Goal-Setting & Data Tracking in the K-2 Classroom
Tracking data and monitoring progress toward goals has been proven effective for awhile now… So, why do we struggle to show our youngest scholars how to do this? In my opinion, there are not many options available for teachers to make goal setting and data tracking appropriate for young students. With slim pickings, I created a tracker that makes implementing goal setting and data tracking in a K-2 classroom kid-friendly, meaningful, and simple.
At the start of the month, we write (or draw) the important dates and events that will happen (class parties, library visits, days off, etc.). *Tip: any days you are not in school, use a different color (we use blue).
Each day, after morning recess, students take out their trackers to track their attendance. We use traffic light color-coding to do this (green – present, yellow – tardy, red – absent). It only takes about 5 minutes to take out, color their box, and put the tracker away.
On the last day of every month, we count up all the yellow and green days (all days present) and write it down in the sentence stem on the bottom of the page. Our school has a lot of attendance incentives like a special attendance recess where they must have 95%+ attendance for the month. This has helped the kids understand if they can attend the recess or not in a more concrete way.
ACADEMIC TRACKING FOR K-2 STUDENTS
My first grade students go through a lot of testing throughout the year. It can be difficult for them to know exactly what we are testing for and even more difficult for them to verbalize how they are really doing. The academic tracking pages in this product include: letter and sound knowledge, sight word fluency, reading/math assessment pages, reading fluency, reading grows and glows, unit assessments, and math fact fluency (addition and subtraction up to 10).
I spread out these assessment pieces as the year progresses. We always start the year with letters, sounds and our initial assessment data. By the end of the year we get to all elements of the data tracker. I assess when I can (namely at the end of each trimester) and I also recruit some of the older students to help with simpler tracking pages like sight words or letter naming. Around February/March, students will use this tracker at their Student-Led Conferences. They are able to share with their grown-ups what they have been tested on and where they are currently. It is always amazing to witness students taking ownership of their learning and being proud of what they have accomplished.
K-2 DATA TRACKER (all inclusive)
I hope that you take a look of both products I’ve created. If you decide to purchase and use them, come back and share how your experience was. I would love to hear it!
Specks of a Teacher 