Not many teachers enjoy writing report cards. I’m one of them. They’re so time consuming and we rarely get time in class to work on them, so most of them have to completed in your spare time. I write most of mine in the night after my little ones are asleep, which is exhausting.
In order to maintain my sanity, and have my time and energy back, I’ve outlined four steps to write my report cards quickly and efficiently.
It’s important to write your report cards this way for several reasons:
- it allows you to meet your report card submission deadlines in a timely manner.
- It reduces your stress level because you don’t have to spend so much of your free time writing report cards.
- It ensures that you focus on writing instead of feeling fatigued and rushed as this process will cut down on the time you spend on report cards while ensuring that your work is meaningful.
Actionable Steps:
#1. Prep Comments
Create a template for you to use when you write your comments. Divide them into the following groups:
- Exceeds expectations
- Meets expectations
- Needs improvement
- Needs encouragement
Don’t go overboard. Write only a few comments under each section so that you can use them over and over again.
#2. Use Students’ Words
Have your students reflect on specific competencies and quote them in your report cards. It will show your students that they have some agency in their report cards and it will make your writing process much easier and quicker.
You can use the following resources to help your children reflect on their competencies.
#3. Remember the Sandwich
Write your comments using the sandwich method. Start with the student’s strengths, integrate what the child needs to work on in the middle and then end it with either a strength or how they are starting to make progress in the area that they need to work on.
This method makes in easier for parents to accept your assessment of their child.
#4. Tweak to Personalize
While you can leave the generic comments from point #1 in your report card as it is, it may not flow. Therefore, it’s important to personalize those comments with small tweaks. For example:
- Instead of “he” or “she” add in the student’s names.
- Beside a generic comment, include a example when it’s possible.
- If a student performed in a specific way, write about it.
Recap:
Let’s recap really quickly. Today, we looked at the following:
- The importance of writing your report cards quickly.
- How to write report cards fast: prep comments, use students’ words, remember the sandwich, and tweak to personalize.
Free Resources:
In the mean time, if you’re feeling stressed out, overwhelmed and burnout, then I encourage you to check out the following: FREE MASTERCLASS: Systematic Plan to Super Passionate.
Disclaimer: I’m a teacher and a parent. I’m not a medical professional, so please don’t take this as medical advice. The advice that I provide in my videos and online are strategies that I have used in my own class or at home that have worked beautifully.
