Commonly used phrases in school reports.... what do they really mean?

[dimsumdiddly]

DS aged 9 got his school report yesterday. It was good(ish) but describes him as "strong-willed and determined". What does this mean in "teacher language" do you think and are there any more phrases good or bad that you should look out for?

But how are parents meant to help if they aren't told there are issues? If I saw those comments I would assume my child was struggling but not massively behind. Those interpretations are totally different... 😔

Well exactly, I think I'm a little bit more tuned in the teacher speak as my sister and mum are teachers but then seeing the report through DH eyes makes me see it in a whole new light. He takes everything at face value and is really surprised when I point out that certain words and phrases are "code" for something.

Personally I would rather my children's reports were honest assessments, but it is not worth the hassle that teachers/schools would get from many parents if they put down anything negative.

Does ‘a pleasure to teach’ really mean that, or is that teacher speak for we can’t really think of anything else to say?

@ineedaholidaynow

Does ‘a pleasure to teach’ really mean that, or is that teacher speak for we can’t really think of anything else to say?

Either a genuine pleasure to teach or a perfectly nice child who causes no issues.

I've been told that teachers generally don't say that kids are a pleasure to teach unless they are.

Does "I have enjoyed teaching x" have the same connotations do you think?

How about 'Joe is always keen to help with little jobs round the classroom such as turning the lights off or closing the door' ? How would you interpret that if it was in your child's report?

@bettsbattenburg helpful and eager to please but maybe gets a bit irritating with it/keeps getting out of his seat?

I use "a pleasure to teach" for a very nice child who gets on with their work and is kind to their friends. With a good class, I can use it for quite a few children.

I use "a joy to teach" more rarely. It's essentially the same as the above but intensified.

There should also be something positive at the end about what to work on in future. This should help.

@bettsbattenburg

How about 'Joe is always keen to help with little jobs round the classroom such as turning the lights off or closing the door' ? How would you interpret that if it was in your child's report?

Usually a good thing but I can think of one child who did this continually as an attention seeking strategy - bringing me things I didn't need etc and drawing attention to jobs she had done. In your case it probably does mean what it says.

@ineedaholidaynow

Does ‘a pleasure to teach’ really mean that, or is that teacher speak for we can’t really think of anything else to say?

I always meant that if I said it. I always enjoyed teaching children who argued politely to express a point of view or were a bit quirky not just those who sat still and soaked it up. In fact, I was occasionally a bit concerned about those.

@cariadlet

I use "a pleasure to teach" for a very nice child who gets on with their work and is kind to their friends. With a good class, I can use it for quite a few children.

I use "a joy to teach" more rarely. It's essentially the same as the above but intensified.

I agree. A pleasure to teach - I am genuinely fond of this child.

@sandiecheeks

"beginning to" and "with support" definitely mean exactly what they say. It means "we're working on this but don't expect them to do it independently yet." used very frequently in EHCPs as well as reports.

I don't think it's always mean the child is stubborn and answer back. It may literally mean what it says, he is strong-willed and determined in a very good way, like he doesn't give up easily. You would know that as his parent, if your child is either doesn't listen, or he is truly determined.

@bettsbattenburg

How about 'Joe is always keen to help with little jobs round the classroom such as turning the lights off or closing the door' ? How would you interpret that if it was in your child's report?

Again, I don't see why this needs interpreting at all. It's a factual statement based on what he has done during the year.

As a teacher, it really worries me how some parents might be reading so much in to the reports. Really does put the pressure on to word them perfectly!

Does ‘a pleasure to teach’ really mean that, or is that teacher speak for we can’t really think of anything else to say?

I only write that phrase when I mean it but I usually mean "fairly nice, likeable child". I'd describe most kids as a pleasure to teach (but then if I really haven't enjoyed working with a child, I won't write it). Generally I'd say a child is a joy to teach much more rarely - if they are truly exceptionally lovely.

How about 'Joe is always keen to help with little jobs round the classroom such as turning the lights off or closing the door' ? How would you interpret that if it was in your child's report?

I've written that before and mean exactly what it says on the tin. Sometimes if it's a problem it will come with an additional sentence about needing to allow other children to independently carry out responsibilities.

[quote dimsumdiddly]@bettsbattenburg helpful and eager to please but maybe gets a bit irritating with it/keeps getting out of his seat?[/quote]
Yes! That's precisely what I'd mean if I used it.

Does ‘a pleasure to teach’ really mean that, or is that teacher speak for we can’t really think of anything else to say?
I only use it for students who I've genuinely enjoyed teaching.

One I use a lot is "is learning to appreciate that group work is usually democratic in nature" (if they are learning to do it - otherwise it's "needs to appreciate that group work is blah blah blah"). Seems to be easily understood by parents

I think as teachers we walk a fine line when writing reports. You don't want to rag on a child the whole way through it but if you gloss over the problems you're only setting future teachers up for difficulties.

@dimsumdiddly

Also does it chime at all with what you know about your child?

Not really, he's always been quite compliant and eager to please although I've noticed the last year he's starting to answer back a bit more or insist that he's right about things. All quite low level and typical of his age but now that comment's made me wonder if he's doing the same in school.

It was followed by a line about him being determined to overcome obstacles this year (he has dyspraxia) and making progress as a result. So either of us could be right.

In that case, I'd see it as meaning he will not be told about what he believes to be right, probably because his dyspraxia has meant he's struggled with lots of school life and always been told how to do things. He's flexing his 'muscles' because he wants to do things his own way. He's at an age where he needs to learn by his mistakes for himself rather than being told what he's doing wrong all the time. He could be frustrated!

I was always told to write a “positivity sandwich”. Two positive statements with a negative statement in the middle. To soften the blow! Even the negatives had to be phrased nicely though. It’s like a theatre review. If the critic is praising the costumes and the scenery, you know the acting must be shit.

Yes @Soontobe60 when he was diagnosed the OT was surprised that he was very well behaved in school because she said with dyspraxia, children can be seen as difficult due to frustration or not being able to do things the way they've been told. So I'm on the look out for it a little bit.

Wouldn't it be far more helpful if the actual feedback was written rather than these nonsensical statements?

When you write a report, you have to consider what the person reading it might do with that information. Unfortunately, there are a subset of parents who would use negatively-written reports as "evidence" to beat their child, abuse their partner or ex-partner, or confront the teacher.

Also when children read their own report, now or in the future, it should celebrate what they can do and give them targets to strive for.

"X has been a pleasure/ joy to teach" means just that.

"I have enjoyed teaching X" also means what it says in the tin, but it may be omitting to mention that the teacher has not enjoyed dealing with the non-teaching aspects of having the child in their class.

A real character.

As a teacher I knew exactly what this meant.

Not a compliment.

😔

@happilybemused

A real character.

As a teacher I knew exactly what this meant.

Not a compliment.

😔

Now, I would have written that as a compliment followed by 'but needs to learn to...'.