Data Teams and Positive Mindset

Now that we've wrapped up NWEA MAP testing and given initial benchmark assessments to our students, I've been thinking about how we treat "data" and make it work for us in immediate and meaningful ways.

Dr. Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers podcast recently featured the topic "10 tips for making sure data meetings are actually useful," which made me laugh. Not because data meetings aren't useful, but because I think many teachers have the perception that there are more precious things they could be doing with their time or that they are powerless to influence team dynamics that aren't working for them.

And I get it. Without a clear protocol (like data driven dialogue or ATLAS protocols), sometimes it isn't clear what the goal of the meeting is or how to make it run better. The author of the post/podcast, Melissa Forbes, pinpointed several reasons that data meetings don't work, but also how they can be useful even IF they aren't working as advertised. One thing she mentioned that stuck with me was attitude:

It’s about how you can shift your thinking from “what a pointless waste of time” to “that wasn’t so bad” to even “I really feel good about today’s meeting.” Perhaps your teammates will also evolve as a result of your influence, and that would be great.

The power of looking for the positive can't be underestimated, but I also appreciated her practical tips like, "Bring a question" and "Resist discussing specific students," as these help ensure YOU get something useful from the team time to bring back to your classroom without wasting time venting. (And studies show venting rarely makes you feel better; planning to make a difference does!)

Even if you don't check out the post/podcast, I hope these tips help. And the TLI department looks forward to talking to you about how you can make data teams a positive experience.

-Jessica Gillespie