diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/components/config-panel/RuleThermometer.tsx b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/components/config-panel/RuleThermometer.tsx
index 35e6a1fe..b8e45c14 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/components/config-panel/RuleThermometer.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/components/config-panel/RuleThermometer.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ export interface RuleThermometerProps {
   value: RuleMode
   onChange: (value: RuleMode) => void
   isDark?: boolean
+  /** When value is 'auto', this shows which value 'auto' resolves to */
+  resolvedValue?: RuleMode
 }
 
 const RULE_OPTIONS: Array<{ value: RuleMode; label: string; short: string }> = [
@@ -26,8 +28,10 @@ export function RuleThermometer({
   value,
   onChange,
   isDark = false,
+  resolvedValue,
 }: RuleThermometerProps) {
   const selectedIndex = RULE_OPTIONS.findIndex((opt) => opt.value === value)
+  const isAutoSelected = value === 'auto'
 
   return (
     <div
@@ -74,6 +78,8 @@ export function RuleThermometer({
       >
         {RULE_OPTIONS.map((option, index) => {
           const isSelected = value === option.value
+          // When 'auto' is selected, show which value it resolves to with secondary color
+          const isAutoResolved = isAutoSelected && resolvedValue === option.value
           const isLeftmost = index === 0
           const isRightmost = index === RULE_OPTIONS.length - 1
 
@@ -82,16 +88,31 @@ export function RuleThermometer({
               key={option.value}
               type="button"
               onClick={() => onChange(option.value)}
-              title={option.label}
+              title={isAutoResolved ? `${option.label} (currently selected by Auto)` : option.label}
               className={css({
                 flex: 1,
                 px: '2',
                 py: '1.5',
                 fontSize: '2xs',
-                fontWeight: isSelected ? 'bold' : 'medium',
-                color: isSelected ? (isDark ? 'white' : 'white') : isDark ? 'gray.400' : 'gray.600',
-                bg: isSelected ? 'brand.500' : 'transparent',
-                border: 'none',
+                fontWeight: isSelected ? 'bold' : isAutoResolved ? 'semibold' : 'medium',
+                color: isSelected
+                  ? 'white'
+                  : isAutoResolved
+                    ? isDark
+                      ? 'green.300'
+                      : 'green.700'
+                    : isDark
+                      ? 'gray.400'
+                      : 'gray.600',
+                bg: isSelected
+                  ? 'brand.500'
+                  : isAutoResolved
+                    ? isDark
+                      ? 'green.900/30'
+                      : 'green.100'
+                    : 'transparent',
+                border: isAutoResolved ? '1px solid' : 'none',
+                borderColor: isAutoResolved ? (isDark ? 'green.700' : 'green.300') : 'transparent',
                 borderTopLeftRadius: isLeftmost ? 'md' : '0',
                 borderBottomLeftRadius: isLeftmost ? 'md' : '0',
                 borderTopRightRadius: isRightmost ? 'md' : '0',
@@ -99,7 +120,15 @@ export function RuleThermometer({
                 cursor: 'pointer',
                 transition: 'all 0.15s',
                 _hover: {
-                  bg: isSelected ? 'brand.600' : isDark ? 'gray.600' : 'gray.200',
+                  bg: isSelected
+                    ? 'brand.600'
+                    : isAutoResolved
+                      ? isDark
+                        ? 'green.800/40'
+                        : 'green.200'
+                      : isDark
+                        ? 'gray.600'
+                        : 'gray.200',
                   color: isSelected ? 'white' : isDark ? 'gray.200' : 'gray.800',
                 },
               })}
diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/components/config-sidebar/ScaffoldingTab.tsx b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/components/config-sidebar/ScaffoldingTab.tsx
index afb9aff0..a28ef613 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/components/config-sidebar/ScaffoldingTab.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/components/config-sidebar/ScaffoldingTab.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { useTheme } from '@/contexts/ThemeContext'
 import { RuleThermometer } from '../config-panel/RuleThermometer'
 import type { DisplayRules } from '../../displayRules'
 import { defaultAdditionConfig } from '@/app/create/worksheets/config-schemas'
+import { getSkillById } from '../../skills'
 
 export function ScaffoldingTab() {
   const { formState, onChange } = useWorksheetConfig()
@@ -18,6 +19,33 @@ export function ScaffoldingTab() {
   // Check if we're in mastery+mixed mode (needs operator-specific rules)
   const isMasteryMixed = formState.mode === 'mastery' && formState.operator === 'mixed'
 
+  // Get resolved display rules for showing what 'auto' defers to
+  let resolvedDisplayRules: DisplayRules | undefined
+
+  if (formState.mode === 'mastery') {
+    const operator = formState.operator ?? 'addition'
+
+    if (operator === 'mixed') {
+      // Mixed mode: Use addition skill's recommendations for now (could show both)
+      const skillId = formState.currentAdditionSkillId
+      if (skillId) {
+        const skill = getSkillById(skillId as any)
+        resolvedDisplayRules = skill?.recommendedScaffolding
+      }
+    } else {
+      // Single operator: Use its skill's recommendations
+      const skillId =
+        operator === 'addition'
+          ? formState.currentAdditionSkillId
+          : formState.currentSubtractionSkillId
+
+      if (skillId) {
+        const skill = getSkillById(skillId as any)
+        resolvedDisplayRules = skill?.recommendedScaffolding
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   const updateRule = (key: keyof DisplayRules, value: DisplayRules[keyof DisplayRules]) => {
     const newDisplayRules = {
       ...displayRules,
@@ -199,6 +227,7 @@ export function ScaffoldingTab() {
         value={displayRules.answerBoxes}
         onChange={(value) => updateRule('answerBoxes', value)}
         isDark={isDark}
+        resolvedValue={resolvedDisplayRules?.answerBoxes}
       />
 
       <RuleThermometer
@@ -207,6 +236,7 @@ export function ScaffoldingTab() {
         value={displayRules.placeValueColors}
         onChange={(value) => updateRule('placeValueColors', value)}
         isDark={isDark}
+        resolvedValue={resolvedDisplayRules?.placeValueColors}
       />
 
       <RuleThermometer
@@ -227,6 +257,7 @@ export function ScaffoldingTab() {
         value={displayRules.carryBoxes}
         onChange={(value) => updateRule('carryBoxes', value)}
         isDark={isDark}
+        resolvedValue={resolvedDisplayRules?.carryBoxes}
       />
 
       {(formState.operator === 'subtraction' || formState.operator === 'mixed') && (
@@ -236,6 +267,7 @@ export function ScaffoldingTab() {
           value={displayRules.borrowNotation}
           onChange={(value) => updateRule('borrowNotation', value)}
           isDark={isDark}
+          resolvedValue={resolvedDisplayRules?.borrowNotation}
         />
       )}
 
@@ -246,6 +278,7 @@ export function ScaffoldingTab() {
           value={displayRules.borrowingHints}
           onChange={(value) => updateRule('borrowingHints', value)}
           isDark={isDark}
+          resolvedValue={resolvedDisplayRules?.borrowingHints}
         />
       )}
 
@@ -255,6 +288,7 @@ export function ScaffoldingTab() {
         value={displayRules.tenFrames}
         onChange={(value) => updateRule('tenFrames', value)}
         isDark={isDark}
+        resolvedValue={resolvedDisplayRules?.tenFrames}
       />
     </div>
   )