Can visualising your progress change how you go about your learning journey?
In tutoring, the reasoning behind writing a report after each lesson is not just about ticking boxes and logging what has been taught. Reports are indispensable tools which help parents, students and tutors alike stay aligned in their goals. At Titanium Tutors, our tutors provide regular lesson reports which are accessible at any time so that parents can stay connected to their child’s growth.
A well-rounded report provides a clear and structured snapshot of not only the lesson itself, but also the student’s progress thus far. This informative piece of the puzzle helps parents and tutors understand what is and isn’t working. Measuring progress effectively means tutors can be prepared when they come to adapt to their student’s specific learning needs.
But what makes a report truly impactful? And how does this encourage a student’s success?
Crafting an Effective Report
A comprehensive lesson report should go beyond basic details. In a nutshell, three key components need to be taken into consideration: what content was covered, what progress the student made, and the plan for future sessions. Considerations for adjustments to teaching strategies are also particularly beneficial for students with SEND as well!
Content Covered: Summarise the material and topics addressed in each session and offer context on what the student engaged with. Consider how the lesson connects to the student’s broader learning goals and curriculum expectations.
Progress Made: Highlight specific achievements and skill development evident during the lesson and use curriculum guidelines to tailor your language. By avoiding general statements like ‘Student A did well’, you give the student a deeper insight into what progress they made and what they may need to consolidate. For example, if the lesson was one covering poetry, address how “Student A identified poetic devices with ease” or “developed their analytical skills from the previous lesson”.
Showing progress can be particularly challenging for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) because they tend to make progress in very individual ways, and sometimes in very small increments. Keep this in mind when writing this section of your report.
Further Considerations: Outline a clear, forward-looking plan to build on the current progress of your student. This is an opportunity for you and the student to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning environment, bridge gaps and consolidate knowledge in future lessons.
Enhancing Student Outcomes
Effective reports give practical tips and focus on specific achievements and improvement areas, which are meaningful and actionable for both students and parents. At Titanium Tutors, beyond basic lesson reports, tutors are free to add further layers to reporting outcomes and share these with parents and students personally. Goal setting and tracking fosters an environment where students feel supported and where students can be active participants in the learning process; this in turn better equips tutors to provide valuable feedback and teach effectively.
What educators should track depends first and foremost on the content area and level taught. This educational organisation shares a list of examples of student-centered tracking including objective mastery percentages, time spent reading, and more - importantly, be creative and decide what might work best with your students! In fact, students who create their own goals and work with their teachers to achieve them take ownership of their learning and go on to see better outcomes.
Applying Report Considerations to Your Lessons Effectively
I’ve spoken before about the importance of formative and summative assessment and how monitoring student progress by checking for understanding helps you determine gaps in their learning and adjust your teaching to better meet their needs.
Once you’ve documented what needs to be consolidated in your lesson reports, use this to tailor your lesson planning and adjust your lesson focus accordingly. If the reports indicate that a student struggles with a particular concept, pinpoint the root of the problem and devote more time to reinforcing this; alternatively, if they’re progressing well, consider more challenging material or focus on topic mastery.
Lesson reports are collaborative tools for growth. Drafting a report is not just an arduous task, but a critical tool to fuel success for everyone!
Blog Post Crafted by Cheryl
Cheryl manages our Admin Team, and is a qualified teacher with 5 years' experience in schools across England and Canada.
Cheryl graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Education. She tutored secondary school students in English for over nine years in Canada.
Cheryl speaks Cantonese, English and French, and in her spare time, she can be found illustrating and reading children’s books for inspiration.
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