On Personality Traits

As I'm clearing out my apartment, I'm coming across some fun stuff, including my elementary school report cards (including teacher comments), and it's funny how some things never change. In Kindergarten, I had one teacher, but for subsequent years, the comments are given by both the French and English teachers at the end of each term. I've provided a selection here:



KINDERGARTEN:

"well-adjusted to school and class routine"
"gets along well with her peers, though at times she tends to be a little 'bossy.' With time, she will learn to use this more positively"
"a happy verbal little girl"
"French oral skills are very good"
"very motivated to learn to read as she had grasped reading mechanisms"
"Has surpassed all objectives for Grade 1"

BONUS:
Notes on the back in my Mum's handwriting:
Do you think her lisp will be detrimental in pronouncing French words? Should CHEO forms be sent in
Does she show signs of being bored?
DO you consider yourself a hard marker?



GRADE 1:

Sorry, this year's report is missing - Oh well!



GRADE 2:

"Excels in writing original stories, also in dong artistic work"
"Most of the time, Leah is pleasant and friendly"
"Always willing to share her stories and information with her classmates"
"developed very good reading skills"
"should improve her social skills in working with classmates and working in group activities"
"needs occasional reminders to stay on task"
"very sweet and creative child"
"reads well above grade level"
"I have enjoyed the way in which Leah expresses her individuality"



GRADE 3:

"works well independently"
"frequently needs to be reminded to stay on task and not fool around in class"
"She has occasionally disturbed others by teasing"
"A proficient and enthusiastic reader"
"Has difficulty focusing on her writing and needs a high level of personal motivation to produce her best work"
"She has to put more effort and interest into her work"
"Leah's written work is not indicative of her ability. She prefers to read above anything else and often has difficulty focusing on other work"
"I'm trying to help Leah become more organized"
"She is a bright girl with some very good ideas"



GRADE 4:

"Leah certainly has abilities, but because she is too often busy at doing something else, or not cooperating, these skills are not fully exploited"
"She must start working at her full potential"
"She is an interested and cheerful student"
"She has great ideas"
"Leah is encouraged to stick to challenging novels"
"Leah is a wonderful writer (...) uses descriptive language"
"has become more attentive and self-motivated"
"a strong, fluent reader - she even reads with expression"
"occasionally off task in class drawing or playing - I would like her to take writing more seriously"



GRADE 5:

"many areas could be improved in putting more efford into your work habits
"Delightful learner and good participant"
"an avid reader (particularly of science material)"
"Excellent ideas enthusiasm and very good progress in reading and writing. However, work is sloppy and projects are poorly organized and presented"
"I agree with [teacher above] regarding organization and presentation! It's been poor and deceiving! You are such a capable girl!"
"The best of luck for grade 6 (read in French)"
"I will miss your enthusiasm"



GRADE 6:

"doing well in all areas of French program"
"with more concentration on the task on hand, your results will improve"
"an enthusiastic student"
"creative, cooperative and a helpful addition"
"must work on keeping her desk and working area tidy and organized"
"continues to be a diligent student with a keen interest"
"must keep working at keeping herself organized"
"makes careless mistakes because of her rush to finish"
"You are very special!"


It's funny how even as an adult some of these things are still problems in my life. I'm disorganized and untidy (my desk at work will attest to that), I'm enthusiastic and keenly interested in the world around me, I love to read and write (but only on my own terms), and my motivation is extremely variable (but when it's on, great things happen!)