Our district strives to focus on results and to remain data
driven! On Friday, September 13,
2013, we had an outstanding professional development day, in which we focused
on our district’s assessment data.
We use data daily within our school system, but we dedicate one day each
year specifically, to analyze our district-wide data very closely. This assessment data help us to assess
our curriculum and it’s alignment to the Iowa Core Standards. Additionally, when evaluating trends,
we also spend ample time looking at individual student data and making plans
for specific students. When we
dissect data to this extent we use the motto, “If it’s predictable, it’s
preventable!”
Prior to the completion of our work time together, our
teachers were responsible for setting an annual professional goal, utilizing
the S.M.A.R.T. goal format. In
other words, our teachers utilized the data to create a goal for the school
year that is, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic,
and Time-Bound.
After each professional development day, my pride for this
school district continues to grow!
Our teachers are so incredibly professional, passionate and committed to
learning more so that they can do better for each individual child. Our next professional development date is
Friday, October 11, 2013. It is
then, that distinguished author and professor at San Diego State University,
Douglas Fisher, will present to our staff in regard to our new reading
curriculum and the specific strategy of “close reading”.
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| Denver Elementary teachers work collaboratively to analyze student data. |
