A Day without Data is like a Day in the Dark Using Data in General and Special Education Classrooms Christine Christle University of South Carolina

Objectives 1. Name 2 reasons why data collection is important in life 2. Name 2 reasons why classroom teachers should collect data 3. Describe 2 simple methods for collecting data 4. Describe 1 way you will apply 1 of these data collection methods in your classroom

Why is data collection important? in life: in life: Medicine and Health Care Medicine and Health Care Weight and fitness Weight and fitness Finances Finances ?

Why is data collection important? in classrooms: in classrooms: student progress student progress teaching effectiveness teaching effectiveness ?

3 Critical Questions 1. Where are we? 2. Where are we going? 3. How will we know when we get there? Call AAA

Reasons Professionals Collect Data Understand and solve a problem Understand and solve a problem Evaluate what has been done Evaluate what has been done Monitor improvement Monitor improvement Ensure accountability Ensure accountability Monitor bottom line Monitor bottom line Gain professional edge Gain professional edge “He who controls the data controls the agenda.” (Sagor, 1992, p.5)

Reasons Teachers Collect Data Pre-referral documentation - RTI Pre-referral documentation - RTI Students with disabilities – IDEA Students with disabilities – IDEA Determine needs Determine needs Set goals Set goals Monitor progress Monitor progress Assess effectiveness Assess effectiveness program & instruction program & instruction Accountability demands - NCLB Accountability demands - NCLB

Reasons Teachers Do Not Collect Data Too technical! Too technical! Not my job! Not my job! Not relevant to MY classroom! Not relevant to MY classroom! No time! No time! No support! No support! Not ethical! Not ethical!

Solutions Too technical! Too technical! Use simple methods & tools Use simple methods & tools Not my job! Not my job! Knowing if we are meeting students’ needs is our job Knowing if we are meeting students’ needs is our job Not relevant to MY classroom! Not relevant to MY classroom! Find exactly what works with your students Find exactly what works with your students

Solutions No time! Collaborate with other teachers, assistants, students (self-recording) Collaborate with other teachers, assistants, students (self-recording) No support! No support! Ask for it – admin, consultants, parents, volunteers Ask for it – admin, consultants, parents, volunteers Not ethical! Not ethical! Keep certain information confidential Keep certain information confidential

Graphing data: A picture is worth 1,000 words Graphing data: A picture is worth 1,000 words School level School level Classroom & student level Classroom & student level Academic instruction Academic instruction Behavior interventions Behavior interventions

Survey on School Uniforms

Reasons for Expulsions

Classroom Schedule

Example: Academic Progress Pre & Posttest Reading

Example: Academic Progress Pre & Posttest Geometry unit

Example: Academic Progress Pre & Post Writing Unit

Example: Behavior Progress

Data-based IEP Goals First Draw an Aim or Goal Line Visual representation of performance Based on criteria & allotted time of long term goal

Determine the mid-date and mid-rate of the LAST THREE DAYS OF BASELINE DATA POINTS. Draw an aim line through the mid- date and the mid-rate intersection to the aim star or goal date and rate.

AIM LINE: STEP 2 Baseline Time A Number Hand raises

AIM LINE: STEP 3 Baseline Time A # hand raises

AIM LINES: STEP 4 Baseline Time A # hand raises

Define adequate progress and dictate when changes are to be made Determined before you intervene Basic “three-day rule”

DATA SHOWING THE NEED TO SLICE BACK - RETEACH

DATA SHOWING THE NEED TO STEP BACK - PRETEACH

DATA SHOWING NEED TO MOVE TO NEW SKILL

Practice: Reading In 28 weeks when presented with a second-grade level passage, Sam will increase his words read correctly in one minute from 12 to 68 as measured by weekly fluency probes.

Practice: Reading During a 36 week period, based on 6th grade SC standards for reading, student will achieve an 85% accuracy evaluated through curriculum based assessment (CBA) and teacher-made-tests (TMT).

Practice: Writing In 28 weeks when presented with a story starter or topic sentence and three minutes in which to write a story, Marcy will increase her correct word sequences from 50 to 78 as measured by weekly writing probes.

Practice: Writing During a 36 week period when given a writing prompt, student will increase his writing fluency by 54 written correctly per minute.

Practice: Math By May 31, 2010, EC will increase the number of basic addition and subtraction problems that she can complete in 2 minutes from 32% of items attempted to 75% of items attempted as measured by weekly math probes.

Practice: Math During a 36 week period and given 8th grade math text, Bob will increase correct use of mathematical processes in a variety of contexts with 75% accuracy as measured by grades in the self-contained classroom.

3 Critical Questions 1. Do we know where we are? 2. Do we know where we are going? 3. Will we know when we are there? Call AAA

Review Name 2 reasons why data collection is important Name 2 reasons why data collection is important Name 2 reasons why classroom teachers should collect data Name 2 reasons why classroom teachers should collect data Describe 2 simple methods for collecting data Describe 2 simple methods for collecting data Describe 1 way to apply 1 of these data collection methods in your classroom Describe 1 way to apply 1 of these data collection methods in your classroom

BIG IDEA In God we trust; all others must provide data.

Questions? Discussion