Learning skills comments

All six learning skills, at all four marks. Reported separately from achievement, because a late assignment is a work habit and not a measure of what a student knows.

Written by a practising Ontario teacher · Last reviewed: September 2026

Why these are separate from the mark

Learning skills are reported on their own scale for a reason that is easy to state and easy to forget: an achievement mark is meant to describe what a student knows and can do. Deducting from it for lateness makes it describe something else, and a parent reading it can no longer tell which.

That is why lateness belongs under Responsibility, effort belongs under Independent Work, and the mark stays a mark.

Responsibility

E — Excellent

Alex takes full responsibility for their learning and follows through on every commitment.
G — Good

Alex is reliable and completes what they have agreed to do.
S — Satisfactory

Alex meets most deadlines, though some work arrives late.
N — Needs Improvement

Completing and submitting work on time is the area where Alex needs the most support.

Organization

E — Excellent

Alex manages time and materials exceptionally well, and is always ready to begin.
G — Good

Alex keeps track of deadlines and materials with little reminding.
S — Satisfactory

Alex is generally organised, but sometimes arrives without required materials.
N — Needs Improvement

A consistent system for tracking assignments would help Alex a great deal.

Independent Work

E — Excellent

Alex works independently for sustained periods and uses class time purposefully.
G — Good

Alex works well on their own and stays focused on the task.
S — Satisfactory

Alex works independently with occasional redirection.
N — Needs Improvement

Alex needs frequent prompting to begin and to stay with a task.

Collaboration

E — Excellent

Alex is a genuinely valuable group member who draws out the ideas of others.
G — Good

Alex works well with classmates and contributes their share.
S — Satisfactory

Alex participates in group work and is beginning to take a more active role.
N — Needs Improvement

Working alongside classmates, rather than separately from them, is a next step for Alex.

Initiative

E — Excellent

Alex seeks out challenge and pursues questions beyond what is assigned.
G — Good

Alex approaches new tasks willingly and asks good questions.
S — Satisfactory

Alex engages with tasks once the work is underway.
N — Needs Improvement

Volunteering an idea, or asking a question when something is unclear, would serve Alex well.

Self-Regulation

E — Excellent

Alex sets goals, monitors their own progress and adjusts their approach thoughtfully.
G — Good

Alex recognises where they are struggling and seeks help appropriately.
S — Satisfactory

Alex responds well to feedback and is beginning to self-assess.
N — Needs Improvement

Noticing when a strategy is not working, and trying another, is where Alex can grow most.

Or let the gradebook write it

These sentences do not know your students. Your gradebook does.

A bank can only offer you a level. Level Up Classroom writes the comment from what it already holds for that student — their category averages, the strand they are weakest in, the assignments still outstanding, their learning skill marks — so the comment names the actual reason rather than the general one.

You review and edit every comment before it goes anywhere, and student names are replaced with placeholders before any text reaches the AI, so a child’s name never leaves your browser.

Try it free See how it works →

A gradebook that does this for you

Level Up Classroom tracks achievement and learning skills together, and drafts report card comments from the marks you have already entered. Free to start.

Try it free