Free and Three: Data Data Data

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Today we are featuring an "All about DATA" post.

Last year we had to start graphing student data in the classroom.  Not only did we have to graph it as teachers, but the students also had to start graphing their progress.  Many teachers in the primary grades were really entertained by the thought of our students graphing their progress and understanding what it meant.  I mean there were days I spent a great deal of time reminding children why we don't run with large sticks on the playground or tie our own shoelaces together.  However, we still expect them to know what the graph means and take ownership of it?  Pshhhhtt, umm no.

Actually.... sheepishly we all kind of had to eat our own words about two weeks into the progress.  We had kids talking about their "stairs" and how they went up "THIS MUCH!!"

By the end of the year they were reminding Mrs. Berry in the Reading Lab that she needed to update our graph in the lab because we were at 81% and she only had it colored to 70%.  THEY DID OWN IT.  They did learn from it.  They wanted their graphs to go up.  They were proud to show those data notebooks to whoever would listen.  In fact, some teachers in our school used them at parent-teacher conferences.  We even have teachers that are having STUDENT LED conferences with data notebooks this year.

Here are a few data notebooks and other Common Core teacher tools that we use at our school to keep track of data.   Most of our mini-assessments also come with data graphs too.

The process at our school started with each grade level in the corporation meeting to decide on 10 (or so) math standards.  These were the top 10 that each grade level thought were most important to master.  Next, we created mini-assessments that correlated to the standards.  Then, we went to work teaching and assessing, graphing and reteaching.  Sometimes after assessing teachers found that you only had 5 kids who couldn't get it....you pulled them aside retaught and then re-assessed.  I completely revamped my math time to include reteaching and small groups.

What does your school do?  Do you keep data? If your district is improving to data, data notebooks, graphs.... Don't sweat it.  It is a lot of work.  It can be daunting at first but when you see the results, children taking ownership (even in small steps); it can be very rewarding.

Remember...  The first three comments will get to choose a product from this post.  We will be doing this for several days.  (Leave your email in the comment.)  PLEASE blog about this post, Pin ANY of our products (please link back), and get your students ready to graph data!!

Endless Possibilities,
Stephany, Stephanie, and Kathi

Classroom Reveal ~ First Grade

Wow! We are over a week into school and I am totally exhausted!  This is a great group of kids and we have had a ton of fun this first week.  We've had a fun time getting back into the routine and we have pretty much hit the ground running!

Here is a tour of our classroom this year.  My theme was stars last year and I decided after all the money and energy I put into it last summer that I would keep it the same and just add to what I already had.  I just try to focus on having a room that is bright and homey... somewhere they kids want to be considering how much time they are there each day!

View from the door.

The flowers on the window blocks are going to be our dead words for the year.  The dead word is in the middle and the petals will have our interesting words.  As we find new words to use, I will write the words on the petals.

To the left is where I keep all of my "teacher" stuff.  All of my files, manuals, books, and materials are kept back here.   We don't really have traditional teacher desks in our primary building. Below is the word work station.  There are NWF word sorts, stamps, CVC and word family activities to start off the year.                                                                     

The writing center below has whole class writing journals and the little trashcan has writing prompts in it.  They kids just pull out a writing prompt from the little trashcan.  There is a cabinet behind this area that holds all sorts of writing paper, pre-made books, scrap paper and writing utensils.

The rug area below is where we gather.  I keep the Venn Diagram pocket chart hung up all year.  The student book boxes are in the window.  Once we get our rules down, they will all pick books in their level to keep in their boxes and their pictures will be on their boxes.

 This board is for our vocabulary we are working on this week.  Once we have studied it, it either moves to the word wall or the math vocabulary wall.

Our jobs board for this year.

Our classroom library... I have some rugs in the tub to the right that kids can take around the room to sit and read on.  The white shelf with Clifford on top is all organized by character (Clifford, Pigeon, Biscuit, etc.) the shelf to the left is organized by AR reading level.  I have other books that I don't let the kids get into because I want them kept where I can find them easily and I know they won't get torn up or accidentally taken home.

 The "BRAVO" board is right above the library/cubby area.  This is where we display work that deserves a BRAVO! 

Common Core Math Graphs for this Quarter

Transportation Clip Chart

Guided Reading & Math Area.  Materials are kept on the shelf behind the table.

Math Center... just a few materials to start off the year.

End of the Year Goals with star graphs and Daily Learning Objectives.

There are 22 kids in our class this year.  I saw this idea on Pinterest to out down the  student's numbers on the floor to mark where they line up.  Everyone has a personal spot, no fighting over "cutting", no standing on top of each other, no rushing to be first.  It has worked wonders this year!  I just took stars, wrote the numbers on them and put them down with packing tape.  I left a space for line leader and caboose and you can see the line actually turns to an l and goes the other way.  This has taken care of a lot of problems!

Listening Center... I keep the books with CD's/Tapes in the crate under the table.  I switch them around throughout the year and put them in file folders that match their Guided Reading group's color.  They know to pick out books that are in folders that match their groups color.  The folders on the table also match their group colors.  They have graphic organizers that can be used with any book and are on the level of that group.

Here is the lunch choice board.  You can click on the picture above and it will take you to Stephanie's lunch choice pictures which are seriously one of my favorite things ever.  We have 5 lunch choices this year and this has saved me a ton of time.  I just clip the pictures to the box and they put their sticks in whatever their choice for the day is.

I am excited about this year.  Thanks for checking out our room!  We are ready for a great year!

Stephany

Today's Weather Graph

Wow... we start back to school in less than a month.  I feel like I never left!  I have been doing things around my room to organize it for this coming year.  My goal is to be a lot more organized than last year to save myself some time and headaches!  My theme last year was stars and I wanted to keep that for this year.  I am working on a calendar set because mine was so bulky that it took up a huge amount of space.  We don't have big classrooms but we have to have a ton of stuff up (objective, goals, graphs, vocabulary) so I am trying to condense all of my calendar/morning meeting board. 


 I really wanted to keep my weather graph because it is a great way to teach the kids graphing everyday which is one of our first grade Common Core Measurement standards.  The graph I had was an old Saxon Math graph and it was HUGE.  So I made this one which is a lot smaller and goes with my theme.  I thought I would share it in case anyone else had a need for it.  I have to admit I am just a little too excited to start seeing everyone's classrooms as they pull them together.  I think I need to stay off Pinterest though because I keep piling on the ideas.  Anyway, here is the graph.


Also, Amy over at The Resourceful Room posted some really great freebie binder divider and calendar pages.  They are awesome and FREE.  Head over there and check them out!

Stephany