Grade 5 English language arts report card comments - Manitoba

12 sample Grade 5 English language arts comments for Manitoba's Provincial Report Card, from Level 4 to Level 1: 6 strengths and 6 next steps. Adapt any sentence to what you have seen in class, or write them for your whole class in the free Studio.

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Sample comments

Shown with the sample name Sam and they/them. The Studio uses your student's first name and pronoun.

A curriculum chip shows the expectation a sentence names. It is for your reference and stays off the report card.

Level 4: Very good to excellent

Strength. Sam sums up the main points of talks and videos accurately. Their presentations are clear and engaging. ELA framework (2020), Language as Sense Making: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.82 (section, not a code): view, and listen ELA framework (2020), Language as Exploration and Design: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.86 (section, not a code): for different audiences. Written for Grades 4-6
Strength. Sam writes strong paragraphs with clear topic sentences. In persuasive writing, they can state a position and back it with evidence. ELA framework (2020), Language as System: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.84 (section, not a code): writing (e.g., paragraphs ELA framework (2020), Language as Power and Agency: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.88 (section, not a code): ideas and opinions. Written for Grades 4-6
Next step. A next step is to study a short ad or news clip. Sam can then show how its images and words work together to persuade. ELA framework (2020), Language as Exploration and Design: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.87 (section, not a code): visual, oral, media ELA framework (2020), Language as Exploration and Design: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.86 (section, not a code): for different audiences. Written for Grades 4-6

Level 3: Good

Strength. Sam reads grade-level texts with good understanding. They can reread, ask questions and make connections to other texts. ELA framework (2020), Language as Sense Making: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.81 (section, not a code): variety of strategies. Written for Grades 4-6
Next step. At home, Sam can read for twenty minutes a day and keep a list of strong words to use in their writing. ELA framework (2020), Language as Sense Making: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.81 (section, not a code): language, word choice Home tip Written for Grades 4-6
Next step. A next step is to watch a model talk and notice the speaker's pace and volume. Sam can then try those moves. ELA framework (2020), Language as Exploration and Design: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.87 (section, not a code): visual, oral, media ELA framework (2020), Language as Exploration and Design: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.86 (section, not a code): for different audiences. Written for Grades 4-6

Level 2: Basic

Strength. Sam reads familiar texts with growing accuracy. They can spell most common words correctly. ELA framework (2020), Language as System: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.85 (section, not a code): fluency, phrasing, expression ELA framework (2020), Language as System: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.83 (section, not a code): of design, spelling Written for Grades 4-6
Strength. Sam can find facts using headings and pictures. They can present information using a poster or simple slides. ELA framework (2020), Language as Sense Making: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.81 (section, not a code): use different features ELA framework (2020), Language as Exploration and Design: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.87 (section, not a code): experiences to represent Written for Grades 4-6
Next step. Sam is encouraged to plan writing with a simple organizer. It can hold one opinion, two reasons and an example for each. ELA framework (2020), Language as Power and Agency: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.88 (section, not a code): ideas and opinions. Written for Grades 4-6

Level 1: Limited

Strength. Sam can write a few sentences on a familiar topic with a model to follow. They can name a favourite story and say why. ELA framework (2020), Language as Sense Making: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.81 (section, not a code): brainstorming, mapping, drafting ELA framework (2020), Language as Power and Agency: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.88 (section, not a code): ideas and opinions. Written for Grades 4-6
Next step. At home, Sam can read together with a family member for ten minutes and write down two new words to practise. ELA framework (2020), Language as System: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.83 (section, not a code): of design, spelling Home tip Written for Grades 4-6
Next step. A next step for Sam is to read short, high-interest books daily and stop after each page to tell what happened. ELA framework (2020), Language as Sense Making: Grades 3 to 5, printed p.81 (section, not a code): variety of strategies. Written for Grades 4-6

How Manitoba reports

Grades 1 to 8 get three report cards a year: Term 1, Term 2 and a final June report.
three reporting periods: Term 1, Term 2, and a final June report
Manitoba Education, Manitoba Provincial Report Card Policy, Partners for Learning, Grades 1 to 12, Revised 2026, PDF p.8 · Source
Each category gets a level from 1 to 4.
A 1-4 ordinal scale is used to report on achievement in each subject category.
Manitoba Education, Manitoba Provincial Report Card Policy, Partners for Learning, Grades 1 to 12, Revised 2026, PDF p.19 · Source
Grades 1 to 6 have no overall subject grade.
There are no overall subject grades.
Manitoba Education, Manitoba Provincial Report Card Policy, Partners for Learning, Grades 1 to 12, Revised 2026, PDF p.19 · Source
Comments describe strengths, key challenges and practical next steps.
comments describe student strengths, key challenges, and practical, doable, and timely next steps.
Manitoba Education, Manitoba Provincial Report Card Policy, Partners for Learning, Grades 1 to 12, Revised 2026, PDF p.33 · Source

Questions teachers ask

What scale do Manitoba subjects use?

Each category gets a level from 1 to 4 (Manitoba Provincial Report Card Policy, Partners for Learning, Grades 1 to 12, Revised 2026, PDF p.19). Grades 1 to 6 have no overall subject grade (Manitoba Provincial Report Card Policy, Partners for Learning, Grades 1 to 12, Revised 2026, PDF p.19). Grades 7 and 8 add an overall percentage for each subject (Manitoba Provincial Report Card Policy, Partners for Learning, Grades 1 to 12, Revised 2026, PDF p.19). NYD means the student does not yet show the required understanding; a comment is needed (Manitoba Grades 1 to 6 Report Card template 2026-27, PDF p.1).

Are these Grade 5 English language arts comments tied to the curriculum?

All 12 comments name a skill and show the Manitoba curriculum match for Grade 5 beside the sentence. A match shows the skill is taught at this grade; judge the fit yourself.

Where do student names go?

Nowhere. Names, ratings and comments are kept in this browser's storage on your computer and are never sent to Milestone Teachers or anyone else. One button clears them.

More report card comments

Other Grade 5 subjects

English Language Arts in other grades

All Manitoba report card comments · Manitoba Studio

Contains information from the Government of Manitoba, licensed under the OpenMB Information and Data Use License (Manitoba.ca/OpenMB)

Honest limits

These are starting points to adapt; check your division's comment guidelines and word limits.
Independent resource from Milestone Teachers, not a Government of Manitoba publication. This is not a report card system: nothing is submitted anywhere, and you copy the text into your division's software yourself.

Pair it with

The Studio is free. These printable reporting resources are separate products on this site, each for the place named in its title; open a product page to see its pages, contents and licence.

Manitoba Report Season Kit — Grades 1–8: Four resources in one download for the Manitoba report card, Grades 1–8: an 18-page evidence organizer, a 14-page C, U, S, R tracker, 588 subject comments and 110 Learning Skills comments.