Help with writing class reports?

Question

Can anyone help me with the language used in writing reports for a class in a school?

Any help would be appreciated as I've never written them before.

Answer 1

Well - first of all I’m in the UK

Second I don’t know if your class report is for one subject or many subjects e.g. maths, English, History.

Third I don’t know what age the children are that you are reporting on.

I’ll assume that the report is multi-subject.

In this case the format would be:

Maths

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

English

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

etc.

General Behaviour in Class

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

Summary

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

Score

Needless to say that the report has to be accurate and true but keep it positive.

Then you write it the way you would say it – but positively.

Maths

Version 1

Charlie doesn’t concentrate in Maths and because of this he doesn’t know how to multiply.

Version 2

Charlie finds Maths difficult and although he is good at addition and subtraction. He needs to concentrate more so that he can learn multiplication

If you were a parent of a child which version would you prefer?

(You’d better have chosen Version 2!)

You have to remember that the parents are going to read this and if you have a Parents Feedback Evening then Version 2 is a much easier to discuss – e.g. what extra help can you give Charlie – what help can they give  Charlie at home.

English

Version 1

Elizabeth writes imaginative stories but they are too short and her spelling is bad

Version 2

Elizabeth has great imagination in her stories; I particularly liked the story about......

She needs to be more add more descriptive passages about the people and places she writes about and really concentrate on spelling to make the story more enjoyable to read

(I think Version 2 wins again)

Don’t write the same thing for each student – they do compare notes and so do the parents!

By the way I’m not a teacher but I am a parent!

Oh and I have written a number of staff reports in my time.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Schools usuall/ y keep copies of previous years reports. Try and get hold of some from your school- and copy the style / format.

I'm surprised they have not given you some for guidance. Failing that ask/ phone  one of your colleagues for a bit of assistance.

Answer 3

why not ask advice from other teachers in your school - there may even be some sort of standard format you have to follow

Answer 4

Try

www.rayslearning.com

There is free report writing software and comment banks