Is this a bit harsh? comments from Teachers most welcome

I got DS's report yesterday and yes he is doing great, but I wasn't impressed overall with the way that was reported to us kwim? Attached to the newsletter was a survey that we can fill out that asks us if we liked the reports and if there were any areas for improvment.

The questions were

• Did you find the reports easy to understand? yes/no - answered yes
• Did you gain a clear understanding of the level to which your child is achieving? yes/no - answered no.

In the space provided we could list what we felt needed improving, but I ran out so I did this up;

:

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Areas that could be improved

Overall I liked the layout of the report and they are easy to understand, but it doesn’t give us a clear understanding of his performance. We felt that most of the comments were too scripted, like it was a general response to give for that grading and only the names changed. An example of this that we thought was too ‘textbook’ was;

XXX has a sound knowledge and understanding of spelling using the strategies of the consonants in the THRASS program, knowledge of sight words and letter-sound correspondence. He has practiced using basic grammar in published versions of writing. XXX has used correct letter formation by practicing handwriting using the New South Wales Foundation Style and THRASS. He has developed skills in writing recounts, procedures, and narratives about a variety of topics. Lindsay has interacted positively with other class members whilst giving news. He has used SMARTBORAD technology to enhance his learning of English. Keep up the great effort XXX.

I just think that the way that is worded is too clinical and may not give parents a clear understanding of exactly how their child is doing. We understood the concept, but there may be parents who don’t. Also we realise that the three-way interviews are important and that any questions we have about his performance will be discussed then, but I would like to see that in his report as this is something that we share with our family and they wouldn’t understand that he is doing well based on the wording of the report.

There is also no idea of exactly what areas of each subject he may be doing better in than others – like he may excel in one subject area but may need improvement in another area, for example he may be outstanding in talking and listening, but need improvement with his writing.

This may be more detail than you intended for the survey answers, but I feel strongly about it as the reports we get as parents are the only documented proof (for lack of a better word) we have of their efforts at school. I’m sure that you would appreciate our honesty in this matter.

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And I was just wondering if you thought it is a bit overkill or harsh and should I cut it back a bit LOL. I'm thinking they didn't want this much detail but I think it is important to be honest.

Go for it Sherie,

I am not teacher, but I agree better to tell them honestly!

I think its great, and will probably be appreciated and welcomed.

From the way I understand it, at least in here in Victoria (and Imight be wrong so any Vic teachers...) reporting in computerised and standardised across the state, so teacher get to select which comment to put, or fill in the gap, (i.e. he/she, has/has not) but not word it themsleves, so its very limited.

I am pretty sure at least our Vic reporting system is not well liked by many of the teachers that have to use it.

Thanks Tracey :)

Ray, that's just it - it is a computerised one and I think that using a generic response is just lazy really. I know they have a lot of work to do in compiling them, but it is meant to be a true indicator of how your child is doing, not to save the teachers time kwim?

Yep, your right, but the teachers don't get a say in it at all.
Thats why I think your anwser is great, and maybe doens't go far enough, becuase I don't think the teachers would be happy with the feedback they are able to give either.

Maybe you could send a copy of your response to the education minister as well (I'm serious, thats what I'd do)

Hmm, I didn't think of that (sending it to the dept). I guess when they come up with these new systems they are just trying to streamline the process and not realising that they are losing so much at the same time.

I think that is fantastic Sherie, when I read it I was thinking to myself WTF does all that mean. I would definitely send it back as is

Love

Just a quick one from a primary teacher with a screaming baby on lap!!! Yes the new reporting system in Vic is standardised and has a databank of comments for teachers to use but there is also a facility to add personal comments, so where you could say "he has developed skills in writing recounts... teachers could say "as shown in his great piece about XXX, evident in his portfolio".
Its a really tricky one actually and many teachers dont like the new system - personally I think education should be standardised across the country but thats another issue!!

Reports take a long time to write, but Im always conscious of parents reading the report and what they will get from the report...cant say all teachers do the same I guess!!!

Blabbing now...I would send it as is, to both the school and department of education!!!:D

What grade is your son in Sherie?

It'll be interesting to see my DS's report card after this first semester. We have very regular contact with his teacher (he's in Grade 1) via email, phone and in person so we're pretty lucky in that regard.

I think your response sounds pretty good anyway!! Send as is.

Sherie
I am in eduation and I think it's fantastic that you've taken the time to share your opinion! Parent/Carer input it SOOOO important and unfortunately we don't always get the feedback we need to know what people are thinking. I would definately have a meeting with the teacher and ask your questions...everything is 'evidence based' so ask to see the 'evidence' ...I could go on and on but am on leave at the moment and trying to 'de-stress'...why not send a copy to the local paper too...I think you'd find alot of people will agree with you!

Thanks everyone. It's not something I have had to worry about until now with school reports and stuff, but I am going to get a few of them over the next 20 odd years LOL and I want to make sure I know what is going on and to be able to compare one year to the next.

I showed it to DH at lunch time and he thinks that maybe they aren't happy with the system and that's why they are asking what we think.

Mrsr, he is in year 1 (NSW).

OMG I can't believe you get such a wordy and complicated report for your DS in Grade 1!!!!

Doesn't make his 'learning environment' much fun, does it? As for 'keep up the good work' - is that directed at him or you?!

I work in corporate communications and if a company I worked for tried to put so much standardised commenting in one paragraph I would be strongly suggesting otherwise, so I think your feedback is well and truly on the right track. IMO what you've received isn't even going to be understood by some parents (esp if it's their first child) and what's the point of communicating with parents if you're going to speak a different language...

I'd be tempted to 'standardise' your survey answer! Only joking.

From the perspective of being a teacher's assistant I know how frustrated teachers are in Victoria by the limitations of the reporting system so it's not laziness it's legalities :(

From the perspective of a parent who has received many reports of this nature i know that I don't mind as long as there was a persoanlised comment at the end.

I think what you have written is excellent though... feedback is always valuable as most parents don't have the time or confidence to undertake it. Well Done! :)

HI - I'd say the 'clinicalness' of the reports comes from the standards that they measure your child against. In Victoria there is a list of progression points that a childs learning is checked against to determine what standard they are at. For example, for preps at the middle of the year, to get a C, they need to be achieving at 0.5 and then for some subject areas there is a lit of criteria to meet that.

From my experience with teachers the don't like to use the comment banks, but I'm sure there are some that do. They can make up their own comments and add them and make their own bank. There are a few comments on Caitlin's report that sound a bit formal but there are also a lot that are really specific to her and where she is at.

Feedback is always good, but they might not be able to do much about some of it.

Barb.