Part 20 of 24 in School Is Not Education← Part 19Part 21 →
This chapter introduces a one-page dashboard for parents to track their child's learning progress. It provides a structured approach to assess foundational skills, retention, transfer, learning habits, portfolio evidence, and agency.
- Assess reading, writing, and mathematics skills to determine mastery levels.
- Evaluate retention of concepts learned in the previous month.
- Test the child's ability to apply learned concepts to new problems.
- Rate learning habits with evidence and a scoring system.
- Collect portfolio evidence showcasing pride, improvement, and collaboration.
A Parent’s One-Page Learning Dashboard
Use this once a month. Keep it short enough that you will actually use it.
1. Foundational mastery
• Reading: What level of text can the child read fluently and explain?
• Writing: Can the child express an idea clearly for the intended audience?
• Mathematics: Which concepts are secure? Which still require hints?
2. Retention
• Which concepts learned last month can the child still retrieve without notes?
• Which ones have faded and need spaced review?
3. Transfer
• Give one unfamiliar problem. Can the child recognise which ideas apply?
• Can the child give a real-world example of a concept?
4. Learning habits
Rate 1–5, with one sentence of evidence:
• Starts work without repeated prompting
• Persists when confused
• Asks useful questions
• Uses hints before asking for answers
• Revises after feedback
• Plans multi-step work
5. Portfolio evidence
• One piece the child is proud of
• One piece showing improvement after revision
• One project involving collaboration or the real world
6. Agency
Ask the child:
• What are you getting better at?
• What is still difficult?
• What do you want to learn next?
• What help do you need from me?
Frequently asked questions
What is a learning dashboard?
A learning dashboard is a tool for parents to track and assess their child's educational progress across various skills and habits.
How often should the learning dashboard be used?
The learning dashboard should be used once a month to effectively monitor and support the child's learning journey.
What areas does the learning dashboard cover?
The dashboard covers foundational mastery, retention, transfer, learning habits, portfolio evidence, and agency.
How can parents use the learning dashboard to help their child?
Parents can use the dashboard to identify areas of strength and difficulty, guide discussions, and plan support for their child's learning needs.