As teachers, “assessment” is our middle name. We collect TONS of student data, and it’s important! Collecting student data is an essential step in informing our teaching and differentiating instruction. However, it’s a double edged sword. We have all of this information, and then we can’t find our desk because it’s hidden under piles of assessments. So, the big question is… how do we organize student data so that it’s useful and we can find what we need?
I’ve tried tons of systems over the past few years… file cabinets, milk crates, individual student data portfolios, and none of them worked. They were cumbersome, took forever to file, and I could never find what I needed. One of my teammates started using a data binder, and once I made my own, I never looked back. Organizing student data using a data binder is simple and quick, and your binder can travel with you from home to school. The best part is, you can actually USE your data, not just file it away! (Think about how easy report cards would be if you had everything right in front of you!) Here’s a peek inside my data binder:
Student index & tabs
At the front of my data binder is the student index. I use the Avery Ready Index (it comes in a 12, 15, and 31 tab version, but if you can’t find the larger versions, you can do what I did and put two 12 packs together and it works fine).
Each student is assigned a number (I prefer to list my kids alphabetically so I can find them quickly, but if you use a class number system, you can assign them the same number as that- it’s up to you!). The number that they’re assigned correlates to the tab where their assessments will be.
Student summary sheets
When you flip to one of my students’ tabs, the first thing you will see is their Literacy Assessments Summary Sheet. This is an “at a glance” page that shows what skills a student has mastered, and what skills he/she is still working on. I copy these on WHITE paper so I can differentiate them from the assessments.
These pages are very helpful for report cards because you can see all of your data in one place, and don’t have to flip back and forth between assessment sheets.
Individual assessments
Behind the Literacy Assessments Summary Sheet, I keep the data recording sheets from each literacy assessment for that one student. They have the specific information on how that student scored on the assessment.
I like to copy each assessment on a different color of paper so if I’m looking for a specific assessment, I know that I need to look at all of the papers of a certain color.
Behind the literacy assessments is the students’ Math Assessments Summary Sheet, and then the data recording sheets from each math assessment for that one student.
Final Thoughts
I love using a data binder to organize my student data because I can easily flip to the student I need, and everything is right there. I can bring the binder with me to meetings, or bring it home to work on report cards. I don’t even have to stay late at school to file papers, I can do it right on my couch! And the best part… I don’t have any piles on my desk anymore!
Ready to make your data binder? Click here or on the image below to grab the one I use (it’s completely editable!)
Want to create your own data binder? Click here or on the image below to download a data binder cover for free!
