The colored dots beneath each Gradebook cell are the fastest way to scan a class's status. Here's what each color means and how to act on it.
The Four Colors
🟢 Green — Mastery
The student has demonstrated mastery of the lesson concept. They consistently answered questions correctly and met the mastery threshold for the lesson.
What it means: They've got it. Move on.
Action: No intervention needed. Recognize the achievement if appropriate.
🟡 Yellow — In Progress
The student has engaged with the lesson but hasn't yet reached mastery. They're somewhere in the middle — making progress, but not finished.
What it means: They're working on it.
Action: Give them more time. Check in only if they've been stuck for a while.
🟠 Orange — Needs Support
The student has attempted the lesson but is performing below expectations. This is the warning color — they're struggling with the content.
What it means: They've tried and they're not getting it.
Action: Intervene. Re-teach, reassign foundational lessons, or check in directly.
⚪ Gray — Not Started
The student hasn't begun the lesson yet. No data exists for it.
What it means: They haven't engaged.
Action: Check whether the lesson is published, whether the student has been logging in, and whether there's an engagement issue.
The Thresholds
While exact thresholds may vary by lesson type, the general logic is:
Mastery ≈ 80%+ accuracy on assessments
In Progress ≈ 60–79% accuracy, or partial completion
Needs Support ≈ Below 60% accuracy
Not Started ≈ No attempts logged
These thresholds align with how the platform calculates the "Mastery Rate" footer metric and the "Students at Risk" count on the Classroom Performance tab.
Reading Patterns Across the Gradebook
The real value of the color system is pattern recognition. Scan the Gradebook horizontally (one student across all lessons) or vertically (one lesson across all students) for insights:
Vertical pattern: A column of orange
If one lesson column is mostly orange across the whole class, the lesson itself is hard, not your students. Time to re-teach or supplement.
Vertical pattern: A column of gray
A lesson hasn't been engaged with by anyone. Check whether it's been assigned, whether students can access it, and whether you accidentally created a structural issue.
Horizontal pattern: A row of green
This student is excelling. Consider extension work, enrichment via the Arcade, or peer-tutoring opportunities.
Horizontal pattern: A row of orange or gray
This student is consistently struggling or disengaged. Drill into them via the Student Performance tab to investigate.
Mixed pattern within a row
Most students will show mixed colors — green for some concepts, yellow for others, occasional orange. This is normal and reflects real student variability. Worry about students whose pattern is consistently below where you'd expect.
Using Colors for Reporting
When discussing grades with parents or administrators:
Mastery translates roughly to A-range mastery of the concept
In Progress translates roughly to B/C-range — working but not yet solid
Needs Support translates roughly to D/F — significant gaps remain
Not Started is its own category — incomplete work, not earned grades
That said, Intertwined doesn't auto-assign letter grades. The colors are signals, not formal grade equivalents. Your grading policy is yours to set.
Class Average Row
At the top of the Gradebook, the Class Average row shows the average performance across all students for each lesson. Use it as a benchmark when evaluating individual students:
Student significantly above class average → they're a top performer
Student significantly below class average → they may need support
Student tracking with class average → they're on pace with peers
Related articles:
8.1 Gradebook Overview
7.3 Identifying Students Who Need Support
8.4 Class Average vs. Individual Performance