Schools seem to make a real effort to offer foreign language translators for parents who need them. This report card is totally written in "teacher" and in desperate need of translation to "parent!" Even if these strategies and assessment tools were explained at an earlier parent-teacher conference, the parent can't be expected to remember what it all means. The teachers at my son's school for the most part speak and write "parent," and the PTA has tried to help by including information in all kinds of places that will help parents understand how their kids are being taught and assessed. For example, our school calendar offers a glossary that explains the different tests given throughout the school year.

That's completely unnecessary for report card comments. If the teacher did want to share those numbers, maybe she could have brought it up during a conference when she could explain them thoroughly. I would never just spout off "teacher terms" like that at my poor parents!

Report card comments should just be a basic rundown of things not reflected by the grades, and maybe a suggestion on how to help at home. It is important for parents to be aware of their child's standing, but that dense paragraph could have been translated into 3-4 simpler (and more effective!) sentences.

Hey. This is *great*. Parents whine about disconnected teachers who are clueless. Then a teacher puts some frickin' thought into an assessment and then all of a sudden we tell the teacher to dumb it down for us? What a bunch of hypocrites. I say bravo to the teacher who wrote this.

Whichever parent emailed this to you has access to email ... to the Internet right? Have they ever heard of Google. sheesh

thank you for posting interesting things to read on this website. i love checking it out

Thanks, Alex. I love posting items for comment too - without professional conversations, it's tough to move forward and make progress! Keep 'em coming!

At my previous school (which happens to be in Northern VA!!!!), we had a list of "required" information we were to provide in report card comments. I always felt that I was forced to include information that was out of the scope of most parents' understanding (and often it was A LOT more than parents wanted to hear). We were told it had to be on the report card as documentation. Thankfully, most of us were able to write it in "human" language vs. "teacher" language. However, for many who were struggling to learn new assessments and programs, it could often be tough to dicipher and translate the information for our parents. It is so tough when such specific comments are required, then teachers end up having to spend a great deal of time explaining them to the parents. Seems like there should be a BETTER, more effective way.

With that being said, surely your friend's teacher should have known better than to simply regurgitate data in the comments. Talk about creating a huge divide between most parents and the teacher. UGH!

Haha.. At least the parents won't understand enough to get so defensive of their child.

As an elementary teacher, I can relate to the comments as we feel we have to justify every instructional decision that we make. We have become so focused on the assessments and data - that I'm afraid we are forgetting that we also should be concerned with the children as whole beings. Does Jack like to read for enjoyment? etc. These comments also are work for the teacher to come up with - but many feel that is what we should be producing as that is what administrators are also wanting - justification for instruction and grades. The pendulum has swung too far and needs to come back towards the middle.

Rant off.