Overview

Report Card Comment Categories help schools organize report card comments into meaningful groups. Instead of maintaining a long list of comments, administrators can create categories that make it easier for teachers to find appropriate feedback when preparing report cards.

For example, comments can be grouped under categories such as Academic Performance, Behavior, Participation, Attendance, Citizenship, or Effort.

A well-organized comment structure improves efficiency during grading periods and helps ensure teachers can quickly locate the feedback they need.

Why Use Comment Categories?

As the number of report card comments grows, finding the correct comment becomes more difficult.

Comment Categories help:

• Organize feedback into logical groups.
• Improve teacher efficiency.
• Simplify report card preparation.
• Standardize evaluation processes.
• Maintain a clean and structured comment library.
• Reduce time spent searching for comments.

Schools that use dozens or hundreds of report card comments often rely on categories to keep the comment library manageable.

Examples of Comment Categories

Common categories include:

Academic Performance

Comments related to academic achievement and classroom learning.

Examples:

• Demonstrates strong understanding of concepts.
• Consistently exceeds expectations.
• Shows improvement in subject knowledge.

Behavior

Comments related to student conduct.

Examples:

• Demonstrates respect for classmates.
• Follows classroom expectations.
• Maintains a positive attitude.

Participation

Comments related to classroom engagement.

Examples:

• Actively participates in discussions.
• Contributes positively to group work.
• Engages thoughtfully during activities.

Attendance

Comments related to attendance and punctuality.

Examples:

• Maintains excellent attendance.
• Arrives prepared and on time.
• Attendance impacts academic performance.

Effort

Comments related to work habits and dedication.

Examples:

• Consistently puts forth strong effort.
• Demonstrates perseverance.
• Completes assignments responsibly.

How to Create a Comment Category

Step 1: Navigate to Report Card Comments

Go to:

Settings → Grades → Report Card Comments

The Report Card Comments page displays existing categories and comments.

Step 2: Click Add

Select the Add button.

The category creation form will open.

Step 3: Enter the Category Title

In the Title field, enter a descriptive category name.

Examples:

• Academic Performance
• Behavior
• Participation
• Attendance
• Effort
• Citizenship

Choose names that clearly identify the purpose of the category.

Step 4: Save

Click Save.

The category is created and becomes available for organizing report card comments.

Organizing Categories Effectively

When creating categories, keep them broad enough to hold multiple comments but specific enough to help teachers locate feedback quickly.

Good Category Examples:

• Academic Performance
• Behavior
• Participation
• Attendance

Poor Category Examples:

• Excellent Participation During Science Labs on Fridays

Categories should remain simple and easy to understand.

Building Your Comment Library

Most schools create categories first and then add comments under each category.

Typical workflow:

1. Create Comment Categories
2. Add Report Card Comments
3. Organize Comments by Category
4. Review and Approve Comments
5. Make Comments Available to Teachers

This approach keeps the comment library organized from the beginning.

Best Practices

Keep Category Names Simple

Teachers should immediately understand what type of comments belong in the category.

Avoid Duplicate Categories

Use a consistent naming convention.

Review Categories Annually

Update categories as grading and reporting requirements evolve.

Group Similar Feedback Together

Place comments with similar themes under the same category.

Think From a Teacher's Perspective

Categories should help teachers find comments quickly during busy grading periods.

Common Questions

Can I create multiple categories?

Yes. Schools can create as many categories as needed.

Can comments belong to different categories?

Comments are generally organized within a specific category for easier management.

Can categories be edited later?

Yes. Existing categories can be updated when needed.

Can I delete unused categories?

Yes. Unused categories can be removed if they are no longer required.