114 Meaningful Report Card Comments That Caregivers & Students Will Value

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Report card comments are an important communication tool. Whether you’re congratulating student development or identifying challenges in the classroom, report card comments let caregivers and students know where they are growing — and where there’s room to grow a little more.

This report card season, save yourself some time with a list of report card comments for students. These editable resources and pre-written sentences help you figure out how to praise students on report card comments, how to identify areas of weakness, and how to design your own report card comments for students.

Caregivers love hearing that their children are doing well in your classroom! From active participation to having a positive attitude, these positive report card comments emphasize effort and congratulate students on a job well done. They also help create a positive learning environment in your classroom. 

• Has worked hard and achieved _____.
• Is great at working independently and asking for help when needed.
• Listens well and asks thoughtful questions.
• Actively and enthusiastically participates in class.
• Pays great attention to ____ topic(s).
• Is eager to continue learning and growing.
• Shows a keen interest in ______.
• Is persistent and stays on task when faced with challenges.
• Is avidly working on ______.
• Comes prepared for class.
• Is a curious and inquisitive learner in all subjects.
• Always wants to do their best, no matter what they’re working on.
• A pleasure to have in class because ______.
• Sets and meets goals with every new challenge.
• Is the first to volunteer when needed.
• Pursues their interests and areas of growth.
• Expresses themselves clearly and logically.
• Solves problems cooperatively and creatively.
• Is eager to learn new ways to try out their skills.
• Consistently works at academic levels above their grade level.

Provide positive yet thorough feedback to caregivers and students

Sometimes one sentence isn’t enough to sum up student achievement. Choose multiple comments to describe the kids in your class or to formulate more thorough sets of feedback to caregivers at home.

Report Card Comment Editable Student Behavior Feedback Parent Teacher Conference
By The Teacher Next Door
Grades: 1st-8th

A list of 150 editable report card comments can save you valuable grading time. Available in printable PDFs and editable PowerPoint and Google Slides, these comments are grouped into categories for easy selection and copying. 

There’s nothing like that light bulb moment when a student achieves a goal! Praising students’ progress is essential to inspiring them to continue developing. When improvement is acknowledged, students can feel their hard work has been seen and validated. It also helps students understand the goal of their learning is to progress and that success can be relative. 

Share your pride with positive report card comments about how hard students are working and how they’ve truly earned their success. 

• Has accomplished great growth in ____ subject area(s).
• Has improved tremendously in ______ area(s).
• Is making significant progress in _____.
• Is actively learning how to _____.
• Has shown substantial improvement in _____,
• Demonstrated considerable gains in ____.
• Has made notable progress to better understand ______.
• Has made wonderful strides in ______.
• Has been successful in learning how to _____.
• Is proactively growing and advancing at _____.
• Has done a great job working on _____.
• Continues to progress toward their goals.
• Is developing new strategies for ______.
• Has made great strides toward success in _____.
• Continues to succeed when faced with challenges.
• Demonstrates incredible progress as the year continues.
• Follows directions when working toward academic success.
• Needs less assistance to complete classroom tasks.
• Shows remarkable progress toward this semester’s goals.
• Has overcome difficulties to demonstrate true success.

💡 Pro Tip: Take notes on students’ progress throughout the school year. This can be helpful because so much happens in the classroom that it can be hard to remember the details at report card time.

Make the report card process straightforward

Coming up with unique and meaningful report card comments year after year can be challenging. Find inspiration in pre-made lists of simple report card comments and use them as the basis for original comments that fit your class.

Report Card Comments Labels Kindergarten First Grade End of Year + Templates
By Linda Post – The Teachers Post
Grades: K-1st

Kindergarten caregivers want a lot of reassurance! Tell them how their kids are doing in your class with 12 pages of categorized and editable report card comments for kindergartners and first graders. They come in digital and printable formats for use throughout the year.

Every student has something they can work on. For those grading periods where the challenges have been more pronounced than others, find ways to communicate kindly (yet honestly) about how students can improve their academic achievement, behavior, or work habits in your classroom. 

Framing students’ challenges as an opportunity for growth can help them embrace and tackle any obstacles they may face. By doing so, you can help students understand setbacks are not stopping points, but reflection points where they can pause and strategize for future success.

• Can still grow in _____ areas.
• Could be supported in improving _____.
• Can further develop _______ skills.
• Is learning (how) to ______.
• Can continue improving in _____.
• Is eager to learn _____ and can advance by ______.
• Will benefit from continuing to work on ______.
• Can strengthen their work in _____.
• Has an opportunity for growth in ______.
• Is working on not being distracted by others.
• Shows some improvement in _____, but can work more on _____.
• Finds ____ challenging, and would see more success when listening well.
• Has opportunities to change their attitude toward _____.
• Can work harder toward their academic potential.
• Is getting closer to meeting goals in ____.
• Finds success when they slow down and check their work.
• Struggles with ___, but is showing improvement with help from adults.
• Is working on being a supportive and collaborative group member.
• Can reach their true potential if they work on ____.
• Words hard but has a difficult time staying on task.
• Finishes work after a few reminders from the teachers.
• Can work more on showing respect to their teacher and classmates.
• Would enjoy classroom success with extra support in ____.
• Enjoys talking with friends, but can work on not socializing during class time.
• Has success with classroom accommodations, such as ____.

Add pre-written sentences to report cards

For report card comments that cover academics, social skills, personal responsibility, and more, it is okay to use pre-written sentences sometimes. Look for options that are detailed, editable, and aligned to CCSS or any other standards you use.

Sentences for Report Card Comments
By Jen Sweet
Grades: K-6th

Each sentence in this valuable resource reflects specific areas of growth in your gradebook, adding important details to your report card comments. With formats in Microsoft Word and Google Docs, as well as a link to a Magic Comment Machine, you’ll have those report cards finished in no time.

Class citizenship is about more than student behavior. Let parents know how their child’s social-emotional and citizenship skills are developing with these report card comments for students.

• Follows teacher instructions the first time they’re said.
• Observes class rules and treats others the way they want to be treated.
• Uses kind words and manners in the classroom.
• Helps friends and classmates when they’re struggling.
• Shows respect to their teacher and classmates.
• Offers to help anyone who needs a hand.
• Has a wonderful attitude when working to improve areas of growth.
• Is learning how to be a citizen of our classroom.
• Communicates their thoughts and concerns in a well-considered manner.
• Works well with other students in group projects.
• Always tries to be polite and considerate of class members.
• Ensures that their friends are heard and respected by others. 
• Has a positive attitude when encountering difficulties.
• Is growing as a friend and student.
• Controls impulses and thinks through consequences before acting.
• Demonstrates compassion and kindness in all situations.
• Shows respect for school property and keeps their work area uncluttered.
• Receives feedback maturely and wants to do their best.
• Is a confident student leader in the classroom.
• Conducts themself with honesty and integrity.

Copy and paste ready-made report card comments

Ready-made report card comments for students are often crafted by seasoned educators.  And while they help you get report cards out quickly, they can also be used for ongoing caregiver communication through messages and newsletters throughout the school year.

Report Card Comments & Parent Teacher Conference Comments: Copy & Paste
By Enhance SEL
Grades: PreK-12th

Ideal for all grade levels, this resource has everything you need for unique and thoughtful report card comments. Copy and paste academic report card comments for language arts, writing, math, science, and social studies, as well as comments for student behavior and work habits.

After you’ve finished grades for content areas like math and language arts, it’s time to assess how students complete their work. Use these report card comments about work habits to tell caregivers how their children are using these vital skills.

• Manages their time efficiently in and out of the classroom.
• Makes a strong effort to complete work independently before asking for help.
• Demonstrates a growth mindset in everything they do.
• Is self-motivated when it comes to subjects that interest them.
• Uses their class time wisely when finishing assignments.
• Makes up late or missing work in a timely manner.
• Never gives up in the face of difficulty.
• Reflects on their performance and finds opportunities for improvement. 
• Inspires their classmates with dedication and perseverance.
• Keeps trying until they get it right.
• Submits well-written and edited work in each subject.
• Demonstrates a strong, dedicated work ethic.
• Is always prepared for class.
• Keeps their backpack and desk clean and organized. 
• Stays focused during difficult moments and isn’t afraid to ask clarifying questions.
• Is happy to edit work based on teacher feedback.
• Makes and follows their own work schedule.
• Reaches out to the teacher during class hours and over email.
• Fulfills class and school responsibilities without missing work.
• Consistently completes assignments neatly, on time, and with needed corrections.

Try to cover report card comments for all classroom skills

Need report card comments to address social-emotional skills as well as academics? Enlist editable comments in various formats to your regular grading periods or along with classroom rubric grades.

Editable Report Card Comments for Parent Teacher Conferences Digital Resources
By Kristine Nannini
Grades: 2nd-6th

If you’ve got a lot of report card comments to write and not enough time to do it, opt for a resource like this collection of editable report card comments. Perfect for caregiver conferences or end-of-term grades, the resource comes with comments addressing academics, work habits, and social-emotional skills in printable and digital formats.

If you’re writing your own report card comments this grading period, you can still make the process as straightforward as possible. Follow our tips for writing report card comments for students and caregivers to read.

Use the word “yet”

For those areas of potential improvement, the word “yet” is a valuable tool. Incorporate it into report card comments in the middle of the year, or when students still have time to work on those skills. For example:

• Has not learned ______ yet.
• Does not consistently ______ yet.

Vary your comments

Think of feedback like a sandwich, with positive comments as the soft frame that can help students digest the constructive feedback or things they need to work on. Start with students’ efforts and improvements, discuss places for improvement in the middle, and end on a positive note.

Be clear and concise

The more specific these comments are, the more impactful they can be. Rather than vague comments like “Acts up in class” or “Doesn’t listen,” be clear with what you want students and caregivers to know. Some examples may include:

• Consistently needs reminders to focus on work.
• Still working on keeping their hands to themself.

Focus on growth

Consider adding a sentence or two describing the specific strategy the student took toward achieving growth in a particular subject area or skill set. In practice, this could sound like, “This quarter, [Name] has grown their lexile/reading level +50 by using the close reading strategy for all assigned articles in [learning platform].”

Provide tools for success

Follow report card remarks with tools that students and their caregivers can use to improve their skills and performance. For example, suggestions for specific books or learning apps may help caregivers engage with their children’s learning journeys. Knowing a potential path forward ensures that students see their potential for growth and feel the report card comments are positive and meaningful.

Use report cards to communicate effectively 

Like assessments, calls home, and conferences, report cards are a way to communicate with students and their caregivers. They can share stories of growth or express concern over challenging areas, but ultimately, they should work both as a reflection of student success and a marker of where to improve. Find more report card resources for conferences and end-of-year grading periods from TPT!