NZ Report Comments: Participating and Contributing, Y5-8
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 5-8: 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
- [Name] plays an active part in our enviro group, leading recycling and planting projects that make a difference to the school.
- [Name] takes part with enthusiasm in school-wide events such as athletics day, cross-country and our kapa haka performances.
Next step
- During our next inquiry, [Name] could lead a rōpū that plans and carries out a project to help our local community.
Usually U
Strengths
- When the class gives feedback to the student council, [Name] regularly puts forward sensible ideas for improving the school.
- [Name] usually takes part in community events the school is involved in, such as planting days or food bank collections.
Next step
- As a tuakana for a junior class, [Name] could practise leading a short activity with a small group.
Sometimes S
Strengths
- [Name] contributes to shared online documents at times and is learning to add ideas without changing the work of others.
- [Name] sometimes offers to help others around the classroom and is pleased to be asked.
Next step
- Spending time with a junior buddy class will give [Name] a chance to practise being a helpful tuakana.
Not yet N
Strengths
- With one-to-one help, [Name] is starting to add an idea to a shared document on a class device.
- [Name] enjoys helping out in small ways around the classroom, such as wiping a table, when an adult asks.
Next step
- A next step for [Name] is to choose one school activity, such as a lunchtime club or sports team, and go along with a friend.
Support at home
- Family games are a chance for [Name] to practise taking turns, sharing ideas and working as part of a team.
How to write participating and contributing comments for Years 5-8
- Name a leadership role, such as road patrol, librarian, house captain, peer mediator or student council, and describe how responsibly the duties were carried out across the term or year.
- Comment on contribution to the wider community and environment, for example an enviro group recycling or planting project, a fundraiser the class organised, or helping on a school trip.
- For a Consistently rating, suggest an extension such as becoming a tuakana for a junior class or running a lunchtime activity. For lower ratings, suggest one manageable role within a rōpū.
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 5-8
- Using Language, Symbols and Texts, Years 5-8
- Managing Self, Years 5-8
- Relating to Others, Years 5-8
- Participating and Contributing, Years 1-4
- 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.