This week I was fortunate to spend much time with grade level teams as a whole and also with individuals. I find the process of data meetings, as well as grade level meetings a privilege. I get to see first hand how a team operates and supports each other. We are so fortunate to have such a nurturing and supportive staff - not only towards the students we service, but all also towards each other. In addition, with the mid-year cycle reviews due at the end of this week, I have had the pleasure of catching up with many of you on a one to to one basis. This has sparked some interesting conversations, allowed me to grow, and given me more insight on how to keep moving forward and be the best servant leader possible. Yes, I said servant. Service is what the principalship is all about!! How about that? : )
So what is the point of having all these data meetings anyway? The reality is they can spark a whole lot of discomfort, defensiveness, and negative feelings. I'm just stating the truth. I have experienced it as a classroom teacher, a literacy coach, and a administrator. Most of us have a multitude of experience under our belts and there is no doubt in my mind that we all want what is best for our students. We want them to enjoy school, thrive, and walk away from our classrooms with all the knowledge necessary to prepare them for the year ahead. We want them to be successful. It is extremely difficult to sit in data meetings, especially with people whom we do not yet have a relationship with, and have them ask us "what we are going to do" for a certain student who has not made as much progress as we would have hoped. As if we don't already feel a sense of urgency to get everyone to where they need to be. ugh. This is the truth and I respect and honor it.
On the other hand, I have to ask myself, how can this process help? In the conference room, I have a small sign that says "Out of Difficulties Come Miracles". Many of you have made comments about it! With that said, some meetings have been difficult, but what "miracle" are we going to create because of it? What about those kids who didn't make as much progress as we wanted? As uncomfortable as the process is, another truth is - we do have some students who have not reached their potential.
Meeting together, being part of grade level PLC's, and supporting one another is one thing, but what is going to come of it? We share classroom practices on a regular basis. We have much to celebrate!! So are we done? Of course not. There are too many people with growth mindsets on our staff to have this be it.
The analysis of multiple data sources centered on a formalized collaborative inquiry process that helps us pinpoint the exact nature of student learning problems is what we are working towards. We need to always be strategically selecting readings/research to help us investigate best practice for addressing the identified student learning problems. When grade level teams meet to share strategies, we can target classroom practices linked to specific needs defined in the data that can be applied across the grade and even across grade levels. A key element of this process is progress monitoring to assess impact and adjust, adjust, adjust until results are achieved. Does this mean we have been doing things wrong? NO, no and no. It means we are constantly adjusting and changing to meet the needs of our students. In some cases, we have identified the problem, but due to scheduling, lack of man power, or resources, we have not supplied the right intervention. That is ok. These are factors within our control. We always growing and on a cycle of continuous improvement. We are good already, we can however, always be better.
Think of this:
Personal growth is not a matter of learning new information, but of unlearning old limits. ~ Alan Cohen
We have let perceived limits hinder us in some cases. We now have the chance to use our knowledge, attack the limits, and move forward to heights we have yet not reached.
Together, we have the knowledge, drive, dedication, and passion to have all children learning at high levels. : ) I look forward to our continuous journey.
Article Worth Reading
http://usingdata.terc.edu/attachments/Fall09SEEN.pdf
I spent this afternoon reading a wonderful book called Good Prose...The Art of Nonfiction...Stories and Advice from a Lifetime of Writing and Editing by Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd. The authors worked together for over 40 years. Kidder wrote and Todd edited. They produced many articles for The Atlantic as well as several books, the first of which won a Pulitzer prize.
ReplyDeleteKidder and Todd describe their working relationship. At one point they state.."Everyone can sense when someone is looking for the good within, and it opens people to questioning in a way that reveals the good and everything else as well. As a reporting strategy, this approach is far more effective than the probing or even inquisitorial mode of some reporters. But it isn't a strategy, it is a way of looking at the world."
I think this may apply to our data meetings.
Well said...I look forward to spending time with each other in a more relaxed forum this week and setting goals for winter through spring. : )
DeleteA dear friend of mine has been struggling with her Mom's diagnosis of early onset Alzheimers. My friend is dealing with her own feelings of grief and anger and resentment and sadness, while trying to be supportive to her Mom. We decided to read "Still Alice" together to gain some perspective after somebody recommended it...it was a sad book but it did help her realize some important things about the disease and to hear about the family members perspective. This author also wrote Left Neglected, another fabulous story based on a true story. The author was originally a neuroscientist who became an author.
ReplyDeleteMy "one positive" about our data meeting was that our students really seemed to progress this fall. I feel lucky to have such dedicated and knowledgeable teachers supporting me and my students.
ReplyDeleteA positive about our data meeting was that when I saw that some of my students weren't making the gains I had hoped for, I had to make some changes to what I was doing. Luckily I have a great team to work with who help me, support me and encourage me every step of the way. Changes have already been made and hopefully positive results will follow.
ReplyDeleteA positive that I would like to share about data meetings is that they challenged me to think about what I can do differently to help my students move forward. I am so happy to be working with such a great team - all who care so much about our students!
ReplyDeleteJenn
A positive of our data meetings was to see how well most of the kindergarten students are progressing. It was a nice confirmation for me that I must be doing some things right in my new position. :)
ReplyDeleteJen C.
A positive I see is that we still have time! I worry that time is slipping by way to fast - I have a new thought to slow down, examine what I have been doing and look to new ideas to support these children who may not have made progress or on the cusp of greater learning!
ReplyDeleteIt is always positive, as well as necessary to assess students' current perfomance level. This provides teachers with the opportunity to reflect on what has been working and develop steps upon which to move forward. As a special education teacher, it can be particulary challenging to attend meetings where your student's progress may be limited. I always feel supported by my fellow teachers and that is a very positive experience!
ReplyDeleteGrace
I think there were many positive aspects on the Kindergarten data meeting I sat in on, but the one that sticks out in my mind was to see very large gains with students that I work with on a daily basis. It is one thing to hope they are getting it, but to see the actual data that they are indeed, is a great feeling. It was also nice to see the Kindergarten teachers smiling and celebrating these gains. Way to go, Jen and Margy!
ReplyDeleteMeg G.
A positive about data meetings last week is that even if it was little gain...WE ARE moving in the right direction. I like Lisa's quote "the glass really is half full". I have to remind myself this a lot!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
Madonna
Data meetings were a great opportunity to stop and take a look at how far the kids have come. We are constantly going....it is nice to just stop and look at what we have been doing and how the kids are responding. While we all often worry, and rightfully so, about those who are struggling, it is nice to take a look at the growth of all our students- many reasons to celebrate the work of us as teachers and our students as learners. Some days, I know I feel as though I am speaking a foreign language to my first graders but my data tells me that my kiddos are 'getting it'! I walked away feeling like I had a plan for my students who need things tweaked and a solid plan for those who are ready to move on with the next phase of learning to read.
ReplyDeleteA HUGE KUDOS goes out to Karen Clarke who has done an amazing job with her group & a double dose of Fundations. Her hard work (and the kids hard work) showed! She is hard working and has a great way with the kids.
Steph V.
Thank you Steph!
DeleteI think I am the lucky one!! I am so blessed to be in your class this year. You are an amazing teacher! Thanks!!
I am so proud of all that my students have accomplished! It is discouraging to see that students have met the benchmark, and I definitely felt frustrated when I first looked at my class list. However, after comparing the winter scores to the fall scores, I realized that almost everyone made tremendous gains in all areas!!! They may not be at the benchmark, but they're all working so hard and improving every day! Also, thanks to Dorothy, Jenn and Janelle for helping to make that happen- the students you work have come so far...really!! Keep up the great work :)
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of all that my students have accomplished! It is discouraging to see
ReplyDeletethat students have not met the benchmark, and I definitely felt frustrated when I first
looked at my class list. However, after comparing the winter scores to the fall
scores, I realized that almost everyone made tremendous gains in all areas!!! They
may not be at the benchmark, but they're all working so hard and improving every
day! Also, thanks to Dorothy, Jenn and Janelle for helping to make that happen- the
students you work have come so far...really!! Keep up the great work :)
Thanks to Kay Green and to Sure Crean for all of the help that they give to our first grade students every day! And thanks to Heidi for all of her advice and assistance! Cove School would not be the same without each of you!
ReplyDeleteMary
P.S. I don't know if you do P.S. on blog comments, but I would like to add a thanks to Lisa for her pleasant and calm manner and for all of the time that she spends looking on the positive side. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMary