Implementing Data Notebooks into Your Classroom, School or District

1. Implementing Data Notebooks into Your Classroom, School or District Bridget Zahradnik and Meghan Ashkanani Novi Community Schools

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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 • ?????

5. 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 of you answered “Me” to any of the above questions? One more question…

6. 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? This WILL all be a reality with the use of data notebooks in the classroom! Reality Check-- Check under here

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. Key Point Remember these questions when choosing data: • Whose data is it? • Who is it intended to help? • Does it serve a higher purpose?

12. 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

13. Keys to School or District Implementation • Consistency and alignment vertically and horizontally • 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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Questions • Let’s revisit our thoughts from the beginning… • What questions do you still have?

19. Thank you for coming today! Bridget Zahradnik bzahradnik@novi.k12.mi.us Novi Community Schools Parkview Elementary (248) 449-1220 First Grade Meghan Ashkanani mashkanani@novi.k12.mi.us Novi Community Schools Village Oaks Elementary (248) 449-1300 Third Grade • Novi Community Schools district web site: www.novi.k12.mi.us • Go toAcademics tab at the top • Go to 7 Habits link