ATL Communication Skills Report Comments, Ages 11-14

Communication covers how a student exchanges ideas with others (listening, discussing, giving and receiving feedback, presenting to an audience) and how they use language to learn: reading for meaning, taking notes, structuring writing and using subject vocabulary accurately.

Below are 13 sample sentences for Ages 11-14: two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Expert / Practitioner / Learner / Novice), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 173 communication sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.

Jump to: Expert · Practitioner · Learner · Novice · Writing tips

Student name Pronouns

Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Expert E

Strengths

In group roles such as spokesperson, [Name] reports the group's ideas accurately and confidently to the whole class.
When presenting, [Name] speaks clearly, holds the audience's attention and answers unexpected questions with confidence and accurate detail.

Next step

A useful next step would be for [Name] to share [his/her/their] note-making method with the class, showing how headings and key words keep it organised.

Practitioner P

Strengths

When given a group role such as reporter, [Name] usually shares the group's findings with the class clearly and accurately.
When presenting in familiar formats, [Name] speaks clearly and keeps to the main points with few reminders.

Next step

[Name] could take on the reporter role in group tasks more often, building the confidence to speak for the group in front of the class.

Learner L

Strengths

With a model answer to compare against, [Name] is learning to read task guidance and check what [his/her/their] work should include.
[Name] can find the main idea of a short text with guidance and is learning to reread when the meaning is not clear.

Next step

Using the process journal to jot down two or three ideas before each discussion will help [Name] feel ready to contribute.

Novice N

Strengths

Given a clear group role and a script to follow, [Name] is beginning to share one idea from the group with the class.
Speaking in front of others is still new for [Name], who is beginning to present short ideas to a partner or small group.

Next step

Copying the teacher's lesson heading and three key words into the process journal each lesson will give [Name] a clear start to organised notes.

Support at home

When [Name] has a presentation coming up, you could listen to a practice run and mention one thing that was clear and one question you had.

How to write communication comments for Ages 11-14

Students aged 11 to 14 meet many teachers in a day, so comment on note-taking habits that travel between lessons: writing the heading and key words, and keeping notes in the process journal where they can be found later.
For discussion, describe a small, visible behaviour such as asking a clarifying question or summarising a classmate's point before adding one. A next goal can name a sentence starter the student can use in any lesson.
Comment on reading for meaning: whether the student can pick out the main point of a text or of task guidance and explain it in their own words. This matters in every subject and is easy to practise at home.

Watch out: Avoid judging communication by confidence or by how much a student speaks. Quiet students may listen carefully and write clearly, so describe the strand you saw, such as note-taking or listening, and set the goal there.

Show the stage through what the student does rather than writing the stage name. Expert language is independent, flexible and used in unfamiliar tasks, often modelled for others; Practitioner fits usually and with few reminders in familiar work; Learner fits with guidance, a model or a checklist; Novice describes what is emerging with close support, which is normal for many students new to secondary school.

What Communication covers

ATL clusters covered for communication:

communication skills: exchanging thoughts, messages and information through interaction (listening actively, discussing, giving and receiving feedback, adapting to the audience)
communication skills: reading, writing and using language to gather and communicate information (note-taking, structuring writing, using subject vocabulary, presenting)

More ATL skills ages 11-16 comments

How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.