Decision Making

We've all heard the term, "data-driven" as it pertains to schools making decisions.  Data are concrete, measured, pieces of information.  Schools are using data with increasing frequency.  And rightfully so.  It's important to collect and to track a number of different data points in order to guide a range of decisions to help improve the success of students and schools.  Data offer that clarity amidst a cloud of so much subjective information that swirls around every issue. So whether we're talking about our reading interventions, our positive behavior supports, or making decisions about adopting a new reading series or a new piece of technology, at the center of every conversation is one question:

"What does the data suggest?"

But we ask this question as if the data were actually going to make the decision for us.   Data are just numbers, values, and calculations.  Data are important, no doubt, and there's no way that we are going back to making decisions without it.  However, data are just pieces in the decision-making process.

Our conversations should begin with the data, but our students are not numbers, values, and calculations. They are a collection of experiences.  They have good days and bad days.  They all have unique strengths and preferred learning styles.  Teachers take these subjective variables into account in addition to any data with which they're presented.

In the end, professional teachers, who know about learning, are the decision makers.  They gather the data to discuss it, discern it, and extrapolate meaning from it.  We use data to help us make decisions. 
 
I've recently heard the term, "Data-Informed," and I think it more accurately and appropriately describes how we treat and use data.  We educators use data to inform us as we make decisions.  I think this is more than just a matter of semantics.  Rather, it's a mind-shift.  It allows us to accept and trust the use of data, to collect reliable data, and truly dive into it, in the process of decision-making, all without feeling like our own subjective human input is going to be somehow discounted.  So let's be data-informed when making important decisions for our students.


Last Week at Platte River Elementary
Monday morning, Mrs. Rosa's students were all engaged in their fun and interactive lesson about the brain.

On Tuesday, Mr. Graetz joined Mrs. Vanderlinde at Camp Hayo-went-ha on Torch Lake for fifth grade camp.  We went down the zipline, snow-shoed, played games, had a campfire in the snow, and generally wore ourselves out.

On Wednesday, many staff were involved in meetings throughout the day.  Meetings are time consuming, yet incredibly beneficial in serving the students and families of our community.

Thursday was bitter cold and snowy, which means...INDOOR RECESS.  Some kids chose to play basketball in the gym instead of games in the classrooms.  What a great way to burn off some energy.

Next Week at Platte River Elementary
Staff will spend two days (Wed and Thurs) using data from multiple assessments to make informed decisions about how we can provide reading and/or math interventions to increase proficiencies in those areas.

There is no school on Friday, Valentines Day, as teachers will be involved in Professional Development at Lake Ann Elementary.

Our 6th graders have an opportunity to join in a new program, Martial Arts, beginning on Tuesday, February 11 after school from 2:30-3:30.  See Ms. Wynkoop for more information.

As a reminder, there is a full school day scheduled for Monday, February 17th.


Articles You Should Read Today

Love Ninja! Glennon Doyle Melton

8 Things we do as educators even though we know better... Justin Tarte


Videos You Should Watch Today
 

Play of the Year: Middle School Football Players

Johnny Carson: 3rd Grade Wisdom

Since we're on the topic of the 80s...this is so RAD!