🧠 Brainiac Dashboard User Guide

How to Assess Your Child's Reading & Math Skills

⚡ Quick Start (5 Minutes)

Open the dashboard and enter your child's name
Choose your mode: Teacher or Parent
Click "Start Assessment"
Go to the Reading tab and rate each skill 1-5 based on what you observe
Go to the Math tab and do the same
View the Summary Report to see results and recommendations

📋 What This Dashboard Does

The Brainiac Dashboard helps you quickly estimate your child's academic level in Reading and Math. It's not a formal standardized test—it's a practical tool for parents and teachers to:

✅ Identify your child's strengths and areas needing support
✅ Get an approximate grade-level equivalency
✅ Receive personalized learning recommendations
✅ Track progress over time with multiple assessments

👥 Teacher Mode vs. Parent Mode

👩‍🏫

Teacher Mode

Best for: Educators assessing students in a classroom or tutoring setting

Formal skill observation
Multiple students
Structured assessments
Progress monitoring

👨‍👩‍👧

Parent Mode

Best for: Parents assessing their own children at home

Informal observation
Homework help guidance
Understanding your child's level
Tracking home learning

Note: The mode selection is just a label—the assessment works the same way! Choose whichever fits your situation.

🎯 How to Test Each Skill

You don't need formal tests! Use these methods to observe what your child can do:

📚 Reading Skills Assessment

1. Letter Recognition

How to test: Point to random letters (upper and lowercase) and ask, "What letter is this?"

Materials: Alphabet chart, magnetic letters, or write letters on paper

2. Phonemic Awareness

How to test: Say a word and ask, "What sound does it start with?" or "Can you clap the syllables in 'banana'?"

Example: "What's the first sound in 'sun'?" (Answer: /s/)

3. Decoding CVC Words

How to test: Write simple 3-letter words and ask your child to read them

Examples: cat, dog, sun, run, hop, big, red

4. Reading Fluency

How to test: Have your child read a grade-level passage aloud

Observe: Do they read smoothly? Pause frequently? Sound out words? Read with expression?

5. Vocabulary Knowledge

How to test: Ask your child to define words or use them in sentences

Examples: "What does 'happy' mean?" "Can you use 'enormous' in a sentence?"

6-8. Comprehension (Main Idea, Details, Sequence)

How to test: Read a short story together, then ask questions:

Main Idea: "What was this story mostly about?"
Details: "What color was the dog?" "Where did they go?"
Sequence: "What happened first? Then what happened?"

🔢 Math Skills Assessment

1. Number Recognition

How to test: Point to numbers and ask, "What number is this?"

Materials: Number cards, write numbers 0-100 on paper

2. Counting & Skip Counting

How to test: "Count to 20" or "Count by 2s: 2, 4, 6..."

Also try: Count backward from 10, count by 5s or 10s

3. Addition & Subtraction

How to test: Give simple problems orally or on paper

Examples: "What's 3 + 4?" "If you have 8 cookies and eat 3, how many are left?"

4. Place Value

How to test: Write a number like 25 and ask, "How many tens? How many ones?"

Or: "What number has 3 tens and 7 ones?"

5. Multiplication & Division

How to test: Ask multiplication facts or division problems

Examples: "What's 6 × 3?" "If 12 cookies are shared by 4 kids, how many does each get?"

6. Fractions & Measurement

How to test: Draw a circle divided into 4 parts: "What fraction is one piece?"

Measurement: Use a ruler: "How long is this pencil?"

7. Geometry

How to test: Draw shapes and ask, "What shape is this? How many sides?"

Examples: Circle, square, triangle, rectangle, pentagon

8. Word Problems

How to test: Give real-world problems

Example: "You have $5 and buy a toy for $2. How much money do you have left?"

⭐ Understanding the 5-Point Rating Scale

After testing each skill, rate your child's ability from 1-5. Here's what each level means:

1
Not Yet

2
Beginning

3
Developing

4
Proficient

5
Mastered

Rating	What It Means	Example
1 - Not Yet	Can't do it yet, even with help	Can't identify letters at all
2 - Beginning	Can do it with lots of help and support	Identifies some letters with prompting
3 - Developing	Can do it sometimes, inconsistent	Knows most letters but confuses some
4 - Proficient	Can do it independently and accurately	Quickly identifies all letters correctly
5 - Mastered	Exceeds expectations, automatic, can teach others	Instantly recognizes all letters in any font

📝 Step-by-Step Assessment Process

Step 1: Prepare (5 minutes)

Gather materials: paper, pencil, age-appropriate books
Find a quiet, comfortable space
Make it fun! Say "Let's play some learning games together!"

Step 2: Assess Reading (10-15 minutes)

Test each reading skill using the methods above
Rate each skill 1-5 in the dashboard as you go
Take breaks if your child gets tired
Keep it positive and encouraging!

Step 3: Assess Math (10-15 minutes)

Test each math skill using problems and questions
Rate each skill 1-5 in the dashboard
Use manipulatives (blocks, coins) if helpful

Step 4: Review Results

Click on the "Summary Report" tab
Review your child's grade level estimate
Read the personalized recommendations
Print or download the report

💡 Pro Tips for Accurate Assessment

✨ Best Practices

Be honest: Rate what your child can actually do, not what you wish they could do
Test multiple times: Kids have off days—observe skills over several occasions
Don't rush: Take breaks if needed; a tired child won't perform their best
Make it stress-free: This isn't a "test"—it's just helping you understand their level
Use real materials: Books, worksheets, household items make it concrete
Celebrate effort: Praise your child for trying, regardless of results

⚠️ Important: This dashboard provides an estimate based on your observations. It's not a replacement for formal assessments by trained professionals. If you have concerns about your child's development, consult with their teacher or a learning specialist.

📊 Understanding the Results

Grade Level Estimates

The dashboard calculates a grade-level estimate based on total points:

Pre-K / K: 0-10 points (just beginning foundational skills)
Grade 1: 11-15 points (early elementary skills emerging)
Grade 2: 16-20 points (building independence in basics)
Grade 3: 21-25 points (solid foundation, ready for complexity)
Grade 4+: 26+ points (advanced skills, working above grade level)

What to Do with the Results

If on grade level: Great! Continue with current materials and activities
If below grade level: Focus on the recommended activities; consider tutoring or extra support
If above grade level: Provide enrichment activities and more challenging materials

🎯 Example: Complete Assessment

Example: Assessing 6-year-old Emma

Reading Assessment:

Letter Recognition: 5 (knows all letters instantly)
Phonemic Awareness: 4 (can identify sounds, sometimes needs help blending)
Decoding CVC Words: 4 (reads cat, dog, sun easily)
Reading Fluency: 2 (reads slowly, word by word)
Vocabulary: 3 (knows some words, learning new ones)
Main Idea: 2 (struggles to summarize stories)
Details: 3 (remembers some details)
Sequence: 3 (can retell events with prompting)

Total: 26/40 = Grade 2 Reading Level

Math Assessment:

Number Recognition: 5 (knows numbers to 100)
Counting: 4 (counts to 50, skip counts by 2s)
Addition/Subtraction: 3 (adds/subtracts within 10)
Place Value: 2 (learning tens and ones)
Multiplication: 1 (not introduced yet)
Fractions: 1 (not introduced yet)
Geometry: 4 (knows basic shapes well)
Word Problems: 2 (struggles with written problems)

Total: 22/40 = Grade 3 Math Level

Dashboard Recommendations:

"Focus on building reading fluency through daily practice and improve comprehension through guided reading. In math, strengthen place value understanding and introduce multiplication concepts with hands-on activities."

🔄 Tracking Progress Over Time

The dashboard automatically saves each assessment. Here's how to use this feature:

Reassess every 6-8 weeks: See how your child is progressing
Click "Compare Attempts": View all previous assessments
Look at the growth chart: Visual representation of improvement
Adjust teaching strategies: Based on what's working and what isn't

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the assessment take?

Plan for 20-30 minutes total (10-15 minutes each for reading and math). You can split it into two sessions if needed.

What age is this for?

Best for ages 4-10 (Pre-K through 4th grade). Younger or older children can use it, but results may be less accurate.

Can I assess multiple children?

Yes! Just start a new assessment with each child's name. The dashboard saves all assessments separately.

Is this a standardized test?

No, this is an informal assessment tool based on your observations. It provides helpful estimates but shouldn't replace formal testing by professionals.

What if my child refuses to cooperate?

Make it playful and low-pressure. Try again another day when they're in a better mood. You can also rate based on what you've observed during homework or play.

Can I use this for IEP or 504 documentation?

This tool can supplement documentation but isn't sufficient alone for special education eligibility. Use it alongside formal assessments from qualified professionals.

Open the Dashboard →

Need help? The dashboard includes tooltips (?) next to each skill with quick explanations.
Remember: Every child learns at their own pace. This tool helps you meet them where they are!