Boletines

Oh woe is me, tis the worst time of year to be a teacher (actually the second worse but no need to meet trouble half way). I am in the middle (ish) of writing student reports, known here as Boletines. I have to do them for all my students, adolescents and adults alike.

Remember how you felt at school when you got your end of year (or god-forbid end of term) report? How you looked at the marks you'd been given and the comments written about you? And how it never seemed to quite match your perception of what had happened in class? Of course, what you never thought about was the poor bloody teacher who had to write the bloody thing in the first place!

Now I can understand the reason for reports for adolescents. After all, their parents are paying for the classes but aren't in the classroom. Often the parents don't speak English so they don't really know what or how well their offspring are doing. Report cards are an efficient way of communicating this information and, with the ensuing parents' evening, following up any questions.

Reports for adults however.... yuk, yuk, yuk. I find it really uncomfortable having to write a report for someone of my age (or older), giving them grades on homework and participation. It can be helpful when highlighting skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) but I think the other parts are a little demeaning. How do you tell an adult that they aren't participating sufficiently in class, knowing that they've come to your class (at 7:30 pm) having been up since 6am, worked a full-day with a family at home to look after? Thankfully, I've already spoken to any students that I've had concerns about. You also have to avoid using the report to highlight problems for the first time. It is amazing, however, just how having to write a report brings a student into focus. Additionally, I get to talk to them individually about the report and why I've given those grades which is useful for teasing out any worries.

So forgive me if I've been a little lax recently but the whole process makes my skin crawl and I've been avoiding doing it. Still I have a day's holiday tomorrow and that's what I'll be doing. Woe is me!