NZ Report Comments: Participating and Contributing, Y1-4
Participating and contributing is how a child takes an active part in class and school life, puts ideas and effort into group tasks, takes on responsibilities and leadership roles, and cares for the community and environment through kaitiakitanga.
Below are 13 sample sentences for Years 1-4: two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Consistently / Usually / Sometimes / Not yet), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 173 participating and contributing sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.
Jump to: Consistently · Usually · Sometimes · Not yet · Writing tips
Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Consistently C
Strengths
- During discovery time, [Name] joins in fully and invites others to help build, create and explore together.
- Without being asked, [Name] carries out class responsibilities carefully, and others can count on [him/her/them] to see a job through.
Next step
- An exciting challenge for [Name] would be to lead our morning karakia at mat time once a week.
Usually U
Strengths
- [Name] regularly joins in with our morning waiata and karakia and knows most of the words and actions.
- Most of the time, [Name] joins in with school events such as assemblies, sports day and cross-country with enthusiasm.
Next step
- A next step for [Name] is to choose a class job and remember to do it each day using our job chart.
Sometimes S
Strengths
- [Name] joins in with our morning waiata and karakia at times and is starting to sing along with the group.
- At times, [Name] joins in with school events and is becoming more comfortable taking part in front of others.
Next step
- A picture job chart will help [Name] remember to do [his/her/their] class job each day.
Not yet N
Strengths
- With frequent reminders, [Name] joins in with the actions of our morning waiata and is starting to learn the words.
- [Name] is working towards staying involved in group work for longer, and a clear, short task helps [him/her/them] do this.
Next step
- Having a buddy during discovery time will make it easier for [Name] to join in with others.
Support at home
- You might ask [Name] to help plan a family meal or outing, listening to [his/her/their] ideas and letting [him/her/them] take on part of the job.
How to write participating and contributing comments for Years 1-4
- Name a class job the child carries out, such as watering the class plants, handing out readers or being line leader, and say whether it gets done without a reminder.
- Describe how the child joins in with events young tamariki know, such as waiata, kapa haka, assembly items, sports day or time with the buddy class, not just that they attend.
- For quieter children, show participation beyond speaking up, such as joining a group game at discovery time or adding a drawing to a class display, and suggest one small next step.
Watch out: Counting only formal roles or speaking up in front of the class overlooks steady contributors. Describe the effort the child puts into group tasks and class jobs, even when that contribution is quiet.
Each label describes how often you see the behaviour. Consistently suits reliably, independently or without being asked; Usually suits regularly or with few reminders; Sometimes suits at times or with some support; Not yet suits is beginning to, together with the support that helps. Describe what the child actually does rather than repeating the rating, and keep Not yet comments warm and constructive.
What Participating and Contributing covers
In these comments, participating and contributing covers these behaviours:
- takes an active part in class and school life
- contributes ideas and effort to group tasks
- takes on responsibilities and leadership roles
- contributes to the wider community and the environment
More New Zealand primary comments
- Thinking, Years 1-4
- Using Language, Symbols and Texts, Years 1-4
- Managing Self, Years 1-4
- Relating to Others, Years 1-4
- Participating and Contributing, Years 5-8
- Opening and closing sentences
- All New Zealand primary skills and grade bands
- Build a comment with the comment picker
How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.