Ontario learning skills and work habits on the report card, explained for parents
Alongside the marks for each subject, Ontario report cards rate six learning skills and work habits: responsibility, organization, independent work, collaboration, initiative and self-regulation. They are reported separately from achievement, so a student can do well in math and still be working on organization, or the other way around. Teachers rate each skill as Excellent, Good, Satisfactory or Needs Improvement and may add a comment.
Responsibility
Doing what you said you would do, and owning your choices.
Ideas for home
- Give your child one regular job at home and let them keep track of it.
- When something goes wrong, ask “What can we do to fix it?” instead of “Whose fault is it?”
- Let them pack their own school bag the night before.
Organization
Making a plan, using time well and keeping track of materials.
Ideas for home
- Use a simple weekly calendar or checklist for homework and activities.
- Break a big project into small steps, and set a mini-deadline for each one.
- Pick a home for school things (a hook, a bin) so they are easy to find.
Independent Work
Working on a task without needing constant reminders.
Ideas for home
- Start a task together, then step away and check back in a few minutes.
- Let your child try a tricky problem first, and ask “What have you tried?” before helping.
- Praise the habit: “You stuck with that on your own.”
Collaboration
Working well with others, sharing ideas and solving disagreements kindly.
Ideas for home
- Cook, build or play a board game together and talk about how you shared the jobs.
- Ask your child how they would feel if the roles were switched when there is a disagreement.
- Invite a friend over for a shared project, such as a fort, a poster or a recipe.
Initiative
Being curious, trying new things and starting without being told.
Ideas for home
- Follow your child's questions. Look the answer up together or try a small experiment.
- Let them choose a new thing to try each month, such as a recipe, a book or a game.
- Celebrate a try, even when it does not work the first time.
Self-Regulation
Setting goals, noticing how you are doing, asking for help and not giving up.
Ideas for home
- Help your child set one small goal for the week and check in on it together.
- Name the feeling and the plan: “You are frustrated. What could help?”
- Talk about what to do when stuck, such as taking a break, trying a different way or asking for help.
Common questions
Are learning skills part of my child's marks?
No. They are reported separately from achievement in each subject. The marks show how well your child is meeting the curriculum expectations, and the learning skills show how they go about their learning.
What are the Ontario learning skills and work habits?
There are six: responsibility, organization, independent work, collaboration, initiative and self-regulation. Teachers rate each one as Excellent (E), Good (G), Satisfactory (S) or Needs Improvement (N).
Are learning skills reported in Kindergarten?
Kindergarten families receive written communications of learning, which describe how a child is growing in areas such as belonging, self-regulation and problem solving, instead of the rating scale used in Grades 1 to 8.
Does Gradelings measure learning skills?
No. Gradelings practises subject skills and shows how they match the four Ontario levels. Learning skills grow through routines, conversation and teamwork, so we suggest home activities rather than scores.
How can I help if my child gets a Needs Improvement?
Ask the teacher for one specific example and one thing to try at home, then pick a single skill to work on. A small, steady habit, such as a packing checklist or a daily ten-minute start-up routine, works better than trying to fix everything at once.
Next: understand the Ontario report card levels or browse all Ontario parent guides. Gradelings practises subject skills; Learning skills grow through routines, projects, teamwork and play.
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Curriculum-matched practice for Kindergarten to Grade 9 in British Columbia and Ontario, with kind hints, learning games and no ads. Free for 30 days, no card needed.