No More Giant Backpack: Using the Grid Method

Michelle KasunBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Grade Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Mastery Done Better

TL;DR: Follow the journey of Michelle as she discovered the Grid Method. Read five reasons why using the Grid Method is so effective: (1) standards-based (2) strategic and timely assessments (3) varied assessment (4) students work at own pace (5) enrichment opportunities. I recently saw a teacher meme that showed a man with a GIANT backpack and the caption, “When … Read More

Reflect to #TechBetter

Debbie TannenbaumBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Grade Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: Students need to know the expectations and deserve feedback to help them improve and grow. #TechBetter with an “edurubricon,” which involves numbering the skills and including icons to create an easy visual for students to follow along. Happy New Year! I hope as we begin 2022, all of you will use the ways that we have discussed to #techbetter. … Read More

Feedback? “I tried that. It didn’t work.”

David FrangiosaBlog, Grade Better, Lesson Plan Better, Mastery Done Better

TL;DR: Providing student feedback is a valuable tool that doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Evaluate when individual feedback is needed and when it can be taught to the whole class. Focus feedback on certain skills. Create a framework for feedback that allows students to self-reflect and utilize peer reflections. Make feedback meaningful by using descriptive feedback rather than evaluative feedback. … Read More

Gonna Have a Grid Day! Blog Series Overview

Kari PitstickBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Grade Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Mastery Done Better

Gonna Have a Grid Day Blog Series Overview The Grid Method is a self-paced mastery framework where the teacher creates a learning pathway in the form of a grid. Students are allowed to work at their own pace through this pathway while demonstrating readiness and mastery as they progress from one learning opportunity to the next. This blog series contains … Read More

Effective Grading Practices That Empower Learning

Erik YoungmanBlog, Grade Better

TL;DR: Evaluate grading practices. Reflect on the use of assessments, feedback, and grades. Make changes to foster a growth mindset in students. Effective grading recommendations made by Thomas Guskey, Rick Wormeli, and Ken O’Connor are ingrained in my beliefs about effective learning and grading practices. However, educators can review grading recommendations through the lens of the impact on students’ growth … Read More