TRACKING! Using Assessments and Data in your Classroom

Agenda What is data and why is it important? Data by content area Data next steps

Teachers will be able to… Understand what tracking is Articulate why tracking is important Produce a tracking system for at least one unit for the school year OR deepen understanding of how to interpret student data

What is tracking? Tracking is NOT grading Tracking IS monitoring student progress toward MASTERY of State Standards

Why does Mastery of State Standards Matter? Standards are: A Bar for Student Achievement Equitable Measurable Empowering

Tracking Vocab STANDARDS: the things each student needs to know before moving to the next grade MASTERY: knowing at least 80% of the material inside and out ASSESSMENTS: unit tests (summative exams)

During the Year… We give students grades … We hope that we ’ ve taught them what they ’ re suppose to have learned … We hope they remember it … BUT HOW DO WE KNOW??

WE CAN TRACK!

Why is tracking important? FOR STUDENTS: When students leave a grade, they know the required material. FOR TEACHERS: We know we ’ re teaching our students the information they need and that they ‘ get ’ it! FOR ADMIN: They want this info! It serves as a performance indicator for students and our school.

Tracking is a way to KNOW we ’ ve taught the standards students need AND that our students have mastered the material!

A Strong Tracking System tells you… WHAT each student knows and doesn’t know (individual student average) TO WHAT EXTENT each student knows/doesn’t know (student mastery by standard) WHAT your entire class knows/doesn’t know (class average) TO WHAT EXTENT your entire class knows/doesn’t know each standard (class mastery by standard)

What tracking looks like… (in theory)

Review State Exams Create End- of-Year Summative Assessment based on Standards Create Long Term Plan based on Standards & Assessment Create Unit Tests based on Standards Create Unit Plans based on Unit Tests Create Daily Objectives & Formative Assessments Review State Standards 1. Review Standards and Strategic Plan Start Here

2.Teach standard-based lessons 3.Give standards-based unit tests 4.Enter student data into a tracking system 5.Examine student and class understanding of EACH standard on the test

6.Determine next steps Continue with planRe-teach/Re-assess Adjust instruction for next unit based on findings (scaffolding, graphic organizers, visual aids, targeted differentiation)

If it’s not clear from the charts… Tracking is an important part of planning

Tracking in Practice Skills tracking vs. Content tracking Example of Skills: measurement, rounding, map scale, using a Venn Diagram Example of Content: parts of a cell, causes of the Revolutionary War It does not have to be overwhelming, especially when you first start!

Tips for Easy Tracking Review Samples Test Cover Sheets Reflection Create a system for easy tracking on the test Invest Students Portfolios, Sticker Charts, Class Averages, Goal Setting

Tracking is Helpful… 1.Adjusting Course: It shows us what students did and did not get and therefore what we taught effectively and what we need to re- teach 2. Motivation: it motivates our students to continue to work hard and smart when we share their progress and motivates us to continue to do the same 3. Accountability: It holds our students accountable and us accountable to our results

FAQs Why track? No really, why should I do this? How does this apply to special needs students? If I know by informal assessment if they know it or do not know it, why formally assess and track?

FAQs continued… It looks like a lot of work. Why would I do this? Other questions? I am totally interested! How can I effectively implement this in my classroom?

Content Group Breakout Overview of Tracking in your content area (10 min) How to apply tracking in your classroom in PRACTICE (30 min) Review of a sample tracker (10 min) Practice Tracking (10 min) Electronic Demo (10 min)

How to apply tracking in your classroom in THEORY (30 min) Yes, I am ready to set up my own tracker! I’ve got a tracker, now how do I interpret student data?

Any Questions? Feedback?