Report Cards at School 2009

Reporting to parents is one of the many tasks given to teachers as a major responsibility. Parents have a right to get and understand regular report about their child's progress or lack of the same in a timely manner. I say this as regular reporting may not be timely in the case where there appears to be a striking change in the students behaviour or work progress.

Today in Ontario there is a growing feeling among teachers that the reporting system is failing to meet the needs of the school and the parents. Remarks that are taken from a list to note the child's progress as it relates to the curriculum may not be timely or understood by the patent. The one acid test for a good report in my mind is one which clearly conveys to the student and parent progress in the facets of the curriculum. This cannot be done by taking a remark from a list that is prepared by people who are curriculum orientated.

The teacher interview is the best way to discuss the student's progress because there is a two way conversation. The teacher may glean information from the parent to fill in the gaps as to why there were changes in behaviour or learning patterns. These interviews should not be scheduled only at mandated times but whenever there seems to be a need. Catch a problem in the early stage and you save time and effort to correct the difficulty. You should as a parent receive communication about the good things that occur form time to time. Think of the good result when you phone a parent about something positive and the attitude reflected towards the school afterward.

There is no better way to make schooling understood and respected than clear lines of communication. Therefore we must make our reports to parents as personal as possible and reflect the best light on the student. Verbal reports, face to face meetings meet such a demand along with the required written format.

This places a big responsibility on the busy teacher but good teachers manage this chore very well.