Behavior Management

Crafting the Perfect Comment: 9 Tips for Improved Behavior

It’s time to learn how to give constructive feedback like a behavior pro.

By
The Liveschool Team

1. Create criteria.

When do you leave a comment? Ask yourself  – Do the parents need to know about this? Is a comment needed in order for someone else to understand the situation?

2. Be specific.

Try to incorporate concrete examples whenever possible. Instead of “Not prepared”, let parents know that your student forgot to get her textbook from her locker during transition time. You don’t have to comment on everything students do in class – quality is better than quantity!

3. Stick to the facts.

Explain what happened without judgment. It’s easier for parents and students to focus on concrete facts when they’re not on the defensive.

4. Stay positive!

A positive tone can change how students and parents receive your feedback. Try replacing “Don’t” and “You didn’t” with “Please remember to.” Instead of “Don’t shout out answers during class,” try “Remember to raise your hand! 🙂”

5. Let students know the effect of their actions.

Students will be more likely to remember your feedback if you tell them why their behavior is important. For example, “Please raise your hand so all our teammates get an equal chance to participate.”

6. Use positive emojis.

Don’t be afraid to add a little flavor to your notes! ⭐️👍🏿👏🏽🤗🎈🎉

7. Include helpful details.

Provide those extra details that help parents support their child. For instance, a comment like “Please remember to bring materials to class” leaves parents 🤔. Details help parents take action – ”Please remember to bring your copy of Lord of the Flies!”

8. Don’t refer to other students.

Keep your notes focused on the person and situation at hand, and avoid mentioning other students by name for privacy.

9. Praise improvements.

Recognize those positive changes in behavior, however small! It’s motivating for students to know that their efforts will be recognized, and parents love knowing that their child is moving in the right direction – even if there’s still more improvement needed.

Your students and parents are going to love getting your comments. The extra time you invest is going to help your students reflect and improve – saving you time in the long term. Happy commenting!

Find PBIS Rewards that Students Love to Earn

Explore 100+ ideas from schools like yours.

See All PBIS Rewards
Find PBIS Matrix Ideas

Explore school-wide behavior expectations from other schools.

See PBIS Matrix Ideas
Find House Points Inspiration

The best Houses reflect your school’s unique culture. Browse examples from real schools and start brainstorming your House system!

Show Me Ideas
Simplify PBIS
Say goodbye to paper.

Track behavior, motivate students, and promote a positive culture — all in one easy platform.

Learn More

Behavior comments give parents a glimpse into their children’s school life. It’s an invaluable tool to help students reflect, keep parents in the loop, and jog your own memory when preparing for parent conferences. Here are tips to make your comments as valuable as possible!

1. Create criteria.

When do you leave a comment? Ask yourself  – Do the parents need to know about this? Is a comment needed in order for someone else to understand the situation?

2. Be specific.

Try to incorporate concrete examples whenever possible. Instead of “Not prepared”, let parents know that your student forgot to get her textbook from her locker during transition time. You don’t have to comment on everything students do in class – quality is better than quantity!

3. Stick to the facts.

Explain what happened without judgment. It’s easier for parents and students to focus on concrete facts when they’re not on the defensive.

4. Stay positive!

A positive tone can change how students and parents receive your feedback. Try replacing “Don’t” and “You didn’t” with “Please remember to.” Instead of “Don’t shout out answers during class,” try “Remember to raise your hand! 🙂”

5. Let students know the effect of their actions.

Students will be more likely to remember your feedback if you tell them why their behavior is important. For example, “Please raise your hand so all our teammates get an equal chance to participate.”

6. Use positive emojis.

Don’t be afraid to add a little flavor to your notes! ⭐️👍🏿👏🏽🤗🎈🎉

7. Include helpful details.

Provide those extra details that help parents support their child. For instance, a comment like “Please remember to bring materials to class” leaves parents 🤔. Details help parents take action – ”Please remember to bring your copy of Lord of the Flies!”

8. Don’t refer to other students.

Keep your notes focused on the person and situation at hand, and avoid mentioning other students by name for privacy.

9. Praise improvements.

Recognize those positive changes in behavior, however small! It’s motivating for students to know that their efforts will be recognized, and parents love knowing that their child is moving in the right direction – even if there’s still more improvement needed.

Your students and parents are going to love getting your comments. The extra time you invest is going to help your students reflect and improve – saving you time in the long term. Happy commenting!

Heading 1

Heading 2

Heading 3

Heading 4

Heading 5
Heading 6

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.

Block quote

Ordered list

  1. Item 1
  2. Item 2
  3. Item 3

Unordered list

  • Item A
  • Item B
  • Item C

Text link

Bold text

Emphasis

Superscript

Subscript

Find PBIS Rewards that Students Love to Earn

Explore 100+ ideas from schools like yours.

See All PBIS Rewards
Find PBIS Matrix Ideas

Explore school-wide behavior expectations from other schools.

See PBIS Matrix Ideas
Find House Points Inspiration

The best Houses reflect your school’s unique culture. Browse examples from real schools and start brainstorming your House system!

Show Me Ideas
Simplify PBIS
Say goodbye to paper.

Track behavior, motivate students, and promote a positive culture — all in one easy platform.

Learn More

1. Create criteria.

When do you leave a comment? Ask yourself  – Do the parents need to know about this? Is a comment needed in order for someone else to understand the situation?

2. Be specific.

Try to incorporate concrete examples whenever possible. Instead of “Not prepared”, let parents know that your student forgot to get her textbook from her locker during transition time. You don’t have to comment on everything students do in class – quality is better than quantity!

3. Stick to the facts.

Explain what happened without judgment. It’s easier for parents and students to focus on concrete facts when they’re not on the defensive.

4. Stay positive!

A positive tone can change how students and parents receive your feedback. Try replacing “Don’t” and “You didn’t” with “Please remember to.” Instead of “Don’t shout out answers during class,” try “Remember to raise your hand! 🙂”

5. Let students know the effect of their actions.

Students will be more likely to remember your feedback if you tell them why their behavior is important. For example, “Please raise your hand so all our teammates get an equal chance to participate.”

6. Use positive emojis.

Don’t be afraid to add a little flavor to your notes! ⭐️👍🏿👏🏽🤗🎈🎉

7. Include helpful details.

Provide those extra details that help parents support their child. For instance, a comment like “Please remember to bring materials to class” leaves parents 🤔. Details help parents take action – ”Please remember to bring your copy of Lord of the Flies!”

8. Don’t refer to other students.

Keep your notes focused on the person and situation at hand, and avoid mentioning other students by name for privacy.

9. Praise improvements.

Recognize those positive changes in behavior, however small! It’s motivating for students to know that their efforts will be recognized, and parents love knowing that their child is moving in the right direction – even if there’s still more improvement needed.

Your students and parents are going to love getting your comments. The extra time you invest is going to help your students reflect and improve – saving you time in the long term. Happy commenting!

Find PBIS Rewards that Students Love to Earn

Explore 100+ ideas from schools like yours.

See All PBIS Rewards
Find PBIS Matrix Ideas

Explore school-wide behavior expectations from other schools.

See PBIS Matrix Ideas
Find House Points Inspiration

The best Houses reflect your school’s unique culture. Browse examples from real schools and start brainstorming your House system!

Show Me Ideas
Simplify PBIS
Say goodbye to paper.

Track behavior, motivate students, and promote a positive culture — all in one easy platform.

Learn More

About the Event

1. Create criteria.

When do you leave a comment? Ask yourself  – Do the parents need to know about this? Is a comment needed in order for someone else to understand the situation?

2. Be specific.

Try to incorporate concrete examples whenever possible. Instead of “Not prepared”, let parents know that your student forgot to get her textbook from her locker during transition time. You don’t have to comment on everything students do in class – quality is better than quantity!

3. Stick to the facts.

Explain what happened without judgment. It’s easier for parents and students to focus on concrete facts when they’re not on the defensive.

4. Stay positive!

A positive tone can change how students and parents receive your feedback. Try replacing “Don’t” and “You didn’t” with “Please remember to.” Instead of “Don’t shout out answers during class,” try “Remember to raise your hand! 🙂”

5. Let students know the effect of their actions.

Students will be more likely to remember your feedback if you tell them why their behavior is important. For example, “Please raise your hand so all our teammates get an equal chance to participate.”

6. Use positive emojis.

Don’t be afraid to add a little flavor to your notes! ⭐️👍🏿👏🏽🤗🎈🎉

7. Include helpful details.

Provide those extra details that help parents support their child. For instance, a comment like “Please remember to bring materials to class” leaves parents 🤔. Details help parents take action – ”Please remember to bring your copy of Lord of the Flies!”

8. Don’t refer to other students.

Keep your notes focused on the person and situation at hand, and avoid mentioning other students by name for privacy.

9. Praise improvements.

Recognize those positive changes in behavior, however small! It’s motivating for students to know that their efforts will be recognized, and parents love knowing that their child is moving in the right direction – even if there’s still more improvement needed.

Your students and parents are going to love getting your comments. The extra time you invest is going to help your students reflect and improve – saving you time in the long term. Happy commenting!

Register Now

About the Event

1. Create criteria.

When do you leave a comment? Ask yourself  – Do the parents need to know about this? Is a comment needed in order for someone else to understand the situation?

2. Be specific.

Try to incorporate concrete examples whenever possible. Instead of “Not prepared”, let parents know that your student forgot to get her textbook from her locker during transition time. You don’t have to comment on everything students do in class – quality is better than quantity!

3. Stick to the facts.

Explain what happened without judgment. It’s easier for parents and students to focus on concrete facts when they’re not on the defensive.

4. Stay positive!

A positive tone can change how students and parents receive your feedback. Try replacing “Don’t” and “You didn’t” with “Please remember to.” Instead of “Don’t shout out answers during class,” try “Remember to raise your hand! 🙂”

5. Let students know the effect of their actions.

Students will be more likely to remember your feedback if you tell them why their behavior is important. For example, “Please raise your hand so all our teammates get an equal chance to participate.”

6. Use positive emojis.

Don’t be afraid to add a little flavor to your notes! ⭐️👍🏿👏🏽🤗🎈🎉

7. Include helpful details.

Provide those extra details that help parents support their child. For instance, a comment like “Please remember to bring materials to class” leaves parents 🤔. Details help parents take action – ”Please remember to bring your copy of Lord of the Flies!”

8. Don’t refer to other students.

Keep your notes focused on the person and situation at hand, and avoid mentioning other students by name for privacy.

9. Praise improvements.

Recognize those positive changes in behavior, however small! It’s motivating for students to know that their efforts will be recognized, and parents love knowing that their child is moving in the right direction – even if there’s still more improvement needed.

Your students and parents are going to love getting your comments. The extra time you invest is going to help your students reflect and improve – saving you time in the long term. Happy commenting!

About the Presenter

You know what they teamwork makes the dream work. These articles have been written by the wonderful members of our team.

Find PBIS Rewards that Students Love to Earn

Explore 100+ ideas from schools like yours.

See All PBIS Rewards
Find PBIS Matrix Ideas

Explore school-wide behavior expectations from other schools.

See PBIS Matrix Ideas
Find House Points Inspiration

The best Houses reflect your school’s unique culture. Browse examples from real schools and start brainstorming your House system!

Show Me Ideas
Simplify PBIS
Say goodbye to paper.

Track behavior, motivate students, and promote a positive culture — all in one easy platform.

Learn More

Behavior comments give parents a glimpse into their children’s school life. It’s an invaluable tool to help students reflect, keep parents in the loop, and jog your own memory when preparing for parent conferences. Here are tips to make your comments as valuable as possible!

1. Create criteria.

When do you leave a comment? Ask yourself  – Do the parents need to know about this? Is a comment needed in order for someone else to understand the situation?

2. Be specific.

Try to incorporate concrete examples whenever possible. Instead of “Not prepared”, let parents know that your student forgot to get her textbook from her locker during transition time. You don’t have to comment on everything students do in class – quality is better than quantity!

3. Stick to the facts.

Explain what happened without judgment. It’s easier for parents and students to focus on concrete facts when they’re not on the defensive.

4. Stay positive!

A positive tone can change how students and parents receive your feedback. Try replacing “Don’t” and “You didn’t” with “Please remember to.” Instead of “Don’t shout out answers during class,” try “Remember to raise your hand! 🙂”

5. Let students know the effect of their actions.

Students will be more likely to remember your feedback if you tell them why their behavior is important. For example, “Please raise your hand so all our teammates get an equal chance to participate.”

6. Use positive emojis.

Don’t be afraid to add a little flavor to your notes! ⭐️👍🏿👏🏽🤗🎈🎉

7. Include helpful details.

Provide those extra details that help parents support their child. For instance, a comment like “Please remember to bring materials to class” leaves parents 🤔. Details help parents take action – ”Please remember to bring your copy of Lord of the Flies!”

8. Don’t refer to other students.

Keep your notes focused on the person and situation at hand, and avoid mentioning other students by name for privacy.

9. Praise improvements.

Recognize those positive changes in behavior, however small! It’s motivating for students to know that their efforts will be recognized, and parents love knowing that their child is moving in the right direction – even if there’s still more improvement needed.

Your students and parents are going to love getting your comments. The extra time you invest is going to help your students reflect and improve – saving you time in the long term. Happy commenting!

Learn more about the author, 
The Liveschool Team
 
Find PBIS Rewards that Students Love to Earn

Explore 100+ ideas from schools like yours.

See All PBIS Rewards
Find PBIS Matrix Ideas

Explore school-wide behavior expectations from other schools.

See PBIS Matrix Ideas
Find House Points Inspiration

The best Houses reflect your school’s unique culture. Browse examples from real schools and start brainstorming your House system!

Show Me Ideas
Simplify PBIS
Say goodbye to paper.

Track behavior, motivate students, and promote a positive culture — all in one easy platform.

Learn More

Behavior comments give parents a glimpse into their children’s school life. It’s an invaluable tool to help students reflect, keep parents in the loop, and jog your own memory when preparing for parent conferences. Here are tips to make your comments as valuable as possible!

1. Create criteria.

When do you leave a comment? Ask yourself  – Do the parents need to know about this? Is a comment needed in order for someone else to understand the situation?

2. Be specific.

Try to incorporate concrete examples whenever possible. Instead of “Not prepared”, let parents know that your student forgot to get her textbook from her locker during transition time. You don’t have to comment on everything students do in class – quality is better than quantity!

3. Stick to the facts.

Explain what happened without judgment. It’s easier for parents and students to focus on concrete facts when they’re not on the defensive.

4. Stay positive!

A positive tone can change how students and parents receive your feedback. Try replacing “Don’t” and “You didn’t” with “Please remember to.” Instead of “Don’t shout out answers during class,” try “Remember to raise your hand! 🙂”

5. Let students know the effect of their actions.

Students will be more likely to remember your feedback if you tell them why their behavior is important. For example, “Please raise your hand so all our teammates get an equal chance to participate.”

6. Use positive emojis.

Don’t be afraid to add a little flavor to your notes! ⭐️👍🏿👏🏽🤗🎈🎉

7. Include helpful details.

Provide those extra details that help parents support their child. For instance, a comment like “Please remember to bring materials to class” leaves parents 🤔. Details help parents take action – ”Please remember to bring your copy of Lord of the Flies!”

8. Don’t refer to other students.

Keep your notes focused on the person and situation at hand, and avoid mentioning other students by name for privacy.

9. Praise improvements.

Recognize those positive changes in behavior, however small! It’s motivating for students to know that their efforts will be recognized, and parents love knowing that their child is moving in the right direction – even if there’s still more improvement needed.

Your students and parents are going to love getting your comments. The extra time you invest is going to help your students reflect and improve – saving you time in the long term. Happy commenting!

Learn more about the author, 
The Liveschool Team
 

Bring a positive culture to life with school-wide points

Schedule a Demo

See PBIS Matrix Ideas

See All PBIS Rewards

See House Points ideas

Learn More about LiveSchool