Everyday English · School updates in Ontario: reading a fall progress report, booking a parent–teacher interview time slot, talking about strengths and next steps, and following up at home.
Parent–Teacher Interviews: 18 Everyday English Words
Learn the words on a report card and at a parent–teacher interview, such as progress report, learning skills, strength, next step, goal and time slot.
What to do
In the fall, many families in Ontario get a first update from school. The Ontario government says students in Grades 1 to 8 receive a fall progress report card between October 20 and November 20, a first report card between January 20 and February 20, and a second report card in June. School boards set the exact dates.
The fall progress report does not give marks. Instead, it says how a student is progressing in each subject: very well, well or with difficulty. It also lists strengths, which are things the student does well, and next steps, which are things to work on. Later report cards for Grades 1 to 6 use letter grades.
Report cards also describe learning skills, the habits that help you learn. The Ontario government lists six: responsibility, organization, independent work, collaboration, initiative and self-regulation.
Around report-card time, many schools hold parent–teacher interviews. Families book a short time slot, meet the teacher in person or by video call, and talk about goals. The words are here so you understand them when you hear them, not to memorise in one day.
Core everyday words
report card
noun phrase · ri-PORT KARDa written report from the school that shows how a student is doing in each subject
Example: Our report card comes home in a sealed envelope.
progress report
noun phrase · PROG-res ri-PORTa report partway through the year that shows how a student is doing so far
Example: The fall progress report said I am reading very well.
parent–teacher interview
noun phrase · PAIR-unt TEE-chur IN-tur-vyooa short meeting where a parent and teacher talk about how a student is doing
Example: Mom has a parent–teacher interview on Thursday evening.
time slot
noun phrase · TIME SLOTa short period of time that is saved for one meeting
Example: We booked the 6:20 time slot.
learning skills
noun phrase (plural) · LUR-ning SKILZhabits that help you learn, such as being organized, working on your own and working with others
Example: My learning skills section says I work well in a group.
strength
noun · STRENGKTHsomething a person is good at
Example: Asking good questions is one of your strengths.
next step
noun phrase · NEKST STEPthe thing to work on next to keep improving
Example: My next step is to check my spelling before I hand in my work.
goal
noun · GOHLsomething you are trying to do or reach
Example: My goal this term is to read twenty minutes every night.
comment
noun · KOM-enta few sentences a teacher writes to explain how a student is doing
Example: Read the teacher's comment under each subject.
letter grade
noun phrase · LET-ur GRAYDa mark shown as a letter, such as A, B or C
Example: In Grade 4, report cards use letter grades.
attendance
noun · uh-TEN-dunsshow often a student is at school and on time
Example: The report card shows attendance: days absent and times late.
homework
noun · HOHM-wurkschool work that you do at home
Example: We talked about how much homework to do each night.
agenda
noun · uh-JEN-duha small book where students write homework and notes between home and school
Example: Please check my agenda for the field trip note.
signature
noun · SIG-nuh-churyour name written in your own handwriting to show you have read or agreed
Example: The return slip needs a parent's signature.
improve
verb · im-PROOVto get better at something
Example: Your writing has improved since September.
effort
noun · EF-urthow hard you try
Example: The teacher noticed my effort in math.
responsibility
noun · rih-spon-suh-BIL-ih-teedoing what you are supposed to do, such as finishing work and bringing what you need
Example: Handing in work on time shows responsibility.
collaboration
noun · kuh-lab-uh-RAY-shunworking well with other people to get something done
Example: Our science project took good collaboration.
Recognise the word
Recognise the word
Choose the meaning or the word that fits.
1. What is a time slot?
- a slot in the classroom door for notes
- a short period of time saved for one meeting
- the time school starts
- a box on the report card
2. What does a teacher's comment on a report card usually do?
- It lists the class rules.
- It shows the bus schedule.
- It explains in sentences how the student is doing.
- It gives the price of the field trip.
3. Which of these is a learning skill?
- math
- recess
- collaboration
- the gym
4. "One of your strengths is explaining your thinking." What is a strength?
- something you find very hard
- a mark out of ten
- a rule you must follow
- something you are good at
5. What does the attendance part of a report card show?
- how many books the student read
- how tall the student is
- how many friends the student has
- how many days the student was absent or late
Use the word in a situation
Use the word in a situation
Think about what families and teachers really say.
6. "Your ___ is to read twenty minutes every night this term."
- signature
- attendance
- goal
- agenda
7. "Please sign the return slip. The teacher needs a parent's ___."
- comment
- signature
- strength
- homework
8. "Your ___ is to check your spelling before you hand in your work."
- next step
- report card
- time slot
- attendance
9. "Your reading has really improved since September." What does the teacher mean?
- Your reading has stayed the same.
- You read less now.
- Your reading has got better.
- You need a new book.
10. "Write the homework in your ___ so we can see it at home."
- agenda
- letter grade
- progress report
- collaboration
Quick-check answers
- 1. a short period of time saved for one meeting
A time slot is the booked time for one meeting, such as 6:20 to 6:30. It is not a mail slot, the start of the school day or a part of the report card. - 2. It explains in sentences how the student is doing.
A comment is a few sentences about the student's learning. Rules, bus times and trip costs come in other school notes. - 3. collaboration
Collaboration, working well with others, is one of the learning skills. Math is a subject, recess is break time, and the gym is a place. - 4. something you are good at
A strength is something a person does well. Something hard to do would be a next step, and a strength is not a mark or a rule. - 5. how many days the student was absent or late
Attendance is about being at school and on time. Books read might be in a reading log, not attendance. - 6. goal
A goal is something you are trying to reach. A signature is a written name, attendance is about being at school, and an agenda is a notebook. - 7. signature
A parent signs a form to show they have read it, so the teacher needs a signature. A comment is what the teacher writes, not the parent's name. - 8. next step
A next step is the thing to work on to keep improving. The other words are a document, a meeting time and a record of days at school. - 9. Your reading has got better.
Improve means get better. The sentence does not say reading stayed the same, went down or needs a new book. - 10. agenda
An agenda is the small book for homework and notes between home and school. A letter grade is a mark, a progress report comes from the school, and collaboration is working with others.