When completing remarks for learners who have areas of needs improvement, you want to include next steps report card comments so that parents know what actions will be taken moving forward to help their child improve.
Here you’ll find a collection of action-based next steps report card comments and phrases that provide specific solutions.
You’ll also see student remarks for learners who you’ll want to challenge (gifted and talented) so that their school learning experiences don’t become too boring and repetitive for them.
Related: Communicate with parents how their child is performing with online assignments using our remote learning comments.
Next Steps Report Card Comments
General Remarks Needs Improvement
- For the next quarter, let’s try these accommodations and/or modifications for ______ : (insert any appropriate accommodations and/or strategies).
- In order to increase academic skills, _____ requires assistance such as…
- Practicing more at home with (insert any skill or strategy) will help _____ greatly.
- _____ could definitely use extra help with…
- In order to be prepared for the next grade level, _____ must work to improve…
- Please continue to reinforce (insert any needed skill).
- I strongly encourage _____ to read 10 minutes extra each day in order to build stamina.
- After-school tutoring x number of times per week will be beneficial for ______ .
- Though _____ has made tremendous improvement with (insert any skill, strategy, or behavior) in the past weeks, he/she must still put forth effort daily in order to reach and maintain his/her learning goals.
- _____ struggles at times with (insert any skill or strategy). We are working hard at school to improve this situation and appreciate your efforts in reinforcing these strategies at home.
- During the summer, ______ should continue to… (insert any needs improvement skills + how often).
- Please continue to practice basic multiplication facts at least 3 times per week during the summer break.
- I suggest having _____ continue studying…
- _____ needs more opportunities to…
- Review with ______ x number of times each week the following skills…
- Application of certain study skills will help _____ improve significantly.
- It wouldn’t hurt _____ to brush up a bit on her (insert any needs improvement academic skill).
- To stay on top of _____’s progress or class performance, let’s schedule a follow-up meeting for…
- In order to prevent “summer slide”, I suggest that _____ regularly review (insert any needs improvement for the child).
- At least twice per week, I’ll continue one-on-one or small group instruction support with ______, focusing on (insert targeted learning objective).
- It’s recommended for ______ to …
- It would be helpful to review at home with ______ (insert any needs improvement skill or strategy).
- _____ would benefit from…
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Next Steps Report Card Comments for Specific Groups
Following are suggestions for maintaining and/or improving the academic performance of 4 groups of elementary students…
- Special education
- Struggling learners
- English as a Second language
- Gifted and talented
When drafting these comments, add qualifiers to make statements more or less positive.
Descriptors to use include…
- Generally
- Confidently
- Successfully
- Consistently
- Routinely
- Irregularly
- Seldomly
- Never
- Sometimes
- Is progressing well with…
Special Education Next Steps Remarks
“Moving forward, I will…”
- Assign fewer items per page during independent work.
- Read aloud instructions to student.
- Allow student to review an outline preview of the lesson.
- Permit the use of a calculator or spell checker to review work.
- Reduce distractions in the learning environment.
- Change seating arrangement in order to optimize learning.
- Extend time needed to complete tests, projects, and/or assignments.
- Incorporate more frequent brain breaks.
- Assist _____ in using a planner to organize assignments.
- Incorporate study skills instruction into weekly lesson plans.
- Differentiate homework to better meet ______ academic needs.
- Encourage the use of anchor charts to assist learning.
- Chunk assignments and tasks into digestible pieces.
- Communicate regularly with guardians to provide feedback about academic progress plus the use of accommodations.
- Accompany a set of written instructions with oral ones.
- Practice positive reinforcement.
- Plan more hands-on activities for math and literacy centers.
- Utilize visual and verbal attention getters to guide _____ in making smooth transitions between activities.
- Require _____ guardian(s) to sign his/her behavior chart daily or weekly.
Next Steps for Struggling Learners
“Moving forward, I will…”
- Continue weekly one-on-one or small group instruction support with a focus on (insert student targeted learning objective).
- Recommend after-school tutoring twice a week.
- When appropriate, allow the use of a calculator to solve math facts.
- Encourage ______ to continue reviewing at home (insert skill).
- Give a textbook for at-home use.
- Extend time required to complete assignments.
- Help ______ set up an agenda to organize assignments.
- Ask _____ guardian(s) to sign the homework agenda daily.
- Plan a variety to activities that meet the needs of all learning styles.
- Chunk long-term assignments and projects.
- Provide concrete examples to help ______ visualize the main concept/idea.
- Incorporate into my weekly lesson plans study skills activities.
- To stay abreast (or on top ) of _____ progress, let’s schedule a follow-up meeting/conference for…
- Sprinkle in a few more brain breaks during lessons.
- Encourage the use of visual aids to assist learning such as anchor charts.
- Show concrete examples to explain abstract concepts.
- Require the use of manipulatives to solve math word problems.
- As needed, share an outline preview of an upcoming lesson.
- Strategize seating arrangement in order to maximize learning.
- Provide manipulatives to solidify understanding of concepts.
- Give _____ an outline of the lesson beforehand.
- Express positive reinforcement as needed.
- Utilize weekly home-school communication tools such as a daily log.
- Make use of visual and verbal cues to help ______ stay on task.
English as a Second Language
The frequency with which you use these “next steps” ESL comments depend on the linguistic level of the child. More advanced learners will require fewer accommodations.
”Moving forward, I will…”
- Deliver oral/written instructions in step-by-step form or use simple language.
- Read aloud texts or read along with students.
- Use visual cues for transitions.
- When possible, accompany visual aids with verbal material.
- Frequently incorporate graphic organizers to help solidify information.
- Chunk verbal instructions and assignments into digestible parts.
- Allow 5 to 10 second wait time before expecting oral response.
- Speak more slowly depending on the situation and context.
- Reduce the number of open-ended questions or statements.
- Provide an outline of the lesson beforehand.
- Pair _____ with linguistically stronger English-speaking peers during centers and group work.
- Utilize literal instead of figurative language when appropriate.
- Provide spoken instructions in addition to written ones.
- Use positive reinforcement to maximize academic and behavioral objectives.
- Sprinkle in transition words (e.g. next, then) to signal movement of thoughts.
- Ask _____ to restate information in order to check for understanding.
- Strategically seat ______ to maximize his/her learning.
- Provide written feedback for writing assignments.
>>> See an entire page of student remarks for English-as-a-Second-Language learners.
Gifted & Talented Kids
“Moving forward, I will…”
- Pair _____ with classmates of similar academic level.
- Survey his/her interests and create a selection of activities centered on those topics.
- Differentiate instruction to maintain interest.
- Assign independent explorations of high-interest topics.
- Incorporate more higher-level thinking comprehension questions.
- Encourage discovery, creativity, and diversity of thought.
- At times allow a flexible seating arrangement.
- Supply a wide variety of reading materials.
- Recommend particular extracurricular activities and/or school clubs to extend learning.
- Provide ability-appropriate early finisher activities such as…
- Allow _____ to make choices in his/her learning.
- Quarterly, help _____ set learning goals and provide feedback.
- Practice positive reinforcement.
- Integrate a variety of project-based learning activities in order for _____ to apply skills and knowledge.
- Occasionally group ______ with other gifted students or higher-level learners.
Save Time Using These Next Steps Report Card Comments
Accompany your needs improvement remarks with these next steps report card remarks.
Parents will be happy that you’re taking the actions needed to help their child succeed.
Best
References: How to Accommodate Gifted Learners, ESL Students, and Struggling Kids