Using Data in the Classroom...Part 2

So last Wednesday I posted part 1 to this mini-series (go check it out here).   This week I'm posting more about how we use data in the classroom.  I'm not talking about the data we collect as professionals that drive our instruction but instead focusing on the real meat of data and how it's impacting my students.  My goal this year was documenting. Documenting our learning. Documenting the processes. Documenting our achievements.  And that's the data I'm talking about...the data that shows progress and failures, excitement and hardship, the data that is owned by the students. THAT's the data I'm writing about.  And that's the data I love!

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Two other ways that we are documenting through data are through our classroom blog and student learning logs, both new additions to our classroom. Each one carries it's own challenges but the rewards are plentiful!

Classroom blog. Lord help me when I first sent the link to the parents I knew it was a commitment that I had better keep up with! Eeeeek.

It started off pretty bare bones but has quickly grown. I suppose that synonymous to our classroom -- bare bones at the beginning of the year but then as learning starts to take place the room fills up with anchor charts and posters and writing samples. Just the same with the blog.   Right now we've been doing about 2 posts a week.  Eventually I'd love to have the kiddos take charge of what goes on the blog but as it is, I am typing up the blog posts mainly as a way to document what we're doing and share it with the parents and community.  We read through the posts every week or so just so they can see what's being put out there too!  I really wish we were getting more feedback as the kids have loved the TWO comments we've had.  But, at least I'm getting it out there and it seem that we're getting a lot of "views" but no comments (hint hint....come comment on our posts!). Our posts range from pictures they took in the classroom of what they thought was important to their learning to field trips, to exploring dirt.  If we've done it, it's been blogged about!  Go check us out (and leave comments) "Cantrell's Classroom".

Learning Logs.  I'm super proud of these.
One assessment tool that our site does looks at teacher instruction as well as student response logs.  We didn't score very well on response logs, mainly because we weren't using them very much across the curriculum. GUILTY.  I began them this past month as we started up our Science unit on weather.
Let me tell you .... I LOVE THE LEARNING LOGS!  Seriously.  The work that the students are documenting is really impressive and they are internalizing it. I definitely see the students taking ownership of their learning in these logs.  We've used the logs to document our learnings from assemblies, field trips, special speakers and other aha moments.   I love that the kiddos can go back through their logs and remember what we've done this year.

So that's 2 more components to Data in the Classroom.  The next 2 revolve around special events and how we use those moments to document and enhance our learning.