• The basic idea behind The Grid Method is that students begin at the bottom level of DOK and that skills and content become more difficult as they cycle up from left to right. (See an Example Grid)

• If you follow the philosophy of The Grid Method, students must achieve at least 85% mastery before moving on to the next learning opportunity.

• The Grid Method allows students to work through the materials at their own pace with choices embedded to encourage ownership of the learning.

• During block scheduling, there is more time available during a class period to meet individually or with small groups of students to assist with their learning paths and provide the necessary feedback.

• The Grid Method allows you to meet students where they are at and challenge each one at an appropriate pace and level while not boring students or leaving students behind.

• There will still be moments to pause and bring the whole class together, even if students are in different places. However, The Grid Method focuses on active learning and not long stretches of direct instruction.

• Students can break naturally during the work and develop positive executive functioning skills that will benefit them long term.

There is a lot of flexibility with how you grade while using The Grid Method but it is important that whatever approach you take, you avoid making it task-based. The grades and reporting of progress should be mastery-based (mastery of standards or learning targets) and not on completion of tasks (i.e. worksheet 3). Focus on a more wholistic reporting of mastery of the targets (or standards) and allow for growth over the course of the grid or the semester. This method includes many different ways that students can demonstrate mastery at each of the levels so task-based grading approaches are messy and counterproductive. Reach out to the instructional coaching team if you would like to discuss various mastery-based approaches for your courses.