What’s It Look Like?
Let’s be honest, no matter how great you think the last 5 parts of this course were (didn’t read or watch those yet? Click here!) none of it matters if you can’t visualize what The Grid Method will look like in your classroom. If you can’t see how this fits into your style, will work in your classroom, or how your students will accept it…you should probably stop reading this and email me right now.
This part of the course was created to help you get a picture of what The Grid Method looks like in action.
Let’s pretend you walked into a Grid Method classroom tomorrow. A few of the things you might see are:
- Learners writing daily goals to help them focus.
- Learners being assessed constantly (every time they complete a learning opportunity on their Grid.)
- Learners working on different tasks.
- Peer to peer tutoring (Geniuses.)
- Every student working where they are at in their understanding.
Sometimes visuals of how a room is set up can also help.
Here are a few pictures of Grid Method classrooms and some of the components that help make the system work.
A Grid Method Classroom…
Progress Monitoring (top row: left & middle photos)
There are progress tracking boards being used to monitor student progress and mastery. The classroom shown is using a magnet board with student names on strips. You can also track student progress privately or using different methods.
This is a powerful insight into real time mastery assessment. Tracking boards allow you to know where every student is at every minute of every day in their learning path.
This can also help you identify students that need additional intervention or help extending knowledge. Progress monitoring even makes small group pull-out a breeze and much more effective because now it can be done based on your students’ level of mastery NOT whether a student has an IEP or not.
File Bin (top right photo)
Using a file bin can help you make your curriculum more accessible for a self-paced system.
- All of the assignments in the Mastery Grid have an aligned letter / number combination (ex: 1A, 2C, 3D).
- Each file in the bin has the same number values.
This allows you to place any needed directions, worksheets, or other resources in a single, accessible spot for students to get what they need when they need it.
Genius Badges (bottom middle photo)
These simple lanyards are a great way to allow your students to participate in peer-to-peer tutoring in order to help facilitate the system. This is especially effective when a student is working quickly or getting ahead on their Mastery Grid. You can give that student the choice to either become a “genius” and help others, or continue working on their progress towards mastery.
Triage System (bottom right photo)
This photo shows the use of colored cups, but other things like cards or desk clips may also be utilized.
This is a visual indicator system that allows you to identify severity of need without your students having to raise their hands.
- RED = I need help from you NOW! (I might be stuck on a problem, completely lost, or need you to assess my progress.)
- YELLOW = I have a question but can keep working.
- GREEN = I’m good to go and will continue working.
This system is a great way to quickly assess who needs your attention first and can really help reduce management issues in the classroom.
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- Easy to set up. Easy to use.
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- Simple “Cups” Triage System in Action
Learners working in a Grid Method classroom:
As you can see, these photos could have easily been taken over weeks of classes. However, they were all taken from a single day of instruction using The Grid Method. The variety of work and learning occurring ranges from independent study of vocabulary and concepts, collection of experimental data, collaborative work on a project, and peer to peer instruction.
All of these students are engaged and being met where they are in their understanding, which allows them to focus. This all helps to reduce management issues that often occur during traditional instruction due to frustration.
This is what engaged, productive learning looks like. This is what better teaching looks like. This is a Grid Method classroom.
Watch the Part 6 video below!