How do you characterize the role of report cards in your classroom, school and system?
Our report cards are biannual. The reports include a list of checks and a short comment. The short comment typically includes a goal to reach for and examples of exemplar performance. Essentially, it is a snapshot of a student's semester work and progress.
We have many, many information sources to inform report cards including the following:
- Student habits and effort checks are informed by observation, attendance, student conversation, teacher records, collegial discussion and parent discussions.
- Academic checks are informed by summative assessments including MCAS, GRADE, GMADE, projects, unit tests, and formative assessments including progress monitoring, observation, conversation and online practice/test reports: Lexia, That Quiz and Xtra Math.
Students also have a digital portfolio of signature work to exemplify their best performance in reading, writing and math.
Parents receive ongoing student updates through newsletters, unit test grades, comments on projects, class shares, IEP meetings and parent conferences.
Oftentimes, students will complete a reflection sheet that is sent home with the report card. The reflection sheet is a student's own assessment of the semester including goals for the next semester. I will often ask students to assess themselves before I complete the report card because I find that children know themselves well and highlight the challenges and strengths most important to them in their own reflection.
Report cards are a troubling process for many educators. It's tough to capture a child's spirit, strengths and challenges on a page. Fortunately in our system, we have checks that respond to many categories with developing, progressing, meeting expectations and exceeding expectations. This type of report responds well to the varying achievement levels of young children who are impacted greatly by development, experience and environment.
What is your reporting process like? How does the report card serve to inspire and motivate students as well as family support? This is a process that will continue to evolve as we embrace new standards and pedagogy.
