#17 Student Choice: Student Assessment Portfolios

      One good practice that the administrators at MXR do is set aside time for all teachers to meet with their grade level and analyze data. During our data meetings, we discuss student data and make instructional decisions based on the data. It is very beneficial to look at the student results and analyze my instruction. The numbers provide black and white evidence of how students are progressing....or not progressing. Although the data is only one piece of the puzzle, it provides a good starting point for analyzing whether certain instructional strategies or materials are working.

    In keeping with the data-driven theme at MXR, two years ago I created a student data document in Word for my students to complete when they finish major benchmark tests such as DIBELS, STAR, and Scott Foresman unit tests. The students edit the data and get practice with entering data into cells on an excel-like document, and the results are automatically graphed for the students. Underneath each graph is a place for the students to write a goal for the next test. It serves as a great tool for short and long term planning, and students are given time and taught the skill of analyzing data to decide whether or not they are truly making progress. I've included some pictures of the document below. Feel free to share any data strategies you use with your kiddos!

The left side of the document is the graph that is created after students input the data on the excel-like spreadsheet on the right. As the students enter their data, we use words like cell, column, row, split screen, toolbar, etc. So, the students are introduced and become very familiar with those common computer terms.

    The picture above shows the goal sentence stems that I have my students fill out each time we update the graph. The graph above is for Scott Foresman, but there are two other graphs, one for DIBELS and the other for STAR, that the students complete.

    I really like the way the students are using their graphs and setting their goals. I think it is an important lesson for students to monitor their own progress and set benchmark goals for themselves throughout the year.