This document discusses an approach to addressing "swiss cheese" skill gaps in below grade level students entering 7th grade. It involves identifying core 7th grade target skills and then determining the specific skill gaps for each student related to those targets. Teachers focus on filling in each gap by working up from the student's current level to the 7th grade target, one target at a time. This results in a unique multi-grade learning plan for each student. A study found this approach helped below grade level students achieve learning growth 1.8 times the national average, equivalent to an extra 8 months of learning.

1. Solving the Swiss Cheese Problem
Chris Rush
Chief Program Officer, New Classrooms
Geek Out Breakfast - United Nations Delegates Dining Room
April 20, 2017

2. A below-grade level student entering 7th grade may have a “swiss cheese” of skill
gaps. In order to fill in these gaps we can’t just teach the regular 7th grade
curriculum; we have to go back. But we can’t reteach all of 5th grade and all of
6th grade either.

3. We identified a set of target skills –core skills that are most important to learn in
7th grade…

4. Then we identified the skill gaps related to each of those targets.

5. For this student, we focus on filling in the each skill gap, all the way up the tree to
the first 7th grade target skill.

6. Then we move on to another 7th grade target skill…

7. And fill the gaps all the way up that tree next. And we continue. While we are meeting a student
where they are, we are also teaching them core 7th grade material.
Because each student has their own unique “swiss cheese” gaps to fill, each student ends up
receiving their own unique multi-grade learning plan.

8. Does it work?
The Teacher’s College study found that the students who were performing below
grade level made growth 1.8X the national average.
That’s similar to an extra 8 months of learning.