This One Book Can Save You Hours of Time When Writing Report Cards

With so many report cards to write, it can sometimes be tough to craft thoughtful, meaningful messages that both students and parents will appreciate. It’s a daunting and time-consuming task that has to be done—and it can be immensely frustrating when the words just won’t come. That’s wher Just the Right Words: 201 Report Cards comes in.

Plus, check out these must-know activities to calm and focus your classroom.

Written by former teacher Mona Melwani, the idea for the book evolved out of her experiences teaching at international schools for almost twenty years. By her own admission, Mona struggled every quarter to find the right words and to fashion them into constructive feedback for the unique personalities in her classroom. The dilemma, as Mona puts it, is “to say what one has to, to not ‘sugar the pill,’ and yet to articulate the message in a productive way.”

Being honest and fair about assessment, and communicating that assessment effectively, are the core goals of writing a good report card. Because of course parents can be sensitive to the feedback you’re giving them on their pride and joy, which Mona fully acknowledges, and therefore bears the following core question in mind throughout the book: “What must Michael focus on now that will be the most helpful to him?” so that she remains objective. Ultimately, report cards are one of the most important communication tools that a teacher has, because not only do they inform parents about their child’s development in school, but they help students themselves monitor their learning progress.

Ultimately, this book was written to be a helpful resource for teachers so that they can write better report cards more easily during one of the most stressful times of the year. There are comments for every situation—for struggling students, for advanced ones, for kids who aren’t living up to their potential, and for everyone in between.

The book is conveniently divided into 6 chapters, all of which contain sample narratives that you can use for students of all levels in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, social/emotional behavior, work habits, and general comments. So, start saving time and order your copy here today!

Want more great content? Click here to subscribe to our Teacher Newsletter and get teaching ideas delivered right to your inbox.