusiastic about making the most of online classes.
• ___ is a dedicated student who participates actively in class. His/her suggestions are useful and entertaining.
• ___ takes an active interest in his or her own learning, pays close attention, and makes a concerted effort to avoid distractions that could disrupt the learning process.
• ___ is a person who takes responsibility and accountability seriously. He or she makes sound decisions and is open to new ideas.
• ___ gets along well with his peers and values varied viewpoints and experiences.
• ___ is constantly looking for ways to assist in the classroom.
• ___ is dependable and trustworthy, follows instructions well, and keeps his or her promises to himself and others.
• In written and verbal communication, ___ is thoughtful, insightful, and comprehensive, and has a talent for clearly conveying his or her ideas.
• When solving problems with students, ___ displays maturity and exhibits good communication skills when sharing thoughts and ideas about a certain topic/concept.
• ___ excels at transferring classroom knowledge to real-world and real-life circumstances.
• It's been a delight having ____'s energy, optimism, and maturity in my class.
• ____ is a classmate who is eager about learning and willing to try new things.
• During class, ____ is focused and willing to provide ideas.
• With confidence and determination, ____ completes solo work.
• ____ is a self-starter who takes pride in her job.
• In class, ____ is attentive and eager to engage in discussions.
• ____ is a very conscientious worker who puts in a lot of effort and attention on a daily basis.
• In his or her daily labour, ____ makes a willing and conscientious effort.
• ____ makes a conscious effort to study new things and improve his or her knowledge.
• This term, ____ has done an outstanding job confronting and overcoming significant obstacles. Throughout the summer, please continue to foster and support this behaviour.
• When given instructions, ____ takes responsibility and follows them.
• ____ has trouble keeping on task and finishing his or her assignment.
• He or she must pay close attention to directions in order to learn to operate autonomously.
• Reminders about the regular classroom schedule are required. It would be beneficial to talk about the classroom routine at home.
• Turns in incomplete work or no homework on a regular basis. Encouraging ____ to complete his or her work on time and according to the timetable and timeline set, so enhancing his or her organisational skills.
• Does not actively participate in group activities; therefore, is encouraged to put forth effort in order to improve communication skills as well as attention and confidence.
• ___ was an active participant in online learning sessions, but she needed to be reminded from time to time to allow other students to share their work and ideas as well.
• ___ participates enthusiastically in online group activities, but finds it difficult to work independently.

Below Average:

• During class, ___'s engagement and behaviour are inconsistent and disengaged.
• ___ is having trouble grasping concepts. It would be useful to pay more attention to the required tasks and to attend the online classes on a regular basis.
• When it comes to schoolwork, ___ needs a lot of help from adults. She has trouble grasping simple concepts and is unable to work on her own.
• In the online learning environment, ___ struggled to engage and participate in discussions and activities.
• ___ has not worked hard enough to satisfy the grade level objectives. It would be great to have regular work habits, active engagement, and the ability to clarify doubts.
• ___ needs to pay greater attention to guidance throughout lessons in order to apply concepts learned and complete given assignments.
• ___ would benefit from demonstrating a stronger desire to participate in class discussions.
• ___ needs to be reminded to pay attention during instructions and lessons on a regular basis.
• ___ has trouble focusing in class, which hinders his or her ability to participate fully in class activities and tasks.
• ___ is encouraged to make good use of his or her time in order to finish things on schedule.
• ___ is encouraged to take greater responsibility for completing chores without the need for frequent reminders.
• ___ must demonstrate that he or she is engaged in the learning process through the quality of his or her work and the efficient use of class time.

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180 Report Card Comments for All Grades in 2024

Report card comments are a vital component of a child’s education. A small but meaningful comment can make a HUGE difference in the classroom experience.

According to Education Week , about 67% of parents feel that report cards are important to knowing if their child is on grade level .

However, creating custom comments for every student while still making an impact can be both time-consuming and draining for any educator who has a class of 20-30 students.

Good news: we have created 180 report card comments for all grades, including preschool and kindergarten, for you. You’re sure to find the perfect comment for every student below.

The 180 comments you see in this article can be leveraged to create dynamic feedback based on students' performance.

Tips For Writing Report Card Comments & Remarks

Writing report card comments is a critical aspect of a teacher's job, whether it's for math , English, or other subjects. It's not just about assigning grades but also about providing feedback in your remarks that can help students grow and improve.

Here are some tips that can make these comments more meaningful and impactful:

Be Specific : Instead of general statements, pinpoint exact strengths and areas for improvement. This helps students understand what they are doing well and what they need to work on.

Use Positive Language : Focus on the student's progress and potential. Even when addressing areas for improvement, frame your comments positively to encourage rather than discourage.

Include Examples : Whenever possible, reference specific assignments or incidents. This makes your feedback more tangible and easier for the student to relate to.

Offer Solutions : Don’t just point out what’s wrong; suggest ways to improve. This could be strategies for studying, time management, or resources for extra help.

Be Concise : Keep your comments clear and to the point. Long comments can be overwhelming, and the key messages may get lost.

Make It Personal : Tailor your comments to each student. Generic comments can feel impersonal and may not be as effective.

Highlight Improvements : Acknowledge any progress or improvements, no matter how small. This can motivate students to keep working hard.

End on a Positive Note : Always conclude with an encouraging statement. This leaves the student feeling supported and understood.

Crafting report card comments with these tips in mind can transform them from a mere formality into a powerful tool for communication and growth.

It shows students that their teachers are paying attention not just to their grades but to their development as learners. With thoughtful and constructive feedback, teachers can inspire their students to strive for excellence and overcome challenges.

Types of Report Card Comments

Report card comments go beyond just academics; they touch on various aspects of a student's performance and behavior in school. These comments can provide a holistic view of a student's development, strengths, and areas that need attention.

Here's a look at different types of report card comments that can be used to convey a well-rounded perspective:

Attitude : These comments focus on the student's approach towards learning and school activities. They can highlight positivity, willingness to take on challenges, or areas where a more constructive attitude could be developed.

Behavior : This type addresses how the student interacts with rules and norms in the classroom and school environment. Comments can point out exemplary behavior or suggest ways to improve in managing impulses and respecting boundaries.

Character : Character comments reflect on the student's moral and ethical development. They may commend integrity, honesty, responsibility, and empathy, or offer suggestions for growth in these areas.

Communication : These remarks evaluate how effectively a student expresses themselves and understands others. They can praise strong verbal or written skills and encourage improvement in listening and articulation.

Group Work : Comments in this category assess the student's ability to work in teams. They can highlight skills in collaboration, leadership, and contributing positively to group tasks.

Interest & Talent : This type of comment identifies specific areas where a student shows enthusiasm or exceptional ability, whether it's in a subject, a sport, or the arts, and encourages further development.

Social Skills : Social skills comments focus on how the student interacts with peers and adults within the school. They can applaud empathy, friendliness, and inclusivity, or offer advice on navigating social situations more effectively.

Work Habits : These comments examine the student's approach to their studies, including organization, time management, persistence, and attention to detail. They can recognize good habits or suggest strategies for improvement.

Using a mix of these types of comments allows teachers to provide feedback that recognizes the multifaceted nature of student growth.

ESL comments are another common type of report card comment that is used to provide feedback for students learning a language.

Check out our list of the Best EdTech Tools for teachers!

How to Automate Writing Report Card Comments & Remarks

Writing out full comments can take a lot of time. Using abbreviations like “GC” for good conduct can help, but it still takes time.

Instead of writing out remarks to students manually, use Text Blaze . Text Blaze helps educators create smart text templates and insert them anywhere with keyboard shortcuts.

With Text Blaze, you use keyboard shortcuts to automatically insert report card comments & remarks and personalize each comment for your students.

Automate repetitive report card comments & remarks with keyboard shortcuts.

Text Blaze is 100% free forever !

Text Blaze works on any site or app !

Use placeholders to personalize student feedback with ease!

Write report card comments 5x faster , save time, and boost productivity!

Here's an example of a Text Blaze snippet that you can use to automate report card comments (see GIF above to see it in action):

180 Report Card Comments

100 general report card comments.

Here are 100 general report card comments that you can apply to your classroom:

• [Name]‘s grades have suffered as a result of missing assignments.
• [Name] achieves success in all their academic endeavors.
• [Name] likes learning and shows enthusiasm for classroom activities.
• [Name] enjoys school, and their upbeat demeanor brightens the classroom.
• [Name] loves their academic studies and performs admirably.
• [Name] finds reading difficult and would benefit from a nightly routine.
• Basic addition and multiplication lessons would be extremely beneficial to [Name].
• [Name] shares information that contributes greatly to classroom discussions.
• [Name] successfully uses data from graphs and charts in a profound manner.
• [Name] comes to school every day with a positive attitude.
• [Name] completes difficult assignments by utilizing critical thinking skills.
• [Name] consistently produces insightful work.
• [Name] creates well-organized essays.
• [Name] demonstrates extensive knowledge in the field of [topic].
• [Name] must learn to pay close attention and follow directions in class.
• [Name] employs advanced reading comprehension skills every day.
• Encourage [Name] to learn every day so that they improve their grades in [subject].
• [Name] enjoys participating in class and brings insight to our discussions.
• [Name] establishes high goals and achieves them.
• [Name] has difficulty locating school supplies and would benefit from a cleaner desk.
• [Subject] tests are challenging for [Name] and [he/she] would benefit from extra study time.
• [Name] gets along well with other classmates.
• [Name] has an impressive vocabulary, which improves their writing synthesis.
• [Name] has a wonderfully optimistic attitude and is always willing to help.
• [Name] has a strong sense of storytelling and development, which improves writing.
• [Name] has a warm persona and sense of humor.
• [Name] has improved abilities in [Name].
• [Name] performs exceptionally in the areas of [subject].
• [Name] has put in the effort to improve grades in [subject], and I appreciate it.
• [Name] has trouble adhering to classroom rules and needs help focusing.
• I admire [Name]‘s motivation to succeed and have enjoyed teaching them.
• I admire [Name] ‘s work, which has been done with care.
• I am worried about [Name]’s organizational skills and ability to submit work on time.
• I am extremely proud of [Name] and wish them the best of luck next year.
• I had a great time teaching [Name] and will miss them next year.
• [Name] should concentrate on [topic] this year to improve.
• [Name] should focus on [topic] this year.
• [Name] should emphasize greater focus in [topic] because it is going to be a considerable part of this year.
• [Name] 's lack of listening affected their grades in [subject].
• [Name] made great progress across all areas of academia.
• [Name] is making good progress in the classroom.
• [Name] struggles with organizational skills neaten their desk.
• [Name] must slow down when working.
• [Name] must learn basic math skills to progress further.
• [Name] exemplifies good stewardship toward others.
• I enjoyed [Name]’s sense of humor this year.
• [Name] has made significant progress in [subject].
• [Name] has outperformed expectations in [subject].
• [Name] is a kind student and is always willing to help.
• [Name] is a creative writer who excels in every area.
• [Name] is always a delight to be around.
• [Name] is a fantastic student who improves classroom discussions.
• [Name] is a focused student who performs well in all subjects.
• [Name] is a gifted artist, and I admire the passion with which they create work.
• [Name] is a good role model and follows classroom rules consistently.
• [Name] is an excellent classroom helper and a leader.
• [Name] is a hard worker who never leaves an assignment half-finished.
• [Name] is a joy to teach because of their positive attitude.
• [Name] is a one-of-a-kind student who I will never forget and always miss.
• [Name] is a problem solver with a strong sense of persistence.
• [Name] is a quick learner who adapts well to new situations.
• [Name] is a responsible student who completes assignments on time.
• [Name] stays on task when working independently.
• [Name] is always wonderfully efficient with their time.
• [Name] is a terrific reader with excellent comprehension skills.
• [Name] is an excellent student who is a pleasure to teach.
• [Name] is hardworking and should be proud of their accomplishments.
• [Name] can achieve a higher grade in [subject] but must practice more to advance.
• [Name] is courteous to classmates and school staff.
• [Name] is driven by a desire to please others.
• [Name] is eager to learn and asks the right questions when necessary.
• [Name] is always focused when in class.
• [Name] is gaining momentum in [subject] but could use some help from practicisng more.
• [Name] is intelligent, but their quality of work is below expectations.
• [Name] is a natural leader and works well with peers.
• [Name] is very chatty in class, which is distracting to others.
• [Name] is well-liked and respectful of their classmates.
• [Name] is well-organized and can quickly locate the materials she requires.
• It’s terrific to see [Name] consistently put forth their best effort in [subject].
• I’ve enjoyed getting to know [Name] this year.
• I’ve enjoyed seeing [Name]’s art projects and creativity.
• I’ve had a fantastic year getting to know [Name] and wish them all the best.
• I’ve loved having [Name] in our class this year, and I’ll miss them terribly.
• [Name] likes poetry, reading, music, science, and art and is very good at it.
• [Name] likes tests and would benefit from additional mocks tests.
• [Name] makes good use of class time.
• [Name] meticulously completes their work.
• [Name] participates actively in both small group and whole-class discussions.
• [Name] pays close attention to detail in assignments.
• [Name] pays close attention to instructions.
• Reading skills are a problem for [Name] at times and [he/she] would benefit from finishing extra questions from chapter 3.
• [Name] reads out loud with a good sense of expression.
• [Name] is an inspiration to everyone in the classroom.
• [Name] does an outstanding overall.
• [Name] made significant progress in [subject].
• [Name] worked extremely hard this year, and it shows.
• [Name] would benefit from improving their basic math skills, particularly in [Name].
• [Name] needs extra time for memorization.
• [Name] works well independently and completes enrichment activities alone.
• [Name] struggles to work quietly and would do well to learn boundaries.

10 Positive Report Card Comments: Attitude

Below are 10 positive report card comments based on a student’s attitude:

• [Name] ‘s an enthusiastic learner who enjoys school.
• [Name] exhibits a positive outlook in the classroom.
• [Name] appears refreshed and ready for each day’s activities.
• [Name] shows genuine enthusiasm for our daily classroom activities.
• [Name] shows impressive initiative and always seeks out new ways to get involved.
• [Name] uses strong instincts to deal with matters independently.
• [Name] strives to reach their full potential.
• [Name] is committed to doing their best.
• [Name] seeks new challenges.
• [Name] takes responsibility for their learning.

10 Positive Report Card Comments: Behavior

Here are 10 positive report card comments based on a student’s behavior:

• [Name] maturely conducts themselves.
• [Name] cooperates with other students in a consistent manner.
• [Name] follows the rules of the classroom.
• [Name] is courteous and has good manners.
• [Name] is helpful and kind to everyone in the classroom.
• [Name] maintains a sharp focus on the task at hand.
• [Name] sets a high standard for behavior and cooperation.
• [Name] easily avoids tempting distractions.
• [Name] responds appropriately to instruction.
• [Name] easily transitions between classroom activities.

10 Positive Report Card Comments: Character

These are 10 positive report card comments based on a student’s character:

• [Name] showcases good relationship skills.
• You can count on [Name] to follow instructions.
• [Name] demonstrates responsibility by caring for school supplies.
• [Name] demonstrates a high level of respect for teachers and peers.
• [Name] is dependable and is ready to assist when needed.
• [Name] faithfully completes classroom assignments.
• [Name] has incredible self-discipline and always gets work completed promptly.
• [Name] is a caring young person who shows concern for their peers.
• [Name] is a model citizen in our classroom.
• [Name] is sensitive to the feelings of others.

10 Positive Report Card Comments: Communication Skills

Here are 10 positive report card comments based on a student’s communication skills:

• [Name] has a well-developed vocabulary.
• [Name] carefully and impressively selects their words.
• [Name] expresses thoughts clearly.
• [Name] has a bright imagination and is an excellent writer.
• [Name] discovered their voice through poetry.
• [Name] uses vivid language in writing.
• [Name] writes clearly and purposefully.
• [Name] completes writing assignments with purpose.
• [Name] can make a convincing and logical argument.
• [Name] listens to others’ comments and ideas.

10 Positive Report Card Comments: Group Work

These are 10 positive report card comments based on a student’s group work:

• [Name] provides constructive feedback to peers.
• [Name] accepts peer recommendations and acts on them when necessary.
• [Name] is receptive to other people’s ideas and opinions in the group.
• [Name] takes on various and active roles in the workgroup environment.
• [Name] enjoys taking on leadership roles in groups.
• [Name] demonstrates fairness in the delegation of group tasks.
• [Name] carefully plans and executes group activities.
• [Name] collaborates with peers democratically.
• [Name] encourages the group’s other members to perform better.
• [Name] keeps the workgroup on track and focused.

10 Positive Report Card Comments: Interest And Talent

Below are 10 positive report card comments based on a student’s interest and talent:

• [Name] discusses ideas that they’ve read regularly.
• [Name] enjoys showing off their musical abilities to the rest of the class.
• [Name] reads every day for pleasure.
• [Name] has a firm grasp of their interests.
• [Name] has a neat hobby that they shared with the rest of the class.
• [Name] has a wide range of interests.
• [Name] independently seeks out additional information on classroom topics.
• [Name] is a fantastic performer.
• [Name] is a gifted musician.
• [Name] possesses a witty sense of humor.

10 Positive Report Card Comments: Social Skills

Below are 10 positive report card comments based on a student’s social skills:

• [Name] makes friends quickly.
• [Name] is well-liked by their peers.
• [Name] deals with peer disagreements in a mature manner.
• [Name] treats other students with respect and fairness.
• [Name] is a well-liked student in the class.
• [Name] has empathy for peers and others.
• [Name] appears to be at ease when confronting challenges.
• [Name] enjoys conversing with friends.
• [Name] spends their free time with friends.
• [Name] makes their friends laugh and smile.

10 Positive Report Card Comments: Work Habits

Below are 10 positive report card comments based on a student’s work habits:

• [Name]’s attention to detail helps to avoid careless mistakes.
• [Name] always double-checks work before submitting it.
• [Name] completes homework assignments regularly.
• [Name] creates awe-inspiring home projects.
• [Name] demonstrates self-discipline.
• [Name] exceeds expectations in terms of work quality.
• [Name] is a responsible and hardworking student.
• [Name] is a student that possesses self-motivation skills.
• [Name] is self-sufficient and independent.
• [Name] makes good use of unscheduled class time.

Report Card Generator

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Wrapping Up

Writing report card comments is critical to improving student learning, but it can be time-consuming and draining. If you have a class of 20+ students and you want to leave 2-3 comments on each report card, it will take quite a long time to write the 40-60 comments.

Use Text Blaze to make the process more efficient by allowing you to use keyboard shortcuts and quickly insert all relevant comments per student.

Teaching can be tough, and the last thing you need to worry about as a teacher is trivial writing tasks. There are just a lot of other important things on your plate. We understand that, and that’s why we created Text Blaze : a tool that can help you get back to what matters!

Text Blaze is free forever ! Give Text Blaze a try for free today !

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120 ESL Report Card Comments in 2024

160 math report card comments in 2024, two customizable esl writing rubric templates, 5+ vipkid feedback templates and examples.

When to Give Praise and How to Compliment Your Students — 75 Encouraging Comments for Students

Too often, students associate schoolwork with negative feedback: the corrections that they get from teachers when they do something wrong. While correcting work with an eye toward improvement is important, students also need positive feedback to nurture their self-worth and to see their work in a positive light. Your opinion as a teacher is valuable to the students that you teach, so making a point to compliment and praise them is a vital part of their growth and education.

The video below gives some great examples of how to compliment students and shows what big difference praises can make:

If you are confused while giving praise, you may take a SEL course, this will certainly help you. I add the list of the best courses SEL trainings here .

When to Give Praise

There’s never a bad time to give your students compliments! However, there are certain scenarios in which praise is most effective:

• when a student puts forth extra effort
• when a student masters a particular skill or concept
• when a student’s work goes above and beyond the expectation
• when a student sets or reaches a goal
• when a student exhibits a positive behavior

Compliments can be given at any time, so always be on the lookout for moments when a student’s work or behavior warrants a little bit of praise. This is particularly important when assessing their work. When grading a test or paper, be sure to include comments on what the student did well just as often as you correct things that could have been done better.

5 Steps to Effective Praise

It’s not enough to just give compliments to students — they need to be the right compliments! Follow these five steps to give the best praise to every student:

1. Be Specific

It’s easy to fall back on old standards like “Good job” or “Nice work.” However, these compliments are so cliché that students barely notice them. In addition, these phrases don’t tell the student what they did to earn the praise.

One of the greatest benefits of using compliments in your feedback is that students know what they did well, so they know that they should repeat those behaviors to continue excelling in the classroom. In addition, specific compliments will stick in their memory much longer, extending the benefits to their self-esteem.

2. Praise the Process

While it is important to give praise when assessing a student’s performance, don’t focus solely on the outcome.

Is a student putting forth extra effort to study for an exam? Is a student being creative in their use of resources? Is a student staying highly organized while working on a project? All of these are great examples of behaviors that you can complement!

3. Be Genuine

Lack of sincerity is a surefire way for a compliment to backfire. A false compliment is worse than none at all for building relationships with your class. Students can tell if you aren’t being genuine, so only compliment them when they’ve done something that actually warrants praise.

Besides, one of the most important reasons to compliment students is to encourage them to repeat positive behaviors; if your compliments aren’t genuine, you may end up making a negative behavior worse.

4. Be Sensitive

It’s important to get to know your students and to compliment them in ways that are comfortable for them. For example, some students love being the center of attention, while others shy away from the spotlight. Praising a wallflower in front of the whole class might make them uncomfortable, so stick to praising them one-on-one or in writing.

It’s also important to be aware of cultural issues; be careful of compliments that may serve to reinforce stereotypes. For example, telling a female student that you can’t believe how good she is at math or science reinforces the stereotype that girls aren’t as proficient in these subjects as boys.

5. Avoid Comparisons

It may seem great to tell a student that they had the highest test score in the class, but compliments that compare students to one another can actually do more harm than good. While it may feel good to the top performer, it can be detrimental to the rest of the class.

In addition, these types of compliments encourage competition, which isn’t ideal for learning. Students should be able to focus on learning the material without worrying about whether they’re doing it better than everyone else. Treat each student as an individual without comparing them to others.

Fun Fact : Just as it is important to praise students from time to time, it is likewise imperative to show gratitude to teachers from time to time as well. Teachers come in different forms; hence, the students’ thankfulness should be geared toward complimenting instead of comparing one against the other. Read my blog here: Thank You Note To Teacher .

Best Compliments for Students from Teachers

Let’s take a look at some examples of the best ways to compliment your students to ensure that your feedback is effective:

Student Performance: Effort

Use these compliments when a student goes the extra mile and puts in a lot of effort:

• You’re really working hard today
• That’s coming along nicely
• You must have been practicing
• You really went the extra mile
• I’m happy to see you working like that
• I’m proud of the work you did today
• This is the best you’ve ever done
• That’s quite an improvement
• I can see your hard work in this assignment
• You haven’t quit even on this tough problem
• Keep using those great strategies
• You have really grown
• I can see a difference in your work
• I appreciate your hard work
• It’s obvious from your grade that you worked hard to prepare for the quiz
• I saw you tackle that problem over and over until you got it
• I love how hard you’re trying
• It means a lot to me that you don’t give up
• Tell me about all of the hard work you did on this research
• You’ve been working hard on this every day
• You solved this problem with such focus
• Give yourself a hand for the way you handled this lesson
• I sure admire that perseverance.
• This project is coming along well
• Thank you for your hard work

Student Performance: Accuracy

If a student absolutely nailed it, try one of these compliments:

• Your project is first-rate
• I couldn’t have done it better myself
• You haven’t missed a thing
• Great job solving 20 problems correctly
• I didn’t find a single comma error in your paper. Great job!
• Your argument is very clear
• You came up with an excellent answer for that question
• You came up with a thoughtful answer
• You really nailed that experiment
• This was a well-argued paper
• Can you tell me how you came up with that great answer?
• You did every step in this problem just right
• You did a great job answering all parts of the question
• You really paid attention to details
• How did you come up with such a great answer?
• That’s exactly how I would have done it
• I can’t think of any ways to make this essay better
• Your work really got me thinking
• You came up with a really sound hypothesis
• Your arguments did a great job supporting your thesis
• That paragraph was really well organized

Student Performance: Fluency

When a student works hard and gains fluency in a skill, praise them with these compliments:

• You got that done quickly
• You figured that out fast
• You’re learning fast
• You’re catching on quickly
• You’ve got that down pat
• Look at you go
• You wrote nonstop through the writing period. Nice job!
• Nice, you finished on time
• You finished that experiment so quickly
• How did you solve that problem so quickly?
• You did that twice as fast as you did last week
• I’m impressed at how well you did those flash cards
• Great job using mental math
• Wow, you knew that right off the top of your head!

Work Product: Student Goal-Setting

It’s important to make and achieve goals for the future; try some of these goal-oriented compliments:

• You set a goal to complete your outline today, and I can see you’ve done it
• I like it when you make a time management plan
• You finished your essay today just like you wanted. Great job!
• I like that goal you set for yourself
• I’m proud of you for setting such an ambitious goal
• I think completing five problems is a great goal for you
• It’s great that you’re trying to achieve the goal you set for yourself
• That goal will really help you push yourself!

Work Product: Using External Standard

Students do well when they have standards. They do even better when a teacher uses some strategies for students to keep on task and standards, and you may read them in this article . Use one of these compliments when a student meets or achieves a standard:

• You just showed mastery on the grade’s math standards
• You did a great job including all the parts of a thesis
• Thank you for following the directions so carefully
• You did exactly what the directions said
• This is the kind of essay they’re looking for on the state exams
• This is great SAT vocabulary you used in your essay
• You learned all of the math concepts you’ll need for the test

Final Thoughts

While pointing out mistakes and potential for improvement is sometimes easier than finding ways to praise students, it shouldn’t be the sole focus of your feedback. Learning to compliment students regularly requires a shift in your mindset, but with regular practice, it can become an important part of how you interact with your class. Praise helps students know what they’ve done well and is important for their self-esteem and growth. Teachers are role models; never underestimate just how important your words are.

Last Updated on July 25, 2022 by Emily

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Emily is an active mother of two and a dedicated elementary school teacher. She believes the latest technology has made a huge impact on the quality of early learning and has worked hard to upgrade her classroom and her own children’s learning experience through technology.

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Having difficulty with writing positive and constructive feedback on student report cards and progress reports? Use our ideas.

• The learner takes an active role in discussions.
• Learner consistently cooperates with the teacher and other students.
• Learner listens well and shares ideas frequently.
• The learner works democratically with peers.
• Learner shows self-confidence in…
• The learner works well in groups, planning and carrying out activities.
• Learner follows directions well.
• The learner is an enthusiastic learner who enjoys school.
• Learner tackles new challenges with a positive attitude.
• The learner has a positive attitude about school.
• Learner consistently makes good choices during the school day.
• Learner shows respect for peers and teachers.
• Learner transitions easily between classroom activities and is not a distraction to others.
• The learner is sensitive to the thoughts and opinions of others.
• The learner is a leader and positive role model for students .
• The learner is enthusiastic about participating.
• The learner takes an active part in discussions about (topic).
• Learner speaks with confidence.
• Learner volunteers often.
• The learner has a great sense of humor and enjoys our class assignments.

Needs Improvement

• The learner has difficulty staying focused and on task. · Needs to actively participate in classroom discussion.
• The learner needs to work on not distracting others during class.
• The learner is learning to be careful, cooperative, and fair.
• The learner needs to work on…
• One area for improvement is…
• The learner is eager to participate in class but needs to raise their hand.
• The learner is becoming more independent when completing class assignments.
• The learner needs frequent reminders to stay focused throughout the day.
• Learner, when motivated, does well on class assignments.
• The learner needs to work on following written and oral directions.
• Needs to actively participate in classroom discussions.
• The learner has frequent absences that are affecting (name’s) schoolwork.
• The learner needs to work on treating others with respect.
• The learner needs to work on completing homework assignments on time.
• Learner frequently comes to class unprepared .
• Learner often seems tired at school.
• The learner gets upset quickly when (topic).
• Although _____________’s growth in social skills and maturity is continuing, it is not consistent.
• _______ continues to make progress this year concerning their attitude in the classroom and on the playground.

Time Management/Work Habits

• The learner uses class time wisely.
• The learner is a self-motivated student.
• Learner completes work on time.
• The learner is very organized.
• Learner demonstrates problem-solving skills and is persistent.
• The learner has done a great job facing and overcoming significant challenges this year.
• The learner is very responsible and turns in work on time.
• The learner is flexible and adapts to changes quickly .
• The learner has made improvements in the area of…
• The learner has strengthened their skills in…
• The learner does not complete assignments on time. Seems unable to finish.
• The learner is encouraged to use time wisely to finish tasks in the time required.
• Learner struggles to stay organized and find appropriate materials (paper/pencil).
• The learner needs to slow down to improve the quality of their work.
• The learner is not working to their full potential.
• The learner is easily distracted.
• The learner needs to listen and follow directions more carefully .
• The learner needs more opportunities to…
• Learner grades are suffering because of missed assignments.
• The learner would benefit from…

Growth Mindset

• The learner has demonstrated excellent progress this year.
• The learner is learning how to be a better listener and takes direction well.
• The learner has worked very hard this year and has made substantial gains in the area of ______.
• The learner has shown significant improvement with ______.
• The learner is progressing nicely and shows consistent improvement in many areas of schoolwork, including ______.
• The learner is learning to be cooperative when working in groups.
• The learner is developing more positive ways to interact with others.
• The learner is listening to directions more carefully.
• The learner has continued to make steady progress with…
• The learner has shown noticeable improvement in…

General Subject Area Comments

• The learner has good reading and decoding skills.
• The learner is reading well at level…
• The learner uses reading strategies to increase their reading comprehension.
• The learner is reading smoothly and with good expression.
• Learner struggles with reading comprehension.
• The learner needs to read for 15 minutes each night.
• The learner is choosing books that are too simple for their level.
• The learner has difficulty using reading strategies to decode new words.
• The learner needs to learn essential sight words to improve decoding skills.
• The learner needs to build reading vocabulary.
• The learner uses various strategies to solve one- and two-step word problems.
• Learner demonstrates a good understanding of math concepts.
• Learner demonstrates problem-solving skills.
• The learner has strengthened their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• The learner has difficulty understanding/solving word problems.
• The learner understands skills and strategie s but has a difficult time explaining processes.
• The learner would benefit from memorizing math facts.
• The learner has difficulty solving multi-step problems.
• The learner needs to slow down and check work.
• Learner memorizing basic math facts would be helpful to…
• The learner is willing to learn new writing skills and quickly applies these skills within their writing.
• The learner understands and applies the correct use of punctuation within the writing.
• Learner writing is clear and follows grammar and punctuation rules.
• Learner enjoys writing stories and can construct unique and exciting sentences.
• The learner can create precise and compelling writing that is interesting to read and easy to comprehend.
• The learner has shown significant improvement with their writing skills and consistently increases their writing comprehension and techniques.
• The learner has difficulty writing clear and understandable sentences.
• Learner words are often misplaced throughout their writing.
• Learner frequently displays grammatical errors within their writing.
• The learner needs to slow down and review their writing.

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130 ESL Report Card Comments - Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening

Time to grade your ESL students? Leaving customized ESL report card comments is painful?

Don’t worry!

In this article, we have attached 130 ESL report card comments that you can use to grade with ease.

36 Speaking ESL Report Card Comments

21 esl speaking report card comments for beginner students.

• I am thrilled with {student name}’s performance this year. {his/her} English speaking abilities have improved significantly.
• {student name}’s performance this year has been adequate. To improve their English speaking skills, I would recommend practicing {add things to recommend here}.
• {student name}’s English speaking skills are significantly lagging behind the rest of the class. I would recommend practicing {add things to recommend here}.
• {student name} is a very enthusiastic student. {he/she} joined recently, yet, {he/she} is one of the first ones to respond to questions.
• {student name} is doing exceptionally well with similar sounding words.
• {student name} struggles with similar sounding words.
• {student name} should practice similarly sound words to improve. {he/she} gets confused between words like {add example similarly sounding words here}.
• {student name} feels uncomfortable participating in classroom discussions. Practicing at home alone can help them overcome this.
• {student name} can confidently answer common English questions.
• {student name} feels uncomfortable speaking in front of the class when asked common questions.
• {student name} lacks the confidence to answer common English questions in class.
• {student name} is unable to answer common English questions asked during the class.
• {student name} has good English writing and listening skills, but {he/she} feels shy when it comes to speaking. To be able to confidently speak English in a group, {student name} needs to practice speaking at home.
• {student name} correctly uses verbal phrases and verbal expressions in his English class.
• {student name} correctly uses verbal phrases, but needs to improve their usage of verbal expressions in his English class.
• {student name} struggles with the correct usage of verbal phrases and verbal expressions in his English class.
• {student name}’s English speaking skills are excellent for a beginner.
• {student name}’s English speaking skills are sufficient for a beginner.
• {student name}’s English speaking skills are lacking for a beginner.
• {student name} can easily describe objects.
• {student name} faces difficulty in describing objects while speaking English.

10 ESL Speaking Report Card Comments for Intermediate Level Students

• {student name}needs to practice speaking English at home to perform well in front of the class.
• {student name} has intermediate English speaking skills.
• To improve and excel as an intermediate-level English student, I would like {student name} to participate more in {his/her} English class.
• {student name} often uses {native language} over English in class - which is preventing {him/her} from improving English speaking skills as an intermediate learner.
• {student name} is doing great in his Intermediate English class. {he/she}learns new words, how to phrase them, and is able to pronounce them quite well.
• {student name} is underperforming in his Intermediate English class. {he/she} is facing issues with how to phrase words and how to pronounce them. I would recommend placing more emphasis on {his/her}usage of phrases to improve.
• {student name} is a quick learner and can learn how to speak new English words faster than the rest of {his/her} classmates.
• {student name} can speak beginner-level English words well, but {he/she} is struggling with learning intermediate-level English words. I would encourage {student name} to practice {excrise} at home.
• {student name} struggles with speaking in front of a group of {his/her} peers.
• {student name} has impressively improved their English speaking skills and can now speak like an intermediate level student.

5 ESL Speaking Report Card Comments for Advanced Students

• {student name} has advanced level English speaking skills and can speak with confidence in front of a group of peers.
• {student name} is struggling with their English speaking skills and is performing at the intermediate level. I would recommend practicing speaking at home and focusing on the following {add your topics to focus on here}.
• {student nane} when asked questions answers in a yes or a no. Adding more details is required to reach an advanced level in English speaking. We recommend {he/she} practice more comprehensive answers to the questions provided as homework at home.
• {student name} has gone from using some English to using a significant amount of English in {his/her} daily conversation. It has tremendously improved their spoken English.
• {student name} only practices speaking English during {his/her} class. To advance {his/her} English speaking proficiency, I would advise practicing English speaking outside of the classroom. Using English in day-to-day conversations would be helpful.

34 Writing ESL Report Card Comments

12 esl writing report card comments for beginner students.

• {student name} can write short sentences and the basics of English writing are covered well.
• {student name} understands the basics of English writing, but is unable to write short sentences.
• {student name} can perform better in English writing if {he/she} maintains a daily journal.
• {student name} understands the subject well, but is unable to write around the subject.
• {student name}’s writing involves a lot of grammar mistakes.
• {student name}’s writing is free of grammar mistakes.
• Sentences written by {student name} have unclear meaning.
• Sentences written by {student name} have clear meaning and convey information accurately.
• While {student name} understands the subject well enough, {he/she} uses incorrect word order.
• {student name}’s English writing has no incorrect word order.
• {student name}’s writing is cohesive, coherent, stays on the topic, with consistent voice, and addresses all parts of the given assignment.
• {student name}’s writing is incoherent, not cohesive and strays away from the topic. To advance to the next level of English writing, I recommend that the student practice writing at home.

12 ESL Writing Report Card Comments for Intermediate Level Students

• {student name}’s has scored {55}% on mechanics of writing, {70}% on completeness of the answers, {37}% on consistency, and {29}% on cohesiveness. My recommendations to improve {his/her} writing scores are {add your recommendations here}.
• {student name}’s English writing has no spelling errors. {he/she} writes with clarity, using the correct word order, and sentence structure.
• While {student name}’s English writing has no spelling errors, {his/her} sentence structure needs improvement to reach an intermediate level of ESL learner.
• {student name}’s writing has no punctuation errors.
• {student name}’s writing has punctuation errors.
• {student name} has improve their English writing skill significantly, but {he/she} still need help in {list areas where the student needs improvement}.
• {student name} is able to express {his/her} ideas in English.
• {student name} is only able to express {his/her} ideas in written English with common topics. {he/she} feels uncomfortable when asked to write on unfamiliar topics.
• {student name} can write simple sentences well, but struggles while writing complex sentences. {student name} must practice writing complex sentences that have a verb and a subject. Writing complete complex sentences would improve {student name}’s English skills.
• {student name} has significant spelling errors in {his/her} writing.
• {student name}’s English writing is free of spelling errors.
• {student name}’s writing isn’t very descriptive. {he/she} should consider using more adjectives.

10 ESL Writing Report Card Comments for Advanced Students

• {student name} has performed very well in his advanced ESL class and is ready to take his English proficiency test.
• {student name} needs to practice exercises given during the class at home to reach advanced level English writing proficiency.
• {student name} has sufficient grammar, vocabulary, and sentence formation skills to write on complex topics and share deep opinions thoughtfully.
• {student name} has sufficient grammar knowledge and vocabulary, but {his/her} sentence formation skills prevent them to write on complex topics and share deep opinions.
• {student name} lacks sufficient grammar knowledge, vocabulary and sentence formation skills to write on complex topics and share deep opinions.
• {student name} can write native-level English.
• {student name} leverages {his/her} native level vocabulary to write.
• {student name} has mastered advanced level English writing skills.
• {student name} still uses features from {his/her} native language while writing in English. This prevents {him/her} from reaching advanced English writing levels.
• {student name} often uses the same words. This decreases the quality of {his/her} English writing. I would suggest that {student name} improve their vocabulary and sentence formation.

31 Listening ESL Report Card Comments

10 esl listening report card comments for beginner students.

• {student name} is able to understand basic conversations during class and is able to understand the core subject well.
• {student name} is struggling with understanding the core subject of conversations in the English listening class.
• {student name} has to listen to common words a number of times before they can understand audio with clarity.
• {student name} is struggling as {he/she} is lacking in common vocabulary of English. Practicing common vocabulary words will enable {student name} to overcome this challenge.
• {student name} is facing issues in following the classroom audio. I recommend that {he/she} should listen to audio provided with audio text to help {him/her} better cope with it.
• {student name} initially required audio text to help {him/her} follow the classroom audio. But {student name} picked up pretty quickly and no longer depends on audio text while listening to classroom audio.
• {student name} relies on visual cues, slow listening speeds, and guesters to fully understand basic English conversations. {he/she} needs to practice more at home to level up {his/her} listening skills with her ESL batchmates.
• {student name} frequently requests clarification as {he/she} finds it difficult to understand basic English conversations.
• {student name} is performing well. {he/she} rarely requires any assistance or clarification.
• {student name}’s listening skills qualify for someone who is at a beginner level. {he/she} can understand the speaker’s purpose and analyze reasoning.

11 ESL Listening Report Card Comments for Intermediate Level Students

• During the listening exercises, {student name} has performed well enough when it comes to the main idea of summarizing, audio, vocabulary, and inference.
• {student name} performs well when it comes to summarizing, audio, and inference. But, {student name} faces difficulty during listening when it comes to vocabulary. I would recommend {he/she} practice {excerise} at home.
• {student name} struggles with differentiating between certain common phrases in English.
• {student name} can easily listen and differentiate between common phrases in English.
• {student name} can understand the subject while listening, but faces difficulties when {he/she} hears a new word.
• {student name} is doing great with {his/her} listening exercises. {he/she} can listen and understand well enough to extract correct information without any errors.
• {student name} often requires help to understand the English words and phrases during {his/her} listening exercises.
• {student name} should practice listening exercises daily at home to reach an intermediate ESL listening level.
• {student name} has improved their English listening skills significantly. {he/she} previously had to re-listen 3-4 times before {he/she} was able to understand the audio. Now, {student name} can only occasionally listens to the same audio again.
• {student name} has improved their listening skills a lot, however {he/she} is still facing difficulties while listening when people talk faster. Practicing audio exercises at home will greatly improve {his/her} ability to listen to fast speech.
• {student name} will greatly improve {his/her} listening skills by watching English shows and listening to English podcasts.

10 ESL Listening Report Card Comments for Advanced Students

• {student name} has reached advanced listening skills when it comes to extracting subject, literal, summarizing, inferencing, fact-finding, reasoning, and vocabulary.
• {student name} has reached advanced listening skills when it comes to {extracting subject, literal, summarizing, inferencing, fact-finding, reasoning, vocabulary}, but struggles with {extracting subject, literal, summarizing, inferencing, fact-finding, reasoning, vocabulary}. I recommend practicing {exercise} to improve.
• {student name} requires no additional help in understanding listening exercises.
• {student name} is able to listen and comprehend formal and informal conversations with perfection.
• {student name} finds it easy to listen to audio when common words are used. {he/she} finds it difficult to follow listening exercises when complex vocabulary is involved.
• {student name} would find it easy to integrate into an English-speaking environment.
• {student name} has performed well when it comes to literal listening. However, {he/she} faces difficulty in understanding the speaker’s point of view and finding evidence.
• {student name} is struggling with identifying the core topic from listening exercises. I would suggest {him/her} to practice listening exercises at home to reach advanced level English listening skills.
• To help {student name} reach advanced level English listening skills, I would suggest practicing our listening exercises around intonation and phonemes.
• {student name} has done quite well this year. To further improve their English listening skills, I would recommend encouraging {him/her} to complete all bonus listening exercises.

29 Reading ESL Report Card Comments

12 esl reading report card comments for beginner students.

• {student name} is doing great. {he/she} can read short sentences with zero errors.
• {student name} often tries to read faster, which leads to multiple mistakes. I would recommend encouraging {him/her} to read with focus.
• {student name} is capable of reading common individual words, but struggles with reading entire sentences.
• {student name} can read short poems and stories by {himself/herself}.
• {student name} can now read commonly used words, signages, labels, logos, and simple instructions.
• {student name} has successfully achieved beginner-level comprehension skills.
• {student name} can perfectly read and identify the following information: names of people, names of places, events, and dates mentioned.
• {student name} is struggling to identify the following from his ESL reading exercises: names of people, names of places, events, and dates mentioned.
• {student name} can understand the meaning of sentences.
• {student name} struggles with understanding the meaning of sentences.
• {student name} can accurately identify affix, base word, prefix, root, and suffix from their reading exercises.
• {student name} is able to identity {affix/base word/prefix/root/suffix}, but makes mistake while identifying {affix/base word/prefix/root/suffix}.

7 ESL Reading Report Card Comments for Intermediate Level Students

• {student name} can read English text and was able to answer all questions based on the text.
• {student name} was able to answer {x}% of the questions after reading English text.
• {student name} can read short passages and stories and is able to identify the main subject or the theme from it.
• {student name} should change the language on their phone and laptop to English. That will help them improve their English writing skills.
• {student name} can read short sentences and short paragraphs well. But, when asked to read longer sentences and long essays {student name} struggles.
• {student name} can easily read common English words that they are familiar with, but struggle with lesser-used words in English.
• {student name} can easily read both sentences with common English words and sentences with less-used words.

10 ESL Reading Report Card Comments for Advanced Students

• {student name} can read English text and interpret it with native English level proficiency.
• {student name} has reached intermediate reading levels. To advance to native English level reading proficiency {student name} should practice the following {exercise/book/etc} at least for {e.g. 3} hours per {day/week}.
• {student name} struggles to understand the main subject and theme of long passages.
• {student name} can read an English book and summarize it in {his/her} own words very well.
• {student name} struggles with reading an English book and summarizing it.
• {student name} faces challenges with {his/her} vocabulary, but {his/her} reading skills allow {student name} to understand the unknown word by understanding the context around it.
• {student name} gets stuck on unfamiliar words. I would recommend {he/she} practice reading at home and focusing on extrapolating the meaning of unfamiliar words using the context.
• {studnet name} can read well and understand the context. {his/her} reading speed is quite slow. To perform in an advanced-level English test. {he/she} would need to speed up {his/her} reading capabilities. I recommend completing all bonus reading exercises.
• {student name} can read at an intermediate level. Based on {his/her} ESL class performance, I would recommend {student name} should use {Dictionary/Encyclopedia/etc} to improve {his/her} reading skills further.
• {student name} is doing well. I would recommend that {he/she} reads English newspapers to further improve their reading skills.

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100 Positive Comments to Utilize when Referencing Student Behavior

100 Positive Student Comments to Utilize with Parents

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev148.shtml   (Jan. 23, 2012)

Recommended by Jen J., a third grade teacher in Michigan .

The student :

• is an enthusiastic learner who seems to enjoy school
• exhibits a positive outlook and attitude in the  classroom
• appears well rested and ready for each day’s activities
• shows enthusiasm for classroom activities
• shows initiative and looks for new ways to get involved
• uses instincts to deal with matters independently and in a positive way
• strives to reach his (or her) full potential
• is committed to doing his (or her) best
• seeks new challenges
• takes responsibility for his (or her) learning

The student:

• cooperates consistently with the teacher and other students
• transitions easily between classroom activities without distraction
• is courteous and shows good manners in the classroom
• follows classroom rules
• conducts himself (or herself) with maturity
• responds appropriately when corrected
• remains focused on the activity at hand
• resists the urge to be distracted by other students
• is kind and helpful to everyone in the classroom
• sets an example of excellence in behavior and cooperation
• shows respect for teachers and peers
• treats school property and the belongings of others with care and respect
• is honest and trustworthy in dealings with others
• displays good citizenship by assisting other students
• joins in school community projects
• is concerned about the feelings of peers
• faithfully performs classroom tasks
• can be depended on to do what he (or she) is asked to do
• seeks responsibilities and follows through
• is thoughtful in interactions with others

Communication Skills

• has a well-developed vocabulary
• chooses words with care
• expresses ideas clearly, both verbally and through writing
• has a vibrant imagination and excels in creative writing
• has found his (or her) voice through poetry writing
• uses vivid language in writing
• writes clearly and with purpose
• writes with depth and insight
• can make a logical and persuasive argument
• listens to the comments and ideas of others without interrupting
• offers constructive suggestions to peers to enhance their work
• accepts the recommendations of peers and acts on them when appropriate
• is sensitive to the thoughts and opinions of others in the group
• takes on various roles in the work group as needed or assigned
• welcomes leadership roles in groups
• shows fairness in distributing group tasks
• plans and carries out group activities carefully
• works democratically with peers
• encourages other members of the group
• helps to keep the work group focused and on task

Interests and Talents

• has a well-developed sense of humor
• holds many varied interests
• has a keen interest that has been shared with the class
• displays and talks about personal items from home when they relate to topics of study
• provides background knowledge about topics of particular interest to him (or her)
• has an impressive understanding and depth of  knowledge about his (or her) interests
• seeks additional information independently about classroom topics that pique interest
• reads extensively for enjoyment
• frequently discusses concepts about which he (or she) has read
• is a gifted performer
• is a talented artist
• has a flair for dramatic reading and acting
• enjoys sharing his (or her) musical talent with the class

Participation

• listens attentively to the responses of others
• follows directions
• takes an active role in discussions
• enhances group discussion through insightful comments
• shares personal experiences and opinions with peers
• responds to what has been read or discussed in class and as homework
• asks for clarification when needed
• regularly volunteers to assist in classroom activities
• remains an active learner throughout the school day

Social Skills

• makes friends quickly in the classroom
• is well-liked by classmates
• handles disagreements with peers appropriately
• treats other students with fairness and  understanding
• is a valued member of the class
• has compassion for peers and others
• seems comfortable in new situations
• enjoys conversation with friends during free periods
• chooses to spend free time with friends

Time Management

• tackles classroom assignments, tasks, and group work in an organized manner
• uses class time wisely
• arrives on time for school (and/or class) every day
• is well-prepared for class each day
• works at an appropriate pace, neither too quickly or slowly
• completes assignments in the time allotted
• paces work on long-term assignments
• sets achievable goals with respect to time
• completes make-up work in a timely fashion

Work Habits

• is a conscientious, hard-working student
• works independently
• is a self-motivated student
• consistently completes homework assignments
• puts his (or her) best effort into homework assignments
• exceeds expectations with the quality of his (or her) work
• readily grasps new concepts and ideas
• generates neat and careful work
• checks work thoroughly before submitting it
• stays on task with little supervision
• displays self-discipline
• avoids careless errors through attention to detail
• uses free minutes of class time constructively
• creates impressive home projects

Positive words go a long way in educating a child and building relationships. When we create positive school and classroom environments, the learning experience is enhanced.

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,

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Filed under Curriculum Resources

Tagged as classroom , Communication , Creative writing , Education , Educators , Group work , K through 12 , Michigan , Student

79 responses to “ 100 Positive Comments to Utilize when Referencing Student Behavior ”

Display self discipline

Please also add the feedback on their behaviour.

Can I use this in a school program that gives positive feedback to students in a faith based kindness campaign

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Home › Resources › Giving Effective Feedback on Student Writing

Giving Effective Feedback on Student Writing

By Amanda Leary

Providing feedback is one of the most critical tasks of teaching. Well-balanced feedback, addressing both achievements and areas for improvement, can help students develop new skills, reinforce their learning, and boost their academic confidence. Ineffective feedback, however, can compound students’ low motivation and self-perception, hindering their development and learning (Wingate, 2010). Good feedback does much more than correct errors; it’s an opportunity to empower and affirm students as knowledge makers, to improve their self-awareness, and to develop strategies for improvement now and in their future work.

By focusing on providing quality, effective feedback, we can maximize its positive effects on learning—not only helping students become better writers, but better thinkers, with increased confidence and motivation to succeed. This doesn’t happen in a vacuum, however; feedback isn’t useful for students if they don’t understand or know how to incorporate it.

Deciding what and how much to comment on will depend on your particular disciplinary, class, and assignment context. The strategies below will help you determine what kind of feedback to give and when, as well as identify potential next steps for helping students actually use your feedback.

Preparing to Give Feedback

Before you ever read the first paper, there are a few key questions to ask yourself that can help save a lot of time and make your feedback more effective: 1) why are you giving feedback , and 2) what are you looking for? Let’s take these in turn.

Why are you giving feedback?

Depending on when in the writing process you’re providing students with feedback, your comments will serve different purposes. Just as assignments can be either formative or summative , so, too, can your feedback. Summative feedback addresses what students did well or poorly at one particular instance and is often used in evaluation to justify a grade, whereas formative feedback often answers, “What can I do to improve next time?” While formative feedback often aligns with formative assignments, such as drafts and other process work such as proposals and outlines, you can also provide formative feedback on final, summative assignments and vice versa. We often switch between these two types of feedback on a single assignment, so taking time to establish beforehand what the goal of giving feedback is will focus the kinds of comments you make. It might be helpful for students to use markers in your comments to clearly distinguish between “this time” and “next time” feedback.

Another way to distinguish the two is in your mindset toward the task of giving feedback: are you a coach or a grader? If you’re approaching student work with the sole purpose of attaching a grade, then your feedback is likely to be more summative—feeding back to the writing. The mindset of a reader, however, is more aligned with a developmental approach giving more formative feedback. Here, we might think more in terms of feeding forward —concentrating our attention on actionable steps students can take to continue to improve their writing.

What are you looking for?

Sometimes, the hardest part about giving feedback can be deciding where to start. We know good writing when we see it; however, articulating those features of good writing into clearly defined criteria for a successful assignment can help mitigate the feeling that you need to comment on every feature or correct every mistake you see. Providing these criteria to students in advance has demonstrable benefits for their learning and can improve the quality of their assignments (Brookhart, 2018). Criteria should be aligned with the goals you have for the assignment, the overall goals of your course, and targeted at students at the appropriate level (Hattie and Timperley, 2007).

As you’re developing your criteria, you may find it helpful to prioritize your higher-order and lower-order concerns . Higher-order concerns will be more closely aligned with your goals for the assignment. For example, if you are providing feedback on a seminar paper, your higher-order concerns may be related to how well students demonstrated their understanding of a particular set of readings through a clearly articulated thesis and synthesis of primary and secondary sources. Lower-order concerns, such as sentence structure and grammar, would not feature as heavily in your feedback except where they affect the readability of the writing. However, if teaching specific writing skills was the primary focus of your class, your higher-order concerns might include sentence structure or grammatical understanding. Knowing what your priorities are for students’ writing before you sit down with the first assignment will keep your feedback targeted to your high-priority criteria rather than noting every little detail, resulting in fewer comments—which can be overwhelming for both you and students.

Taking the time to identify why you’re giving feedback and what your priorities are for students’ writing keeps your comments focused and relevant to students.

While You’re Responding to Student Work

Whether formative or summative, your feedback should be specific , actionable , focused on patterns , and balanced . The following tips will help you not only save time commenting, but will also ensure your comments are useful to students:

• Be specific: Simply underlining, using exclamation marks, or the infamous “awkward” doesn’t tell students anything about how to revise their essay. Highlight strengths and weaknesses in reference to specific passages and examples and offer concrete, actionable suggestions for improvement.
• Focus on action: If students don’t understand your comments, they can’t use them (Chanock, 2000; Lea and Steirer, 2000). We may know what periodic and loose sentences are, or maybe we wrote our dissertation on that niche author that would really round out a students’ discussion of a topic. Writing “comma splice” or “what about the kinematics of root growth” in the margins without explaining what that is or why it matters for their writing (especially if it isn’t connected to what you’ve taught in class) isn’t actionable feedback.
• Look for patterns: There are likely to be several mistakes repeated within and across students’ writing. Keep a comment back of feedback addressing common mechanical mistakes; rather than re-writing the same comment on every paper, you can note the first instance with an explanatory comment that applies across students. Over time, you might also develop a repository of recurring comments on more structural or content-based patterns, such as thesis development, structure and organization, or use of quotes and evidence. Having stock language on hand that you can then tailor to a student’s particular essay can help save time. Where you see the same mistake being repeated across student work, you can include a more general comment about the issue with a note that more information will be provided in class.
• Balance praise and critique: The most effective feedback contains a balance of challenge and support (Lizzio and Wilson, 2008). This doesn’t mean, however, that we should feel compelled to use the “feedback sandwich”: placing critical feedback between moments of praise. Students can recognize and discount token positive comments (Hyland and Hyland, 2001), so rather than sandwiching feedback, give valid criticism while offering encouragement, genuine appreciation for student writing, and belief in students’ ability to succeed.

Applying Feedback

Giving feedback is just one part of the process; it is equally important for students to be active participants if learning is to happen (Winstone et al., 2017). Depending on the context of your course, you might facilitate student engagement with feedback in class or through assignments that promote reflection on the writing process:

• Use class time to address feedback that applies to many students’ work. Provide instruction or resources for how students can integrate that feedback into their writing with an opportunity to practice.
• Where time allows, incorporate writing days into your course calendar as a dedicated opportunity for students to work through your feedback as they revise their assignments.
• Try a reflective feedback journal as a space for students to reflect on their immediate reactions to your comments and how they plan to address them. This could be done in class or as part of an ongoing journal throughout the course.
• Incorporate peer review as a mechanism for understanding feedback and to empower students to further self-assess their own work (McConlogue, 2020; Huisman et al., 2019).
• Add a brief metacognitive cover letter or memo to final assignments that asks students to reflect on how they incorporated feedback from rough to final draft.

Integrating these strategies into your practice will not only save you time, but helps keep your feedback targeted, educative, and effective. Viewing feedback as a dialogic process that begins before you make your first comment and involves students as active recipients of that feedback is an important part of giving students comments they can—and actually want to—use.

Brookhart, Susan M. “Appropriate Criteria: Key to Effective Rubrics.” Frontiers in Education 3 (2018).

Chanock, Kate. “Comments on Essays: Do Students Understand What Tutors Write?” Teaching in Higher Education 5, no. 1 (2000): 95–105.

Hattie, John, and Helen Timperley. “The Power of Feedback.” Review of Educational Research 77, no. 1 (2007): 81–112.

Huisman, Bart, Nadira Saab, Paul van den Broek, and Jan van Driel. “The Impact of Formative Peer Feedback on Higher Education Students’ Academic Writing: a Meta-Analysis.” Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education 44, no. 6 (2019): 863–80.

Hyland, Fiona, and Ken Hyland. “Sugaring the Pill: Praise and Criticism in Written Feedback.” Journal of Second Language Writing 10, no. 3 (2001): 185–212.

Lea, M. R. and Steirer, B. (eds). Student Writing in Higher Education: New Contexts . Buckingham: Open University Press, 2000.

Lizzio, Alf, and Keithia Wilson. “Feedback on Assessment: Students’ Perceptions of Quality and Effectiveness.” Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education 33, no. 3 (2008): 263–75.

McConlogue, Teresa. Assessment and Feedback in Higher Education: A Guide for Teachers . UCL Press. 1st ed. London: UCL Press, 2020.

Wingate, Ursula. “The Impact of Formative Feedback on the Development of Academic Writing.” Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education 35, no. 5 (2010): 519–33.

Winstone, Naomi E., Robert A. Nash, James Rowntree, and Michael Parker. “‘It’d Be Useful, but I Wouldn’t Use It’: Barriers to University Students’ Feedback Seeking and Recipience.” Studies in Higher Education (Dorchester-on-Thames) 42, no. 11 (2017): 2026–41.

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