Data Driven Instruction

Since I my start at South Lake, I data has been ever-present throughout the school- from mClass testing in the primary grades to MAP-R testing in the upper grades, math pre-assessments and unit assessments to monthly BCR scores, TN2 to MSA, monthly data chats (reading and math), attendance to bathroom maintenance, and beyond (refer below for additional data collection tools used within our school's walls). I honestly do not feel as though any stone has been left unturned when it comes to data within the walls of South Lake ES.

Data is an invaluable source of information when it comes to student performance, feedback on an assessment (formative and/or summative), and plans for instruction. As data is constantly changing as a result of interventions and supports put in place when and where they are necessary, so to are the areas in which resource help is provided throughout the year. Even within a single classroom with one teacher, small groups (particularly in math) are consistently being revamped to meet the needs of those students who need re-teaching and/or further clarification, as well as those students who need enrichment to challenge them in their areas of strength and complete understanding.

Data is constantly being evaluated, analyzed and reflected upon within each classroom, across grade levels, within the school, across school districts and across the nation. It helps us, as educators and administrators, to provide the best education possible for our students. Through data collection we can determine where the greatest needs lie and how we can best go about meeting these needs and helping students overcome challenges, meet their needs as dictated by their accommodations, and/or further accelerate their learning to make sure that we are challenging them on a regular basis.

With regards to making better use of the data collection tools, I have found that through my experiences with administration in years past, triangulation of several data components has proved to be the most valuable. There are times when I can't help but wonder whether a single piece of data isn't the most accurate being that it is a single snapshot of what that student may know, factoring all the outside factors (e.g., classroom environment, temperature, health, testing anxiety, something which took place the night prior or even earlier that day, etc.) which may or may not have had an effect upon their performance that day. Triangulation of data allows for a more sound representation of a students strengths and areas of improvement, which will only better equip us with the information needed to determine what kind(s) of support is best to meet that child's needs.

Additional Data Collection Tools:

*Excel

*Data Chats

*Gradebook

*IMS

*MyMCPS

*Running Records

*Formative and Summative Assessments

*Dipsticking

*ActiVotes (Promethean Boards)

*Exit Cards

*Attendance