Data Collection Pt. 1 - Grading

Today marks Day 1 of a follower requested series on data collection.  More and more data collection is becoming an integral part of the teacher workload.  Due to the teacher evaluation process, national policy, and parent expectations, it is important that teachers have techniques put in place in order to successfully manage all of the information they are taking each day. Throughout the week, I will cover five different topics that I think will be helpful for managing the data in your classroom.

Monday -1/2 Sheet Grading
Tuesday - Standard Based Test Format
Wednesday- Student Graphing and Reflection
Thursday - Excel Spreadsheets
Friday - Self Reflection and Class Behavior Growth

So, today's focus is going to be on this wonderful idea that I stumbled upon and then modified it to work in my classroom.  I have attached an example to the blog.  You can find the sample template for FREE at TPT.  Click here to download the document!

 

You will use this half sheet each time you have students turn in papers.  When a student turns in a paper, you simply mark an "x" in the turned in column.  This allows you to quickly see who has not turned in the assignment.  I, then, highlight those boxes so that they stand out.   You can also put a note on the right side of why it is missing.  For example, the student may have been absent or forgot it at home.  I use "A" for absent, "NF" for not finished, "H" for if they forgot it at home, and "CP" for call parent. 

When you have time to grade, which we all know is never, but when you do, you put the grades in the middle column.  I then clip this half sheet onto the stack of graded papers until I have time to put it in the electronic gradebook.  All half sheets are then filed in a binder just in case I need them for something else.

One thing I like about the 1/2 sheets relates to interventions and tracking behavior.  Because you can prepare these 1/2 sheets in advance you can have one for each day if you'd like. (QUICK TIP: purchase the small clipboards so that you can walk around a mark on the sheet throughout the day.)  In the notes section you can tally how many times you corrected a challenging student or mark how you used an intervention for a student you are documenting for RTI.  The half sheet can be your go to sheet for monitoring all those little requirements that are tough to remember to do and organize.

I hope this takes a little stress out of monitoring student data.  Tomorrow: Standards Based Test Format.  Have an awesome day!