Students often have the misconception that mathematics involves reading the problem, staring at the page, and then writing down an answer. With more than twenty years of experience working with students in eighth-grade math through college calculus, the author has been increasingly interested in how she can foster problem-solving skills in her students and help them increase their mathematical proficiency. Helping students clarify their own thinking and organize their thoughts can be a challenge. Knowing that graphic organizers are a visual way to lay out ideas, the author developed the Thinking Grid, as a tool for both problem solving and for discussing problem solving. The Thinking Grid, which is presented in this article, helps students learn to think more effectively, record their ideas in a systematic way, and listen to their own thoughts.