Teeming with Data

Howdy Everyone!

Ahh! I am relieved that we have traveled through the first steps of Data-teaming (gathering and recording assessment data, drafting SMART Goals, reviewing instructional strategies and committing to implementing some targeted strategies.)

This has been more arduous than I anticipated, and I greatly appreciate the efforts of our staff to undertake this process. I fervently believe that data-teaming will empower us teachers to really see the fruits of our labors. When I was blessed to have my own students, I often found myself wondering if what I was doing was what my students really needed and if it was really working. I had plenty of data--data that told me my students weren't comprehending grade-level material, data that told me that they had underdeveloped vocabularies, and data that told me they had yet to learn the elements of great fiction. Overwhelmed and unsure, I didn't know enough about formative assessment to target my efforts and create assessments that would inform my students and myself as to our progress. If I only knew then what I am learning now...

I am enthusiastic to develop my nascent knowledge about effective data-teaming with you, the staff. Feel free to post your data-teaming questions and insights to this blog. Several of our staff members have expertise in this arena. Also, know that my door is open to you...my physical door...not just this one floating in cyberspace.

Thanks again,

Alyson Drain