Teachers supporting teachers: Series 2, Episode 4 - Report writing and strengths
Teachers supporting teachers: Series 2, Episode 4
Report writing and strengths
Assessment and reporting are a key aspect to the role of a teacher. Writing school reports is a is an integral part of this but it is something that is often, well to be honest, discussed in a way that frames the task as negative, something extra that has to be done and is often completed at the last minute and on weekends. This rhetoric diminishes the importance of report writing and the purpose which is to celebrate and contribute to the growth of each learner. In this episode we welcome back Leesa Downes, a teacher and early childhood expert who talks about assessment and reporting from a learning community perspective. She focuses on the why and how of utilising a strengths-based approach to report writing.
Throughout the episode we discuss:
What is the importance of report writing?
Why is reporting writing as teachers?
Common mistakes we make?
What happens when we approach report writing from a strength’s perspective?
What's the impact on the student and parent when we approach report writing from a strengths approach?
We talk through various strategies to approach a shifting of a lens for the students (for example when using curiosity this is what we see…or with the strength of perseverance I can see…). And we consider a strengths-based approach for teachers. Leesa inspires us to consider as a teacher how we can use different language to describe the process (for example, I can’t wait to share with parents what I am seeing in a young person or how can I elevate and shine a light on the achievements, growths and new goals being set).
As you engage with this episode think about:
How can use strengths as a way to frame your approach to assessment and reporting?
How can you use strengths to frame how you communicate learning and growth for our students that sparks possibility?
Take aways
• Create a process for daily collection of data.
• Think about what formal and informal data collection can support you.
• Generate a bank of key words and statements that can continually grow and be a resource for you.
• Find a way to start that builds from your community.
• Fine a process for yourself to be able to create a positive view for yourself when report writing. Am I reporting on the problem and does it sound like a fixing or can I use a different positive to talk about the problem and how to move forward?
• Back yourself with a positive lens approach and how you can frame growth.
• Change your language from “this is a massive problem” to “we have a challenge right now and we can approach this by…”
• Be empowered to rethink how we approach assessment and reporting that is underpinned by a positive energy informed by a strength-cased approach.
To follow up
Find out more about strengths.
Find out more about PYP or International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.