When the 100th day of school rolls around, we start seeing the limited amount of time that we have with our students, and start contrasting that limited time with the enormous amounts of work left to do!!! Sometimes it seems like a daunting task. However, using data to inform ongoing instruction is an effective way to be using time effectively.
The mid-year point is usually the time when students are given a benchmark assessment, and we are able to use the benchmarks to measure growth, and to also see areas that are still in need of extra teaching and remediation. It is important to analyze data correctly and to use the analysis to inform instruction. Benchmark testing is not simply a task to check off a list, but rather a means of gaining information that will help guide your instructional delivery for the remainder of the year.
Listed below are some questions that are helpful when analyzing benchmark data.
1. Which questions on the benchmark had already been taught? It is important to target areas of weakness from instruction that has been given. Just because we "teach" it, doesn't mean students have "learned" it!
2. What were specific areas of weakness for the group of students that you instruct for a subject area?
3. Which students would you flag as a concern at this point in the year (Students who have not mastered/performed well on previously taught material, students who had a score that does not match their classroom performance, etc.)
4. Look at the list of students that you have flagged. Are there patterns of weakness, common areas that need remediation? What are those areas?
5. Think about your struggling students, what instruction/help are they getting that is additional and different than general instruction? How can we build in additional opportunities for remediation?
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