Preschool Report Card Comment Examples

Published March 26, 2019
Preschool teacher talking to parents

It can feel daunting to write 15 to 20 report cards in one sitting. Be sure to maintain notes for each child on a weekly basis so you can write a thorough and helpful report card without struggling to remember specifics.

The Importance of Report Cards

Report cards help track a child's progress and let both the teacher and parents know what the child is excelling in and what they need to work on. Comments and observations can provide tremendous insight into the child's wellbeing and help foster a supportive network of teachers and family members.

Comments for Specific Subjects

Your subjects will differ depending on what your school emphasizes. Keep comments short, yet detailed and use as many templates as you need to explain the child's experience with each specific subject. You can write:

  • He/She seems to really enjoy (specific subject) and is excelling in (specific subject-related skill).
  • He/She seems distracted during (specific subject) as evidenced by (insert supporting behavior).
  • He/She seems to like learning about (specific subject or topic) and has been a pleasure to teach.
  • He/She appears to really like (specific subject) and could use some extra help with (insert specific topic).
  • He/She is very enthusiastic when (subject) is brought up and consistently participates during discussions.
  • He/She has come up with very creative answers during (subject) and I've enjoyed teaching him/her.
  • He/She has been a joy to have in class and especially excels in (enter several subjects if applicable).
  • He/She tends to get antsy during (subject) and may need a little extra help understanding (specific subject-related topic).
  • He/She loves listening to (insert subject topic) and actively shares his/her thoughts.
  • He/She has seems to enjoy (insert subject) and has a deep understanding of the material.
  • He/She shows advanced abilities in (subject) and would benefit from (insert recommendation).

Improvement Comments

Letting a parent or parents know what the child needs help with can accelerate their ability to find appropriate solutions. Doing so early on can help the little one improve upon necessary skills before heading to kindergarten. You can write:

  • It seems like (child's name) could use some help with (insert behavior or subject matter).
  • I've noticed that (child's name) consistently struggles with (insert behavior or subject matter) because he/she has been (give examples).
  • (Child's name) would benefit from some extra practice with (insert behavior or topic).
  • More often than not, (child's name) appears to have difficulties with (insert behavior or topic).
  • It would help (child's name) improve upon (skill or behavior) if it were practiced a bit more at home.
  • I've noticed (child's name) seems to struggles with (behavior). We will continue to work on this at school and it would be great if (child's name) could practice these skills at home as well.
  • (Child's name) seems nearly ready for (insert skill) but still could use some extra practice getting there.
  • (Child's name) could use a brush up on (skill or behavior).
  • There's been a few instances where I've seen (child's name) have a challenging time with (skill).
  • Although (child's name) has made great progress with (skill or behavior), he/she could still use some extra help understanding it a bit better.

Praise Comments

Praise comments can be really fun to write. Highlight what each child is doing well by writing:

  • (Child's name) is excelling in (list subjects) and consistently participates in class.
  • (Child's name) is eager to lend a helping hand and gets along with his/her classmates.
  • (Child's name) works well with others and is liked amongst his/her peers.
  • He/She has been a joy to teach and always comes to class with a smile.
  • (Child's name) is incredibly creative and consistently impresses me with his/her (skills).
  • (Child's name) consistently excels in (behaviors) and has been really fun to teach.
  • (Child's name) is smart, creative, and consistently kind to his/her classmates.
  • (Child's name) learns quickly and demonstrates (skills) at an advanced level.
  • (Child's name) has picked up (skills) very quickly and shows an eagerness to learn.
  • (Child's name) always participates in class and has great problem-solving skills.
  • (Child's name) handles misunderstandings well and is great at communicating.
  • (Child's name) does very well at identifying his/her feelings and communicating them in a calm, mature way.
  • (Child's name) shows an interest in learning new topics and consistently makes insightful observations.
Creating a Block Tower at School

Comments for Behavioral Issues

Although it can be tricky to write about behavioral issues on a report card, it is important information for the child's caregiver to understand. You can say:

  • He/She seems to struggle with sharing toys and learning materials with his/her peers.
  • He/She is working on raising his/her hand and has shown some improvement.
  • I've noticed (child's name) seems to have a difficult time following directions. This typically happens during (activity).
  • (Child's name) has had a challenging time keeping his/her hands to him/herself. This happens (amount) times a day.
  • (Child's name) is struggling to complete projects in entirety. This is something we will continue to work on in class.
  • (Child's name) tends to throw tantrums when (insert example). We are actively working on emotional expression with him/her.
  • (Child's name) has shown some aggression towards a few classmates during playtime. Examples of this include (insert examples). We are working on using words instead of touch.
  • During one occasion, (child's name) grabbed a toy from another child. Since then we have seen great improvement, but are still working on sharing.

Socializing Comments

Noting how each child interacts with their peers and adults can help paint a thorough picture for the child's parent. You can write:

  • (Child's name) tends to keep to him/herself and often prefers to observe his/her classmates.
  • (Child's name) loves to engage with his/her peers and plays well with others.
  • (Child's name) seems to struggle with connecting with his/her peers.
  • (Child's name) enjoys spending time with his/her peers and reports having a good time with his/her friends.
  • (Child's name) shares well with friends and gets along with everyone in class.
  • (Child's name) seems to have a hard time getting along with his/her peers.
  • (Child's name) has developed close friendships with several classmates and prefers spending time with one or two friends at a time.

Group Play Observations

Group projects or play can reveal a lot about a child's ability to collaborate with peers. On their report card you can note:

  • (Child's name) does well working with others and tends to take on a leadership role.
  • (Child's name) seems to enjoy collaborating with others during group projects.
  • He/She gets along well with others and is very interactive during group play time.
  • He/She tends to keep to themselves during group play time.
  • He/She seems to prefer listening to others' ideas during group projects.
  • He/She is typically withdrawn during group projects and tends to prefer playing one on one.
  • He/She listens to instructions well during group activities and follows through with the assignment.
  • He/She collaborates well with others and is respectful when his/her peers share their opinions.
  • He/She tends to struggle with group activities and usually prefers to spend time playing alone.
  • He/She reports liking group activities and thrives in this environment.
Children during art classes

Leadership Comments

Although not all children tend to take on leadership roles, it can be helpful for parents to know which collaboration style their child tends to gravitate towards. On their report card you can say:

  • (Child's name) tends to enjoy being in charge during group activities and projects.
  • He/She shows great leadership skills, especially during (insert activity).
  • He/She tends to shy away from leadership roles and prefers to observe his/her classmates.
  • He/She usually takes on leadership roles but also seems to enjoy collaborating with others.
  • He/She actively participates in group activities and tends to take charge when offered the opportunity to do so.
  • (Child's name) demonstrates impressive leadership skills and is consistently respectful of other's opinions.
  • He/She has a take charge spirit and enjoys doing group activities.

Referral Comments

Because you spend so much time with each child, you may notice that a few may benefit from a referral. These can be included on their report card, along with some supporting examples. You can write:

  • (Child's name) seems to struggle with (specific) subject and would benefit from having a tutor provide a little extra help.
  • (Child's name) is having a hard time reading and writing and may benefit from an evaluation with a medical psychologist.
  • (Child's name) is struggling socially. Some examples of this include (give examples). You may want to consider contacting a child psychologist or therapist for an evaluation.
  • (Child's name) appears anxious throughout the day, especially during (mention examples). You may want to take him/her to a child psychologist or therapist for an evaluation so we can increase his/her comfort level. Let me know if you'd like to discuss this further or have any questions and I'm happy to help.
  • (Child's name) seems to have a mild reaction to (list food or beverage). It would be a good idea to consult with his/her pediatrician to make sure there isn't an allergy that we should know about.

Writing Useful Report Card Comments

Take your time writing each child's report card. Even though the task may feel tedious, remember that you are providing incredibly helpful and insightful information for the child and their family to build upon.

Preschool Report Card Comment Examples