Writing Report Comments Whānau Understand
The test for an NZ comment is simple: could whānau read it once, without a teacher beside them, and know where their child is and what comes next?
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NZ schools must report to parents and whānau in writing, at least twice a year, in plain language. That makes clarity the first test of a good comment, not an afterthought.
Write for whānau, not for colleagues
Curriculum language is precise for kaiako and confusing at home. "Uses a range of comprehension strategies at Level 2" can become "understands what she reads and can explain why characters act the way they do." Keep the meaning, lose the jargon.
Say where they are, and how far they've come
Whānau want both. A sentence on achievement against the expected level, then a sentence on progress since the last report. For a child working towards the expected level, the progress sentence is often the most important part of the report.
Make it unmistakably about this child
One specific piece of work ("her speech about her nan's garden") turns a general description into something the family recognises.
End with one next step, and how to help
One goal, in everyday words, plus a simple idea for home. Families are far more likely to act on one clear suggestion than on three.
Use te reo Māori with care
Kupu like ākonga, whānau and kaiako are widely understood, and a short mihi can suit your kura's practice. Check spelling and macrons, and follow your school's approach.
Before and after
Before
Aroha is achieving at Level 2 in reading and uses a range of strategies.
After
Aroha is reading at the level expected for her year. Since Term 1 she has started reading chapter books on her own and can explain why characters act as they do. Next, she will practise summing up a chapter in a few sentences. Asking her to tell you what happened at bedtime will help.
More help: our plain language tips for NZ kaiako and what NZ reports must include.
NZ Report Comments, Simplified
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NZ School Reports drafts clear, parent-friendly report comments that follow NZC expectations.
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