Standards-Based Report Card Comments by Subject, Grades K-5
On a standards-based report card, kindergarten to fifth grade teachers write a short comment beside the academic marks, where each subject, such as reading, writing, math, science or social studies, is broken into skills. Each skill is marked on a 4-point scale, often worded as Exceeds, Meets, Approaching and Beginning, though the labels, report periods and comment limits vary by district. The comment shows what the marks look like in daily work.
Each page below covers one skill for one grade band, with sample strengths and next steps at every level and tips for writing your own. These comments are written for the teacher comment next to the academic marks on a US elementary standards-based report card.
Comments by skill and grade band
| Skill | Grades K-2 | Grades 3-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Reading: Foundational Skills | Reading: Foundational Skills, Grades K-2 | Reading: Foundational Skills, Grades 3-5 |
| Reading: Comprehension | Reading: Comprehension, Grades K-2 | Reading: Comprehension, Grades 3-5 |
| Writing | Writing, Grades K-2 | Writing, Grades 3-5 |
| Speaking and Listening | Speaking and Listening, Grades K-2 | Speaking and Listening, Grades 3-5 |
| Math: Number and Operations | Math: Number and Operations, Grades K-2 | Math: Number and Operations, Grades 3-5 |
| Math: Measurement and Geometry | Math: Measurement and Geometry, Grades K-2 | Math: Measurement and Geometry, Grades 3-5 |
| Science | Science, Grades K-2 | Science, Grades 3-5 |
| Social Studies | Social Studies, Grades K-2 | Social Studies, Grades 3-5 |
Also: opening and closing sentences for each report period.
The 4 comment levels
| Code | Level |
|---|---|
| E | Exceeds the standard |
| M | Meets the standard |
| A | Approaching the standard |
| B | Beginning |
At the top of the scale, describe accurate, independent work and how the child extends it, such as choosing harder books or explaining a strategy to a partner. For Meets, use steady words like usually or as taught in class; for Approaching, say what happens with reminders or a model; for Beginning, name what is emerging and the support in place. Describe the skill in action, not the mark.
Tips for standards-based report card comments
- Tie each subject comment to one piece of work a family could picture, such as a reading conference, a math exit ticket or a page in the science notebook. A named task says more than general praise or worry.
- Some districts treat each skill as an end-of-year goal, so Approaching is the usual mark early in the year. Check your district's family guide and, where that applies, say so plainly so families read early marks calmly.
- Name the subject inside each sentence, such as In math or During independent reading, because one comment often covers several subjects. Leave out program names, assessment names and standard codes, and describe each skill in words families recognize.
This site shows 223 of the 1,512 sentences in the pack. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any state department of education, school district or curriculum publisher. Not aligned to any one state's standards; check the wording against your own report card.
How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.