Using Data To Inform Instruction

“The best thing to invest in right now is collegiality.  The number one skill that teachers need is to be team-based, collegial, sharing their knowledge and wisdom.”

(from page 9 of the book, Results, by Mike Schmoker)

The quote above drives everything that happens in Research and Assessment.  We realize that numbers and data are meaningless unless they have an impact on what takes place in the day-to-day instruction that takes place in our classrooms.  Therefore assessment results are provided in a standards-based context so that student strengths and weaknesses can be easily identified.  Teacher Teams can use this data in cognitive planning sessions to refine upcoming lessons and set goals for future assessments.  Our assessments are a part of the instructional cycle and not an end in themselves.