Report Card Comments and Phrases for All Subjects

June 2, 2023 | Classroom Tips

As the end of the grading period comes to a close, you’re faced with the daunting task of creating original and insightful comments about every student in your class. These meaningful report card messages should have a respectful balance of constructive criticism and kindness, helping your students see their strengths while learning where they can improve.

However, it can be difficult to communicate with a student and their parents about their progress through report card comments. This can often result in you spending much more time than necessary and adding more stress to your busy day. If you want to learn how to write clear, concise progress report comments for your students, we’ve got plenty of tips and tricks below.

Tips for Filling Out Report Cards

When it comes to report card remarks, it can be challenging to find the best way to appropriately and honestly discuss the student’s performance. Here are some tips for efficiently and effectively filling out student report cards.

1. Be Honest But Kind

Simply put, positive comments make your students feel good about themselves. Whether they’re the class clown or the quiet, reserved type, it’s always nice for students to see that their teacher notices their unique traits and interests. Of course, reports card are primarily for informing parents of their child’s behavior and academic effort, so it’s important to be honest.

For instance, a student might excel at making friends and joining athletic teams, but they might struggle with talking to others in class while you’re trying to give instruction. You may want to point out that they have an energetic attitude and are excited to come to school, but they could work on improving their listening skills.

2. Start and End With a Compliment

If you have more constructive criticism to give your student, it’s a good idea to start their report card comment with a compliment, then go into your criticism and end with another compliment. For instance, if you have a student who seems to copy their classmates’ work, try to find something positive about their academic performance or behavior that you can focus on first.

You might say something like, “Anthony is very kind to other students in the class. However, he needs to focus on his own paper during class time. This will help him improve his otherwise fantastic behavior.” Or, you can simply offer your best wishes for the student and comment that you hope they have a wonderful summer.

3. Proofread Your Comments

While it might seem obvious, it’s important to proofread your report card comments before submitting them. Oftentimes, teachers are speeding through this process to get their work done and get report cards sent home on time. This means it’s normal for you to slip up and enter a typo or forget which student you’re commenting on. Be sure to reread each student’s report card carefully to prevent any issues or miscommunication.

4. Be Solution-Focused

Keeping a positive attitude while writing your report card comments ensures that even if you need to write something negative, such as a failing grade, your student and their parents will still feel that you see potential in them to improve. Depending on how long your report comments are, try to have at least two positive comments for every negative comment. This will create an honest yet solution-focused outlook for everyone involved.

5. Avoid Any Surprises

At the end of the year or quarter, the last thing you want to do is drop a big bomb on parents and write something that completely shocks them, such as the fact that their child regularly misbehaves in class or that they have several missing assignments. Be sure to discuss any big issues with parents beforehand so that your report card comments come across as honest and accurate.

10 Report Card Comments and Phrases for All Subjects

After filling out so many report cards, it can be easy to fall into a repetitive motion, which means some of your comments may sound very similar and general. To help write more unique, specific remarks for your students, here are some quick report card comments you can use for any school subject or topic you need to highlight. Keep in mind that you will want to use the student’s first name when writing your comments.

1. Attitude

If you need to make a positive or negative comment on your student’s attitude, consider the following examples:

I appreciate the student’s enthusiastic attitude.
The student exhibits a positive mindset and attitude in the classroom.
The student always shows enthusiasm for learning new concepts or starting new projects.
The student strives to do better every day and reach their full potential.
The student seeks new challenges.
I notice that the student takes responsibility for their learning and homework.
I feel that the student is committed to doing their best in school and among friends.
The student takes the initiative in positive ways.
The student always looks for new ways to get involved in class.
The student shows interest and curiosity for classroom activities.
The student has improved their attitude over time and has become more cooperative.
The student must improve their demeanor in the classroom and be more respectful.
Although the student’s attitude and maturity is improving, it is inconsistent.
The student has made great strides this year, but they have a negative attitude toward basic skills.
Per our previous discussion, the student still struggles with following school rules.
The student fails to apply themselves and complete their schoolwork.

2. Behavior

Parents want to know how their child is behaving in school, such as whether they are being respectful to you and other students. Here are some basic descriptions you can use when you need to be honest but want to avoid personal attacks or judgmental statements:

The student struggled with talking over my instructions during class, but we will continue to work on their behavior.
The student has exhibited unkind actions toward other students.
The student struggles to remain in their seat during class time.
The student needs to work on not distracting others.
The student frequently comes to class with a negative attitude.
The student works well when motivated, but struggles to complete assignments independently.
The student is courteous and maintains good manners in class.
The student remains focused on the task at hand.
The student resists being distracted by others.
The student sets an example of behavior and respect in class.
The student makes good choices throughout the day.

3. Subject Matter

There are many different subjects for which you may need to discuss specifically on the student’s report card. Here are some teachers comments on student progress you may need to use across various subjects:

The student performs admirably in math, but seems to have trouble with reading and writing assignments.
The student is gifted in all subjects and seems to excel with new concepts.
The student could use some extra practice in learning their vocabulary.
The student’s skills are improving in all subjects but they may need additional assistance to apply themselves more effectively.
The student hasn’t had a chance to master their ability to keep their eyes on their own paper but has been improving in their attempts.
The student needs to put more effort into their social studies assignments.
The student works hard on their homework and is always ready to engage in new subjects.

4. Communication Skills

Communication skills are critical for every student, so it may be something you want or need to bring up during your report card grading. Here are some positive and negative sample report card comments to use:

The student uses a well-developed vocabulary.
The student chooses their words with care.
The student writes using vivid language.
The student can make logical and persuasive arguments.
The student has a vibrant imagination in both writing and storytelling.
The student expresses their ideas thoughtfully and clearly.
The student does not like to communicate in group activities.
The student struggles to take an active role in discussions.
The student could improve on speaking with confidence.
The student struggles to express their thoughts and ideas in written communication.

5. Working In a Group

Working collaboratively with others is an important skill, so you may need to use some of the following phrases regarding group work:

The student is an active participant in group activities.
The student offers helpful suggestions to peers to improve their work.
The student takes on various roles in the group as needed.
The student is enthusiastic about taking on leadership roles.
The student is sensitive to the thoughts and opinions of others in their class.
The student requires encouragement to actively listen and participate in group sharing times.
The student would benefit from showing a greater desire to contribute to group activities.
The student needs to improve their cooperation and collaboration skills in group settings.
The student enjoys working on group projects, but struggles to accomplish tasks independently.

6. Interests and Talents

Commenting on your student’s hobbies, interests and talents shows them and their parents that you take pride in getting to know your students and what makes them unique. Here are some phrases you might use:

The student has a real passion for learning and always asks engaging questions when presented with new material.
The student is a very talented artist and enjoys using their imagination.
The student has an impressive understanding of many topics.
The student frequently discusses subjects they are passionate about.
The student thoroughly enjoys reading and recommending books to others in the class.
The student is beginning to develop their own interests outside of their friends and peers.
The student’s skills in sports has helped boost their confidence.
The student enjoys sharing their musical talents with others.

7. Participation

Student participation is key to building teamwork and communication skills. Here are some comments you might need to use when discussing participation:

The student does their best to actively participate in both small-group and whole-class discussions.
The student is eager to participate but needs to work on raising their hand when they have a question.
The student needs to improve their participation in class discussions.
The student listens attentively and follows directions.
The student is an active learner but struggles to listen during instructions.
The student fails to ask for clarification when confused about an assignment.
The student enhances group discussions with insightful ideas or comments.
The student often volunteers to assist with classroom activities.
The student seems to avoid sharing their opinions with peers.
The student attempts to participate but could improve their self-confidence.

8. Social Skills

In addition to your student’s behavior and attitude, you may want to discuss their social skills on their report card to remark how they are progressing in that specific area. Here are some phrases you might want to use:

The student has an outgoing personality and makes friends quickly.
The student is well-liked by their peers.
The student has improved their confidence and branched out into more social groups.
The student has shown an increased interest in joining social teams and after-school activities.
The student handles disagreements with classmates fairly and maturely.
The student tends to spend their free time alone.
The student appears to isolate themselves from their classmates.
The student struggles to connect with others during group activities.
The student could improve their confidence by embracing new situations.
The student seems to have arguments and disagreements with many classmates.

9. Time Management

As your students progress throughout their education, time management becomes more and more critical. This is an important topic you can comment on in their report card using the following examples:

The student has improved their ability to turn in assignments on time but it is inconsistent.
The student fails to turn in their classwork before the bell rings.
The student struggles to complete projects on time.
I often see the student trying to finish homework before class.
The student tackles classroom tasks in an organized manner.
The student arrives on time for school.
The student works at an appropriate pace.
The student completes make-up work in the time allotted.
The student uses class time wisely.
The student understands how long they need to study.
The student displays an admirable attempt at completing assignments on time.

10. Work Habits and Focus

Whether your student excels at paying attention in class or needs serious improvement, it’s worth noting on their report card. Here are some report card comment examples for focus and work habits:

The student is hard-working.
The student is self-motivated and disciplined.
The student pays attention when I’m giving instructions or directions.
The student focuses on their own work.
The student stays on task with little supervision.
The student always reads questions and prompts carefully before responding.
The student creates careless errors.
The student does not pay attention to detail.
The student does not consistently put forth their best effort on assignments.
The student does not check their work thoroughly before submitting it.

Make Writing Report Card Comments a Breeze With The Classroom Store

Filling out report cards can be an intimidating task. If you’re looking for a better way to write and send out your report cards this year, consider relying on The Classroom Store for all your supplies and materials. When it’s time to grade and submit report card comments for your students, we carry many different progress report products to streamline this process and make it easier for you.

At The Classroom Store, it’s our goal to help you create your dream classroom, from the first day to the last. Contact us today if you have any questions!