Implementing Data Notebooks into
Your Classroom, School or District
Bridget Zahradnik and Meghan Ashkanani
Novi Community Schools
Today’s Objectives:
• Learn to create, modify and implement data
notebooks into the classroom, school and/or district
settings
• View samples of data notebooks and individual
pages by grade level (K-6)
• Discover strategies for managing data notebooks in
the classroom
• Create a plan of action for September
implementation
But first...What are data notebooks?
The Purpose of Data Notebooks:
• Data notebooks help students to identify
clear targets
• Data notebooks allow students to set goals
to reach targets
• Data notebooks teach students to create
plans of action for reaching targets
• Data notebooks guide students in
monitoring their own progress in any given
area
A Paradigm Shift…
How can I be sure the amount of time I will
dedicate to data notebooks is worth it?
Let’s discuss why…
What are some of your district’s major
initiatives?
•
Professional Learning Communities
•
Understanding by Design (UBD, Atlas Rubicon)
•
The Art and Science of Teaching, Marzano and Pickering
•
International Baccalaureate
•
Advanced Education Standards
•
?????
Questions to Ponder…
• Currently, to whom does the data you collect
belong?
• Who does the data you collect benefit?
• Who keeps track of the scores and progress?
Turn and talk with a partner about your data
collection procedures and answer all 3 questions.
How many One
of you answered
“Me” to any of the above
more
question…
questions?
What if…
• …students managed this data; their own data?
• …students knew what the targets were for all
subject areas?
• …students set goals and created plans of action
to reach the targets?
• …students were held accountable for their
progress?
• …better yet, students held themselves
accountable for their progress?
Check-This WILL allReality
be a reality
with the use of data
Checkinunder
here
notebooks
the classroom!
3 Steps of Data Notebook
Implementation:
Step 1: Begin with a Mission
Statement
Step 2: Identify Data to Track
Step 3: Set a Timeline for Gradual
Implementation
Step 1:
Begin with a Mission Statement
What is a class mission statement?
• A class mission statement sets the priority
and purpose for why students come to
school
• A class mission statement will be created by
the students in their own words
• A class mission statement will be posted in
the classroom and will serve as a road map for
the class expectations for learning and
behavior.
How do I guide my students in
writing a class mission statement?
• You can access a SMART notebook lesson on Novi’s
web page under the 7 habits tab to guide you through
this or…
• Begin by finding some common mission statements on line
of companies students know; McDonalds, Disney, Toys
R Us, etc.
• Guide them through the purpose of creating a mission
statement
• Brainstorm a list of reasons for being in school
• Begin to craft the statement by using the wording from
the brainstormed list
• Revise with students as necessary
• Print and have each child sign it
• Post it in a visible area for referring to daily
Step 2:
Identify Data to Track
• Key Point: If the data you collect doesn’t serve
a greater purpose (like informing instruction,
tracking progress of defined targets, etc.), then
it is not worth collecting! Don’t collect data just
for the sake of collecting data!
• What clearly defined targets does your system
already have? i.e. reading levels, pre and post tests in math,
math facts, dolch words, AR book requirements, writing rubric
scores etc.
• Have students select a goal for themselves:
academic, behavioral, or personal
**Management Strategy: Start your students with the same
type of goal at the same time, and begin with only one type of
goal. For example, have the whole class choose an academic
goal to chart for a specified period of time.
Key Point
Remember these questions when
choosing data:
• Whose data is it?
• Who is it intended to help?
• Does it serve a higher purpose?
Step 3:
Set a Timeline for Implementation
• Create a gradual schedule for implementation of subject
areas and goal setting
• Work in trimesters or quarters—for example:
• 1st trimester: set personal goal and track reading levels
and one dolch list, send home notebook at end of
trimester and complete student and parent reflections
• 2nd trimester: check on personal goal completion, set
academic goal, add math test score tracking, continue
reading scores, send home notebook at end of trimester
and complete student and parent reflections
• 3rd trimester: check on personal and academic goals, add
behavioral goal, continue with reading and math, add
writing scores to track, send home notebook at end of
trimester and complete student reflection
Keys to School or
District Implementation
1. Consistency and alignment vertically and
horizontally
2. Stick to already identified school or
district expectations
• Don’t try to create new methods of teaching or
creating new expectations when starting up data
notebooks-
• Your data notebooks will be fluid, in that when your
district or school expectations change, then so will
your notebooks—not the other way around.
Management Strategies
•
Keep students together when introducing a type of goal
•
Create and maintain a schedule for implementation
•
Store the notebooks with easy access so that they can be
referenced often
•
Make them a part of the classroom routine; reframe your paradigm
about what is important to spend time on in the classroom
•
Sit and have conversations with kids about their progress and
strategies they can use to continue to progress, regardless of level
of achievement---this takes time, but the pay off is worth it because
it allows you to go slow to go fast, really fast!
•
Allow students to do as much as possible to maintain them; the older
the child the more responsibility they can assume
•
Create documents to be grade level appropriate (lines big enough,
graphs understandable, appropriate directions, etc.)
•
Buy write-on tabs
•
Choose simple names for sections
Mindset Makes the
Management Difference!
The Growth Mindset
•
If you operate from the mindset that there is nothing more
important than teaching students to set goals, create plans
of action, and work toward clearly defined targets than you
are more likely to find (make)time for the notebooks in the
classroom.
The Fixed Mindset
•
If you operate from the mindset that this is one more thing, or
too time consuming, then you will no doubt be right!
Mindset, Carol S. Dweck
Let’s Take a Look
• Please feel free to look through
the notebooks and ask us any
questions about the documents
• All documents can be accessed
from our Novi website under
the 7 Habits tab
Planning for September
• Talk with a partner about what you can
begin in September and use the
provided paper to begin a plan of action
• Remember to start slow
• Be sure it is manageable for you and
when you feel you can add another
component, than do so, but have a plan
for implementation
Questions
• Let’s revisit our thoughts from the
beginning…
• What questions do you still have?
Thank you for coming today!
Bridget Zahradnik
Meghan Ashkanani
bzahradnik@novi.k12.mi.us
mashkanani@novi.k12.mi.us
Novi Community Schools
Novi Community Schools
Parkview Elementary
Village Oaks Elementary
(248) 449-1220
(248) 449-1300
First Grade
Third Grade
Novi Community Schools district web site: www.novi.k12.mi.us
•Go to Academics tab at the top
•Go to 7 Habits link