Data Teams: How They Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

Data Teams: How They Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing                

Mike White  (513-430-9003)            white445319@gmail.com

Big Ideas

• “Teaching is a Team Sport” And Assessments need to be balanced (big tests and little tests).
• Focus on “cause” (adult) data” rather than only looking at “effect (student) data.” Use data to “improve” not just “prove” instruction.
  • Specifically, what are the actions of the adults that change student achievement?
• Design-teams should occur in short-cycle sessions (at least once a month--every two weeks would be ideal).

• Analysis of WHY certain students did not meet proficiency on pre and post tests should be precise AND INFLUENCE OUR INSTRUCTION/INTERVENTION.
  • What were the common student misconceptions AND the teacher’s common misassumptions?
  • Why were they common?
  • What pre-requisite skills are lacked?

 Keep Score

• View all students as “our” students.
• Embrace transparency with your data and your instructional strategies.

Instructional Strategies

• Once the PRIORITIES/BAD NEWS Standards have been uncovered for the Quarter, spend focused time sharing instructional strategies.
• Design team should agree upon a specific instructional plan for all teachers to implement within their classroom. Ensure that these plans are precise and detailed. 
• Make concerted effort to only spend time discussing topics that are within our “Circle of Influence.” Thus, design team conversations should always center on classroom issues/or instructional strategies. 
• Provide students with on-going specific feedback about their learning goals and their progression toward that goal (as a class and as individuals).

Logistics

• Meeting Norms should be established at the beginning of the year by each team.
• Do not focus on writing “pretty” minutes, etc. Provide bulleted lists of discussion points and lesson plan.
• Team members should share roles of the design team. The leader is a facilitator at the meeting.
  • Design team Leader
  • Time keeper
  • Keeper of the spreadsheet/minutes