When we start the school year, we can have a lot of data goals in mind. Perhaps we have big ideas about using data portfolios or data walls. It can be an exciting and generative time while we still have energy. However, we really have only one reason to use data in the first few months:
The priority for data in the first few months of school, is to get to know your students.
Our goal is to learn who they are as people, and who they are in their learning. Here are 3 strategies to get to know your students this fall:
Use a questionnaire to learn about your students
I ask my students just a few questions on the first day: What do you want me to call you in class? What pronouns do you prefer? What has been your relationship with learning my subject in the past? What is a hope you have for this year? Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Asking names and pronouns signals your room is safe and inclusive. Asking about past experiences can be an enlightening view into how a student approaches your class. I collect my responses digitally with a Microsoft Form, but my goal with surveys is to keep them short for easy completion.
Review past file data
You may work on a team where transitions from year-to-year happen as part of your structures. If so, great. If not, you may be like me in needing to review files. I look in two places: the last report card and standardized testing data.
It takes me about a day or so to review the report cards of 80+ students. I’m particularly looking at the narrative pieces for feedback on what each learner is like. This might be the most tedious process, but super valuable.
Collect diagnostic data
Even with the last report card, we may not know if gaps were formed or if there are new areas for extension and growth. Therefore, I collect formal diagnostic data. However, this doesn’t mean that I start every year with a pretest – in fact, I start every year with collaborative tasks and mindset activities.
Instead, I employ a gradual diagnostic. As part of students’ homework or in class tasks, I will ask them to complete 3 questions online targeting specific standards from the previous grade and the current grade. I target known “tricky” standards or use priority standards set by our school.
After a few weeks, I have a good idea of what my students are comfortable on and where we might need to remediate.
Again, our priority is to learn how to teach the students we have in front of us. They are different from last year and different from the next year. It’s our job as educators to use the information at our disposal to figure out what they need as learners.