Classica Hub -- UX Features Specification
Pixel · February 2026
Design philosophy: Classical education is not just "school but old-timey." It has a distinct pedagogy (Trivium), distinct assessment types (narration, Socratic seminar, oral exams), and distinct values (virtue, beauty, truth). Every screen we build should feel like it was made for these schools -- not adapted from a generic SIS with a Latin font slapped on.
Table of Contents
1. Gradebook System
1.1 Dual Grading Modes
What it does:
As an admin, I want to configure my school's grading philosophy (standards-based, traditional percentage, or hybrid) so that every class uses a consistent system -- but individual teachers can layer qualitative feedback on top.
Classical schools are split: some use traditional A-F / percentage grading; others (especially Charlotte Mason and younger-grade programs) use standards-based or narrative grading. Many use both -- standards-based in Grammar school (K-5), transitioning to percentages in Logic/Rhetoric (6-12). We must support all three without making any feel like a second-class citizen.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Admin → Grading Configuration | School-wide defaults: choose primary mode (percentage, standards-based, hybrid). Set grade scales (A=93-100, etc. or Exceeds/Meets/Approaching/Below). Configure per-division if needed (e.g., Grammar school = standards, Rhetoric = percentage). |
| Teacher → Grade Entry (Spreadsheet View) | The workhorse. Full spreadsheet-like grid: students as rows, assignments as columns. Inline editing -- click a cell, type a grade, Tab to next. Color-coded by performance band. Support keyboard-only workflow (teachers HATE clicking). |
| Teacher → Grade Entry (Single Student View) | Vertical card layout for one student. Shows all assignments with grades, comments, rubric scores. Better for detailed feedback on essays/narrations. |
| Teacher → Rubric Builder | Create reusable rubrics. Pre-loaded templates for classical assessment types: essay (thesis, evidence, rhetoric, grammar), Socratic seminar (preparation, contribution, listening, textual evidence), narration (accuracy, sequence, detail, expression). |
Data required:
- Grade scale definitions (school-level)
- Assignment records (title, type, category, points/standards, due date, description)
- Grade entries (student_id, assignment_id, score, letter_grade, standards_marks[], comment, graded_at, graded_by)
- Rubric templates (criteria[], levels[], point_values[])
- Category weights per class
Priority: Must Have
Roles: Admin (configure), Teacher (enter grades, build rubrics), Student (view), Parent (view)
1.2 Classical Assignment Types
What it does:
As a teacher, I want assignment types that reflect how I actually teach -- not just "quiz" and "homework" -- so that my gradebook categories make sense for a classical classroom.
This is where we differentiate. Generic gradebooks have: Test, Quiz, Homework, Project. Classical schools need:
| Assignment Type | What Makes It Different |
|---|---|
| Essay | Needs rubric with rhetoric/logic/grammar dimensions. May have multiple drafts (draft → peer review → revision → final). Track revision history. |
| Socratic Seminar | Participation-based. Teacher grades during discussion. Needs quick-entry mode (tap student name → score criteria in real-time). Optional: seating chart view for live grading. |
| Latin Translation | Accuracy + style. May need vocabulary tracking tied to specific texts (Wheelock's, Henle, etc.). |
| Oral Exam | No written artifact. Teacher enters score + audio recording (optional). Common in Grammar school for memory work (timeline, catechism, poetry). |
| Nature Journal | Charlotte Mason staple. Photo upload of student's journal entry. Rubric: observation quality, labeling, artistic effort. Seasonal tracking. |
| Narration | Student retells a passage in their own words. Can be oral or written. Teacher evaluates: accuracy, sequence, detail, personal connection. AI assist available (see §4.5). |
| Memory Work Recitation | Pass/fail or scored. Track cumulative memory work across the year (poems, Scripture, Latin forms, timeline dates). |
| Copywork / Dictation | Grammar-school staple. Photo upload or teacher scoring of handwriting + accuracy. |
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → New Assignment | Type selector with icons for each classical type. Selecting a type auto-loads the appropriate rubric template and grading mode. Essay auto-creates draft stages. Socratic seminar auto-opens live grading mode. |
| Teacher → Live Seminar Grading | Seating chart or class list. Tap a student → quick-score on 3-4 criteria. Running notes field. Timer optional. After seminar ends, scores auto-populate gradebook. |
| Teacher → Memory Work Tracker | Checklist view: students × memory work items. Check off as recited. Cumulative progress bar per student. Can print a "memory work passport" for students to take home. |
| Student → Assignment Detail | Shows assignment with rubric breakdown, teacher comments, and any uploaded artifacts (essay drafts, journal photos). Revision history for essays. |
Data required:
- Assignment type enum with metadata (supports_rubric, supports_upload, supports_drafts, supports_live_grading)
- Draft/revision chain (parent_assignment_id for linked drafts)
- Media attachments (photos of journals, audio of recitations)
- Memory work catalog (school-defined list of items to memorize per grade)
Priority: Must Have (core types), Should Have (live seminar grading, memory work tracker)
Roles: Teacher (create/grade), Student (submit/view), Parent (view)
1.3 Weighted Categories
What it does:
As a teacher, I want to weight grade categories (e.g., exams 40%, essays 30%, participation 20%, homework 10%) so that my final grades reflect my pedagogical priorities.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → Class Settings → Category Weights | Drag-to-reorder list of categories. Each has a weight percentage (must sum to 100%). Visual pie chart shows distribution. Presets: "Classical Default" (heavy on essays + seminars), "Math/Science" (heavy on tests + problem sets). |
| Teacher → Gradebook → Category Subtotals | In the spreadsheet view, collapsible category groups. Each category shows its weighted subtotal. Final grade column auto-calculates. "What-if" mode: student can see how a hypothetical grade would affect their final (student view only). |
Data required:
- Category definitions per class (name, weight, drop_lowest_n)
- Assignment → category mapping
Priority: Must Have
Roles: Teacher (configure), Student (view with what-if), Parent (view)
1.4 Progress Tracking & Visualization
What it does:
As a parent, I want to see my child's grade trend over the semester so I can spot problems early -- not just see a current percentage.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Student/Parent → Grade Trend Chart | Line chart: X-axis = time, Y-axis = cumulative grade. One line per class (toggle on/off). Highlights: grade drops >5% flagged with marker. Semester/quarter boundaries marked. |
| Teacher → Class Performance Dashboard | Histogram: grade distribution for each assignment. Scatter plot: class average over time. Identify students falling behind (below threshold for N consecutive assignments). |
| Parent → Multi-Child Overview | Card per child. Each card: current GPA, trend arrow (↑↓→), any flagged concerns. Tap to drill into individual child's grades. |
| Admin → School-Wide Analytics | Average GPA by grade level, subject, teacher. Comparison across years. Helps identify curriculum issues. |
Data required:
- Time-series grade snapshots (computed nightly or on grade entry)
- Threshold configurations for alerts
Priority: Should Have (basic trend chart = Must Have; dashboards = Should Have)
Roles: All roles get role-appropriate views
1.5 Report Cards
What it does:
As an admin, I want to generate beautiful, branded report cards that reflect our school's identity -- not generic computer printouts.
Classical schools take immense pride in their identity. Report cards should feel like they come from their school, not from software.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Admin → Report Card Template Builder | WYSIWYG template editor. Upload school logo/crest. Choose fonts (we should offer serif options -- Garamond, Caslon). Configure which fields appear: grades, teacher comments, conduct marks, virtue/character assessments (many classical schools grade virtues like diligence, reverence, courtesy). Configurable sections per division. |
| Teacher → Report Card Entry | Pre-filled with computed grades. Teacher adds narrative comments per student per subject. Character/virtue marks (if enabled). Conduct grade. |
| Admin → Report Card Batch Generation | Select term, grade level, generate all. Preview before publishing. PDF output with school branding. Option to mail (print) or publish digitally to parent portal. |
| Parent → Report Card View | Beautiful rendered view in-app. Download as PDF. Historical report cards archived and accessible. |
Special classical school features:
- Virtue/Character marks: Many classical schools assess character traits (diligence, reverence, courtesy, self-governance, integrity). These appear alongside academic grades. Configurable list per school.
- House points / House system integration: Some classical schools use a house system. Report cards may show house affiliation and points earned.
- Latin honors: Summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude designations on report cards.
Data required:
- Report card template (layout, logo, fields, branding)
- Term definitions (quarters, semesters, trimesters)
- Teacher narrative comments per student per subject per term
- Virtue/character marks (if enabled)
- Conduct grades
Priority: Must Have
Roles: Admin (configure templates, generate), Teacher (enter comments/marks), Parent/Student (view/download)
1.6 Transcripts
What it does:
As a registrar, I want to generate official transcripts that colleges will accept, including GPA calculation, course credits, and a professional format -- because our seniors need these for college applications.
This is critical for high schools. Many small classical schools currently do transcripts in Word documents. We can save them enormous time and reduce errors.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Admin → Transcript Configuration | Define credit values per course. Set GPA scale. Configure honors/AP weighting. Choose transcript format (we provide 2-3 professional templates). School accreditation info, CEEB code, address block. |
| Admin → Transcript Generator | Select student → auto-populated transcript with all completed courses, grades, credits, GPA. Preview. Official vs. unofficial watermark. Digital signature option. PDF generation. |
| Admin → Batch Transcript Requests | For college application season: queue multiple transcript requests. Track which colleges have been sent transcripts (with dates). Integration with Common App / SCOIR if feasible (Nice to Have). |
GPA Calculation:
- Unweighted: standard 4.0 scale
- Weighted: configurable (e.g., Honors +0.5, AP +1.0)
- Cumulative and by-year
- Class rank (optional -- many classical schools don't rank, but some do)
Data required:
- Course catalog with credit values and honors/AP designations
- Student enrollment history (all years)
- Final grades per course per term
- GPA calculation rules
- School metadata (accreditation, CEEB, address)
Priority: Must Have (for any school with a high school)
Roles: Admin/Registrar (generate, configure), Student/Parent (view unofficial)
1.7 Honor Roll & Academic Awards
What it does:
As an admin, I want to automatically identify students who qualify for honor roll and academic awards based on configurable criteria.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Admin → Awards Configuration | Define honor roll tiers (e.g., High Honors ≥ 3.8, Honors ≥ 3.5). Define special awards (e.g., "Rhetoric Award" for highest essay average, "Virtue Award" teacher-nominated). Per-term and annual. |
| Admin → Awards Report | Auto-generated list of qualifying students per term. Override capability (teacher/admin can add/remove). Export for assembly programs, certificates. |
Data required:
- Award definitions (criteria, GPA thresholds, subject-specific rules)
- Award history per student
Priority: Should Have
Roles: Admin (configure, review), Teacher (nominate for special awards)
1.8 CSV Import
What it does:
As an admin migrating from spreadsheets (or another system), I want to import student rosters, historical grades, and course data from CSV files so we don't have to re-enter everything manually.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Admin → Data Import Wizard | Step-by-step: 1) Upload CSV, 2) Map columns to Classica Hub fields (smart auto-detection), 3) Preview mapped data with error highlighting, 4) Confirm and import. Supports: student roster, course list, grade history, parent contacts. |
| Admin → Import History | Log of all imports with row counts, errors, rollback option (within 48h). |
Data required:
- Column mapping definitions
- Validation rules per field
- Import audit log
Priority: Must Have (critical for onboarding)
Roles: Admin
2. Parent Features
2.1 Parent To-Do List
What it does:
As a parent, I want to add tasks and reminders to my child's schedule -- like "practice violin 30 min" or "read chapters 5-7 of Narnia" -- so our family stays organized alongside the school's assignments.
This bridges the gap between school life and home life, which is especially important in classical education where significant reading and memory work happens at home.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Parent → Child's Task List | Combined view: school assignments (from teacher, read-only) + parent-added tasks (editable). Color-coded by source. Parent tasks have: title, description, due date/time, recurring option, child can mark complete. |
| Student → My Tasks | Same combined list from student's perspective. Can mark parent tasks complete (parent gets notification). School assignments link to full assignment detail. |
| Parent → Task Templates | Save reusable tasks: "Daily piano practice," "Weekly Scripture memory review." One-tap to assign with adjusted dates. |
Data required:
- Parent task records (title, description, due_date, recurring_rule, child_id, completed_at)
- Task templates (parent-defined)
- Link to school assignment records (read-only reference)
Priority: Should Have
Roles: Parent (create/edit tasks), Student (view/complete)
2.2 Family Calendar
What it does:
As a parent with three kids at the school, I want ONE calendar view showing all their events, assignments, and school-wide events -- so I don't miss anything.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Parent → Family Calendar | Month/week/day views. Color-coded by child + school-wide. Filter toggles per child and event type (assignments, events, parent tasks). Today's agenda widget on parent dashboard. |
| Parent → Calendar Settings | Toggle which calendars to show. Set notification lead times per event type. Export options (see 2.3). |
Data required:
- Aggregation of: school calendar events, class assignment due dates, parent-created tasks
- Child-to-parent relationship mapping
- Filter/display preferences
Priority: Must Have
Roles: Parent
2.3 Calendar Export & Integration
What it does:
As a parent, I want to subscribe to my family's Classica Hub calendar from Google Calendar or Apple Calendar so events appear alongside my personal schedule.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Parent → Calendar Export | Generate unique iCal feed URL (per child or combined family). One-click "Add to Google Calendar" button (opens Google's subscribe flow). "Download .ics" button for Apple Calendar / Outlook. Instructions with screenshots for non-technical parents. |
Implementation notes:
- iCal feed URL is a read-only .ics endpoint that calendar apps poll periodically
- Google Calendar integration (OAuth) for two-way sync is a Nice to Have -- iCal feed covers 90% of use cases
- Feed should include: assignment due dates, school events, parent-created tasks
Data required:
- iCal feed token per user (secure, revocable)
- Event → iCal serialization
Priority: Should Have (iCal feed), Nice to Have (Google OAuth two-way sync)
Roles: Parent, Student (can also export their own calendar)
2.4 Notification & Communication Preferences
What it does:
As a parent, I want to control how and when I'm notified -- push, email, or SMS -- and I want to message my child's teacher directly when I have a question about a grade.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Parent → Notification Settings | Matrix: event types (new grade posted, assignment due soon, school announcement, teacher message, report card available) × channels (push, email, SMS). Toggle each. Quiet hours setting. |
| Parent → Messages | Inbox with threads per teacher/admin. Initiated from grade view ("Ask about this grade" button on any grade entry) or from class page. Simple, WhatsApp-style messaging. Read receipts optional. |
| Teacher → Messages | Same inbox, organized by parent/student. Bulk message to all parents in a class. |
Data required:
- Notification preferences (user_id, event_type, channel, enabled)
- Message records (sender, recipient, thread_id, body, read_at, context_link)
- Device push tokens
Priority: Must Have (basic notifications + messaging), Should Have (granular preferences)
Roles: Parent, Teacher, Admin
3. Calendar & Scheduling
3.1 Multi-Layer Calendar System
What it does:
As a school, we need a calendar system with multiple layers -- school-wide, per-class, and personal -- that all compose cleanly together.
Classical schools have rich communal rhythms: chapel, feast days, house competitions, Great Books seminars, rhetoric recitals, grammar school programs. The calendar isn't just logistics -- it reflects the liturgy of the school year.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Admin → School Calendar | Master calendar. Add events: type (academic, chapel/liturgical, athletic, arts, community, break/holiday). Recurring events (weekly chapel, monthly assembly). Feast days / saints' days (for Christian classical schools -- optional, configurable). School breaks and half-days. |
| Teacher → Class Calendar | Auto-populated with assignment due dates. Teacher can add class-specific events (field trip, guest speaker, exam day). Inherits school-wide events. |
| Student → My Calendar | Personal view combining: school events + all enrolled class calendars + personal tasks. Clean, uncluttered. Mobile-first. |
| Parent → Family Calendar | (See §2.2) All children's calendars merged + school-wide. |
| Admin → Calendar Management | Manage event types, colors, visibility rules. Set which calendars are public vs. authenticated-only. Manage liturgical/feast day calendar (import from church calendar if applicable). |
Data required:
- Event records (title, description, type, start, end, all_day, recurring_rule, calendar_layer, visibility)
- Calendar layer definitions (school, class, personal)
- User calendar subscriptions/preferences
Priority: Must Have
Roles: Admin (school calendar), Teacher (class calendar), Student (personal), Parent (family view)
3.2 iCal Feed & Google Calendar Integration
What it does:
As any user, I want a subscribable calendar feed so events appear in my preferred calendar app.
Implementation:
- Each user gets a unique iCal feed URL combining their relevant calendar layers
- Feeds are tokenized (no login required to poll, but token = access control)
- Refresh interval hint: 1 hour
- Google Calendar: "Add to Google Calendar" deep link for one-click subscribe
- Apple Calendar: webcal:// protocol link for one-click subscribe on iOS/macOS
Priority: Should Have
Roles: All
4. AI Teacher Assistance
Design principle: AI should feel like a knowledgeable classical educator assisting the teacher -- not a generic AI. Every AI feature should understand the Trivium, the Great Books, Charlotte Mason methods, and classical pedagogy. Teachers should feel like the AI "gets" their school.
4.1 Quiz Question Generator
What it does:
As a teacher, I want to upload a reading passage (or select from our curriculum's text list) and have AI generate quiz questions at the appropriate Trivium stage -- Grammar (recall), Logic (analysis), or Rhetoric (synthesis/persuasion).
This is NOT just "generate 10 multiple choice questions." Classical educators need questions that match their pedagogical stage:
- Grammar stage (K-5): Who, what, when, where. Factual recall. Vocabulary.
- Logic stage (6-8): Why, how, compare/contrast. Cause and effect. Logical fallacies.
- Rhetoric stage (9-12): Argue for/against. Synthesize multiple sources. Evaluate beauty/truth/goodness.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → AI Quiz Generator | 1) Upload text or paste passage (or select from school's text library). 2) Choose Trivium stage or specific grade level. 3) Choose question types: multiple choice, short answer, essay prompt, oral exam prompt. 4) Set quantity. 5) Generate → review → edit → save to assignment. |
| Teacher → Generated Quiz Review | Side-by-side: source text on left, generated questions on right. Edit any question inline. Reorder. Delete. Regenerate individual questions. Accept → creates assignment in gradebook. |
Data required:
- Source text (uploaded or referenced)
- Trivium stage / grade level
- Question type preferences
- Generated questions (stored for reuse/editing)
Priority: Should Have
Roles: Teacher
4.2 Essay Feedback Assistant
What it does:
As a teacher, I want AI to provide a first-pass review of student essays -- checking grammar, evaluating rhetorical structure, and flagging logical fallacies -- so I can focus my feedback on the higher-order thinking.
Classical schools teach the progymnasmata (classical rhetoric exercises) and evaluate essays differently than modern schools. The AI should understand:
- Thesis clarity and strength
- Use of classical rhetorical devices (ethos, pathos, logos)
- Logical structure and fallacy detection
- Grammar and mechanics
- Engagement with source texts (are they quoting the Great Books accurately?)
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → Essay Review with AI Assist | Student essay displayed with AI annotations in the margin: grammar corrections (green), rhetorical observations (blue), logical concerns (orange), praise (gold). Summary panel: overall assessment, strengths, areas for growth. Teacher can accept/dismiss each annotation. Add their own comments. Final feedback sent to student is teacher-curated, not raw AI output. |
| Teacher → AI Settings | Adjust AI feedback intensity (light/moderate/thorough). Select which dimensions to evaluate. Set grade-level expectations. |
Key design decision: The AI NEVER gives grades. It provides analysis that the teacher uses to inform their grading. The teacher is always the final voice. This is both pedagogically and ethically critical.
Data required:
- Student essay text
- Assignment rubric (for context)
- Grade level / Trivium stage
- AI analysis results (annotations, summary)
Priority: Should Have
Roles: Teacher (only -- students do NOT see raw AI feedback, only teacher-curated comments)
4.3 Lesson Plan Generator
What it does:
As a teacher, I want AI to help me draft lesson plans that follow classical methodology -- especially for subjects like Latin, Great Books seminars, and nature study -- so I spend less time on formatting and more on teaching.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → AI Lesson Planner | Input: subject, text/topic, grade level, Trivium stage, lesson duration, learning objectives. Output: structured lesson plan with: opening ritual/prayer (optional), review of prior knowledge, new material introduction, guided practice, Socratic questions, independent work, closing. Follows classical lesson structure (not generic "I do / we do / you do"). |
| Teacher → Lesson Plan Library | Save, tag, and search generated plans. Share with colleagues. Rate and annotate. |
Classical-specific lesson structures:
- Socratic Seminar plan: Pre-reading assignment, opening question, core questions, closing question, follow-up writing prompt
- Charlotte Mason nature study: Observation focus, field guide reference, journal prompt, related poetry/hymn
- Latin lesson: Vocabulary review, grammar drill, translation passage, composition exercise
- Great Books discussion: Historical context, guided reading questions, discussion questions (ascending from Grammar → Logic → Rhetoric), written response prompt
Data required:
- Curriculum scope & sequence (if available)
- Text library / reading list
- Teacher preferences and past plans
Priority: Nice to Have
Roles: Teacher
4.4 Reading Level Assessment
What it does:
As a teacher, I want to assess a student's reading level from a narration or written sample, tracking growth over the year.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → Reading Assessment | Upload or paste student writing sample. AI analyzes vocabulary complexity, sentence structure, comprehension indicators. Reports approximate reading level (Lexile, grade equivalent). Tracks over time with growth chart. |
Priority: Nice to Have
Roles: Teacher
4.5 Narration Evaluation Helper
What it does:
As a teacher using Charlotte Mason's method, I want AI to help evaluate student narrations by comparing them against the source text -- checking for accuracy, completeness, sequence, and personal expression.
This is a killer feature for Charlotte Mason schools. Narration evaluation is time-consuming and subjective. AI can provide a structured first pass.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → Narration Evaluator | Side-by-side: source passage (left) and student narration (right, text or audio transcript). AI highlights: accurately retold elements, ️ inaccuracies, omitted key points, personal connections/original insights. Summary: accuracy score, completeness score, expression score. Teacher reviews, adjusts, and finalizes. |
Data required:
- Source text
- Student narration (text or audio → transcribed)
- Evaluation criteria (accuracy, sequence, detail, expression)
Priority: Should Have (major differentiator for CM schools)
Roles: Teacher
4.6 Latin Drill Generator
What it does:
As a Latin teacher, I want to generate conjugation and declension drills customized to where my students are in the curriculum -- not generic exercises that don't match our textbook.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → Latin Drill Generator | Select: textbook (Henle, Wheelock's, Latin for Children, Lingua Latina), chapter/unit, focus (conjugation, declension, vocabulary, translation). Generate drill → preview → assign or print. Supports: fill-in-the-blank, matching, parsing, sentence translation. |
| Student → Latin Practice Mode | Interactive drill with instant feedback. Spaced repetition for vocabulary. Progress tracking (mastery per concept). Streak counter for motivation. |
Data required:
- Latin textbook curriculum maps (which forms are taught when)
- Vocabulary lists per chapter
- Conjugation/declension tables
- Student mastery data per concept
Priority: Nice to Have (but very high value for schools with Latin programs)
Roles: Teacher (generate), Student (practice)
4.7 Socratic Discussion Question Generator
What it does:
As a teacher preparing a Great Books seminar, I want AI to generate layered discussion questions -- from comprehension through analysis to evaluation -- based on the specific text we're reading.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → Seminar Prep | Select text (from school library or paste). AI generates questions in three tiers: Opening (factual, gets everyone talking), Core (analytical, drives deeper), Closing (evaluative, connects to big ideas -- truth, beauty, goodness, virtue). Teacher curates and reorders. Save as seminar plan. |
Classical-specific considerations:
- Questions should connect texts to the Western canon and cross-reference other Great Books
- Questions should probe moral/ethical dimensions (not just literary analysis)
- Questions should be genuinely open-ended (classical Socratic method ≠ "guess what the teacher is thinking")
Data required:
- Source text
- Related texts in curriculum (for cross-referencing)
- Bloom's/Trivium taxonomy mapping
Priority: Should Have
Roles: Teacher
4.8 Progress Report Narrative Writer
What it does:
As a teacher writing 25 progress reports, I want to give AI my bullet-point notes about each student and have it draft a polished narrative paragraph -- in a warm, professional tone -- that I can review and personalize.
This saves teachers HOURS. Progress reports at classical schools are often narrative-heavy (not just grades), and writing 25+ individualized paragraphs per subject is brutal.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher → Report Writer | Per student: enter bullet points (e.g., "strong in Latin vocabulary, struggles with declensions, excellent seminar participation, needs to slow down on essays"). Select tone (encouraging, balanced, concerned). AI generates 1-2 paragraph narrative. Teacher edits inline. Approve → populates report card. |
| Teacher → Batch Report Writing | Work through entire class. Progress bar. AI drafts appear instantly. Quick accept/edit workflow. |
Design note: Generated narratives should feel like they were written by a caring classical educator -- not corporate or clinical. Vocabulary should match the school's culture ("your son has shown wonderful diligence in his Latin studies" not "the student has demonstrated adequate performance in foreign language").
Data required:
- Teacher bullet points per student
- Student grade data (for context)
- Tone/style preferences
- Previous report narratives (for consistency)
Priority: Should Have (massive time-saver)
Roles: Teacher
4.9 Curriculum Alignment Checker
What it does:
As a curriculum director, I want to verify that our lesson plans and assessments align with our Trivium objectives and scope & sequence -- ensuring we're not missing critical skills at each stage.
Key screens/views:
| Screen | Description |
|---|---|
| Admin → Curriculum Alignment Dashboard | Upload or link scope & sequence document. AI maps existing lesson plans and assessments to objectives. Visual coverage map: green (covered), yellow (partially), red (gaps). Drill down to see which lessons cover which objectives. |
Data required:
- School's scope & sequence / curriculum standards
- Lesson plans and assessment data
- AI mapping of content → objectives
Priority: Nice to Have
Roles: Admin, Curriculum Director
Priority Summary
Must Have (MVP)
| Feature | Section |
|---|---|
| Dual grading modes | 1.1 |
| Classical assignment types (core set) | 1.2 |
| Weighted categories | 1.3 |
| Basic grade trend chart | 1.4 |
| Report cards with school branding | 1.5 |
| Transcripts & GPA calculation | 1.6 |
| CSV import | 1.8 |
| Family calendar | 2.2 |
| Basic notifications & messaging | 2.4 |
| Multi-layer calendar system | 3.1 |
| Feature | Section |
| --- | --- |
| Live seminar grading | 1.2 |
| Memory work tracker | 1.2 |
| Performance dashboards | 1.4 |
| Honor roll & awards | 1.7 |
| Parent to-do list | 2.1 |
| iCal feed export | 2.3 / 3.2 |
| Granular notification preferences | 2.4 |
| Quiz question generator | 4.1 |
| Essay feedback assistant | 4.2 |
| Narration evaluation helper | 4.5 |
| Socratic question generator | 4.7 |
| Progress report narrative writer | 4.8 |
| Feature | Section |
| --- | --- |
| Google Calendar OAuth sync | 2.3 / 3.2 |
| Lesson plan generator | 4.3 |
| Reading level assessment | 4.4 |
| Latin drill generator | 4.6 |
| Curriculum alignment checker | 4.9 |
- Classical schools are not generic schools. Every default, every label, every template should reflect classical pedagogy. If a teacher sees "participation" as a grade category, it should auto-suggest "Socratic Seminar" not "class participation."
- Beauty matters. These schools teach beauty as a transcendental. Our UI should be beautiful -- clean typography (serif options!), thoughtful whitespace, warm colors. No brutalist SaaS aesthetic.
- Teachers are professionals, not data entry clerks. Gradebook entry must be fast. Keyboard shortcuts. Tab-through. Batch operations. Respect their time.
- Parents are partners. Classical schools emphasize parent involvement. Our parent experience should make parents feel informed and empowered, not surveilled or locked out.
- AI is an assistant, not a replacement. Every AI feature keeps the teacher in the loop. AI suggests, teacher decides. No AI-generated grades. No AI-authored communication to parents without teacher review.
- Small school friendly. Most classical schools have 50-300 students. We don't need enterprise complexity. We need things to just work for a school with 8 teachers and 1 admin who also teaches Latin.
Document version 1.0 -- Pixel -- February 10, 2026