2025 SMARTGoal
By the end of the school year, 100% of my students will demonstrate no less than 20% overall growth as measured by their assessment scores (unit tests &/or well-designed, curriculum-aligned interim assessments).
SuperTeachers, let’s talk about a few things that will make it possible for you to hit your 2025 SMART Goal ... DATA!
Data is the lifeline of effective teaching. It tells us where our students are, where they need to go, and how to guide them there. And the best part? It doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming!
The Two Data Pillars are Formative and Summative
Formative Data:
Collected during and after lessons to assess learning in real-time.
Includes observational data and check-ins to gauge progress and adjust instruction.
Summative Data:
Collected at the end of a learning period to evaluate overall mastery.
Examples: quizzes, tests, mini-projects, major projects—anything standards-aligned.
Let’s Focus on Formative Data
If you’ve read the “Always Be Collecting Data” blog, you already know why collecting all kinds of data is essential—not just quizzes and tests aka summative data.
This post will focus on formative data. Paying attention to formative data will provide you and your students with opportunities to course correct before you get the summative assessment.
Types of Formative Data to Collect:
Daily:
Attendance and engagement levels.
Class dynamics (who’s thriving, who’s struggling socially or emotionally).
Work completion and alignment with the day’s learning objectives (hello, exit tickets!).
Weekly:
Identify trends in attendance, engagement, and learning progress.
Monitor how students respond to reteach mini-lessons.
Who’s meeting objectives? Who needs extra support?
Quarterly:
Who’s showing growth? Who isn’t?
Evaluate partnerships with parents—who’s engaged and supportive?
By collecting data daily, weekly, and quarterly, you create a comprehensive view of your students’ progress and areas needing attention.
Making this Work Kindergarten to College
No matter what grade level you teach, this approach works! Here’s how you can adapt it:
Early Education (K-2): Focus on observational data like participation, phonemic awareness, and fine motor skills. Use tools like sticker charts, visual progress trackers, and anecdotal notes to help young learners understand their growth.
Middle Grades (3-8): Incorporate data points like project rubrics, peer assessments, and self-reflections to foster ownership of learning. Weekly check-ins can help students connect their effort to results.
High School (9-12): Combine formative assessments like exit tickets and quick polls with summative data from exams and essays. Share individual progress reports and facilitate student-led conferences to encourage accountability.
Higher Education (College/University): Use digital tools to collect attendance and participation data. Track progress through research assignments, online discussion posts, and collaborative projects. Weekly summaries can help students visualize their growth and align efforts with course goals.
the System: Collect, Analyze, Share
A sustainable data system isn’t just about collecting and analyzing the data for trends—it’s about sharing it, too. This trio works together to help you and your students stay on track toward that all-important goal of at least 20% overall growth by the end of the school year.
Sharing the Data
Your students need targets. They need to know:
Where they are right now.
Where they’re headed.
How to keep moving toward their goals.
When students see their progress, they feel empowered and motivated to keep pushing forward.
Call to Action
Does this sound like a lot to juggle? It doesn’t have to be. Schedule a call with Dr. O, your favorite virtual coach to co-create a data collection system that works for you and your classroom. Together, we’ll ensure your students not only meet but exceed their growth goals!
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