Data-Driven....

Ah, the new terminology with NCLB...I had a meeting this morning to look at the data from my math classes for the third benchmark - keeping in mind the third benchmark was the third week in March, and AIMS finished last week. The question for me? How will I continue to move these kids a few percentage points ahead between now and the end of the school year (a mere 24 days away, but who's counting)?

Shouldn't we have done this earlier?

At the risk of always seeming like a whiner, let me say this - I have learned so much being able to access data about the kids and how they are doing. I am a better teacher for this access, BUT I draw the line at determining who the two or three kids are that would give the school "the most bang for the buck" in focusing just on them.

And people think gifted education is elitist????

Part of me says, "Are you kidding about doing this now?" and the other part of me says, "Hmmm, I can really use this with the kids and help them see their progress."

So I ask why I am teaching 6th grade intervention next year, as I don't feel I am good with basic computation. The teaching assignments were made based on "data," and since my test scores for my kids are so good, the decision was made based on that data to make me the "power teacher" in sixth grade with intervention. Whoopee.

Part of me says, "Lucky me," and the other part says, "Hmmm, why don't we make more decisions like this based on how we do with the kids?"

Data, data, data - should be interesting to see how next year works out......