Data can be HARD. I’ll admit, it’s not my favorite part of my job. Actually, I hate it. You can even head on over to this post to read about how once in a while, I leave my data binder on my shelf. It shouldn’t be the most important thing we do. That’s where TEACHING comes in. But…data can help.
If you missed my periscope on data collection, I talked about how really, data collection should be working for us, not against us. Its purpose is to make our lives easier because it tells us about our students. This prevents us from skipping over skills that need more work or re-teaching skills that are already mastered. The problem for me becomes when I don’t have probes readily available and I end up wasting precious therapy time coming up with them on my own.
Almost two years ago, I created my Ultimate Data Collection Binder for Grades K-5 to help me take better data. I love it. And apparently others do too because it is a best-seller on TPT. I use it for basically everything. Most of my goals are written for a number of trials. I’m not sure about you, but I was having difficulty showing enough data across multiple sessions. I wanted something that would easily track my students’ progress without too many papers to keep track of.
Now, finally I have created the companion for this binder: Ultimate Data Collection Binder for Grades 6-12. It’s perfect for those older grades (middle school and high school) all aligned to the CCSS.
This binder tracks data over multiple sessions in the areas of Grammar, Vocabulary, Language and Articulation. It contains 65 pages assessing the following skills.
Here are a few examples I wrote down from some of my students:
Head on over to TPT to check it out and make sure to download the preview for a free compound sentence data template! It’s at its ultimate lowest price ever for until this Friday (October 30th) so you might want to snatch it up (wink, wink)!
I’m also giving away two copies to some lucky blog readers! Just enter the rafflecopter below 🙂
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Valerie says
October 28, 2015 at 7:18 amMy biggest data collection challenge is gathering data with groups where each student is working on different goals.
Jenn Mojica says
October 28, 2015 at 10:31 amData can often be difficult to collect especially at the middle school level and your data binder looks like a great resource to tackle that battle.
Kim Hovey says
October 28, 2015 at 11:15 amThe most difficult thing about data collection is managing it with mixed groups. Someone is always getting “tested” and I feel that takes away from teachable moments.
Kristine says
October 28, 2015 at 11:32 amData collection isn’t too hard when I only have 1-3 students at a time. However, in the bigger groups it is hard to keep track of data.
Shelli Smithers says
October 28, 2015 at 12:06 pmCollecting data on multiple students who are all working on different goals is very difficult for me especially when I am trying to use one activity for the whole group. I don’t always feel like I get enough trials in that 30 minute session. While I may be targeting one particular goal for a student, I work on so many different things like grammar, social interactions, language, and articulation throughout the session that my data doesn’t really reflect all that goes on during that time.
Kellie says
October 28, 2015 at 12:43 pmI find it hard to keep data in groups and while in the classrooms.
Emily says
October 28, 2015 at 1:15 pmKeeping in organized and making sure the data I do have is meaningful.
alison weigand says
October 28, 2015 at 1:24 pmdata tracking is difficult from session to session.
Heidi says
October 28, 2015 at 1:52 pmI have a hard time collecting good data when I have groups! Luckily with my current job all of my sessions are 1:1.
Laura Foster says
October 28, 2015 at 1:56 pmCollecting data for my students with Pragmatic Language goals is the most challenging. Collecting data in groups is such a challenge. Keeping a few students busy while trying to collect an oral narrative-Yikes!
Patty Livecchi says
October 28, 2015 at 3:04 pmI have difficulty keeping data for things that are hard to quantify- like improving complexity of oral expression, social interactions, vocabulary knowledge…
Patty Livecchi says
October 28, 2015 at 3:05 pmI have difficulty keeping data for things that are hard to quantify- like improving complexity of oral expression, social interactions, vocabulary knowledge… It is hard to keep data in groups or doing a push-in session too.
Shannon Giles says
October 28, 2015 at 3:42 pmTaking data in a group is challenging. How do you keep up with it all?!
Sarah says
October 28, 2015 at 4:31 pmData collection is difficult for me when I try to manage all of my individual sheets for my students with different materials for each as well! I have been looking for a new way…This looks like it!
Angela Wiggins says
October 28, 2015 at 7:06 pmThe most difficult thing about taking data is the time. When you only have students for brief amounts of time, data collection takes up too much time. This product looks like it may help with that. It looks great!
Holly Stankosky says
October 28, 2015 at 7:39 pmArticulation data is easy. I have a much harder time with taking language data. Every session isn’t about drill. I like that your binder is an easy way to show growth.
Rachael F. says
October 28, 2015 at 8:15 pmMy biggest challenge with data collection is tracking each goal and objective across each session to determine if a skill has been mastered. This data collection binder looks like it could be very useful with my middle schoolers.
Jessica Finch says
October 28, 2015 at 9:19 pmLanguage data is the most difficult because it requires more time to teach the concepts. I feel like I don’t do enough teaching and too much assessing!
Cheryl Richmond says
October 28, 2015 at 10:25 pmData collection is something I loathe!!! I know its necessary but I feel like its so time consuming.
Lindsay says
October 28, 2015 at 11:03 pmTrying to juggle activities and data sheets with more involved students.
Teach speech 365 says
October 29, 2015 at 12:20 amRemembering that it’s ok not to take data sometimes!
Carol says
October 29, 2015 at 12:56 amKeeping track of language therapy responses and having time to write them down!
Marisha says
October 29, 2015 at 2:26 amThis looks amazing! I love the compound/complex sentence piece. That would be very useful.
surleen says
October 29, 2015 at 12:30 pmThe most difficult thing for me is keeping track of social language skills, for example during conversation- it’s so hard to be engaging and at the same time keep track of data.
Truvine says
October 29, 2015 at 10:42 pmThe most difficult part of collecting data is collecting language data in groups of 5-6. There is never enough time to really comment or collect data on the majority of the responses.
Dawn Craig says
October 29, 2015 at 11:01 pmi feel as though data collection interrupts the natural flow of my sessions. There is so much going on, I hate to miss any of it because I am making hash marks.
Lauren says
October 30, 2015 at 12:09 amThe most difficult thing about taking data for me is when I have group sessions and each student has different goals!
Elizabeth says
October 30, 2015 at 12:10 amThis looks amazing! I am always looking for things for my middle school kids!!
Rachel says
October 30, 2015 at 12:20 amData can be tricky and is one of my least favorite things about therapy. I try really hard to make sure my students feel like they are getting my full attention and my nose isn’t stuck in my data binder. This looks like a helpful resource and I love that it is geared towards older students.
Kristin says
October 30, 2015 at 12:39 amI am way better at data collection with articulation. Language is more tricky and I always put it off until I can’t any longer!
Melissa says
October 30, 2015 at 12:40 amAll of Allison’s products are fantastic! My kids love them!
Lauren says
October 30, 2015 at 12:59 amThe most challenging thing for me is how often to take data. Like you said I want to be teaching students so I am always trying to balance the two.
Bianca says
October 30, 2015 at 1:08 amI would love to have this for data collection. I love all of your other products I have purchased.
Kayla SLP says
October 30, 2015 at 2:00 amThe hardest part for me is not being “all-in” teaching because I’m trying to record information instead of just teaching the lesson and giving my full attention to my students.
Katie says
October 30, 2015 at 3:25 amThe worst part about taking data can be feeling like it affects the dynamic of the session. Whether that be building relationships with the students or even slowing the pace of the therapy session. I LOVE apps like Articulation Station that allow me to quickly take data in way that doesn’t interfere with therapy!
Tricia says
October 30, 2015 at 3:37 amMy greatest challenge taking data has to be how frequently I have to do it and not show progress.
JoAnn says
October 30, 2015 at 4:25 amI find it hard to make consistencies among what the students are learning since they have different teachers, schedules, and pacing in their classes. And then keep data on it all! Sometimes I wish I could just break down skills and vocab they are learning in core classes and make sure they understand it workout stopping and interrupting the flow to take data.
Alexis says
October 30, 2015 at 5:52 pmVarious goals or simply too many objectives for one student. I also like to somehow making the data collection engaging so I’m not losing them during those sessions.
Hope W. says
October 31, 2015 at 3:09 amI have the most difficulty taking data during classroom groups. I have 6-8 students and have to deal with classroom management. Keeping everyone engaged and monitoring students for six or more different goals is challenging.
Judy Hale says
November 1, 2015 at 12:11 amI think the most difficult thing for me about data collection is just remembering to DO IT! I would rather be interacting with my students than having to ‘tally’ things.
Breana Orland says
November 2, 2015 at 7:20 amWhen I’m in a group the hardest thing is keeping the data separated by student and making sure it is legible later.
Annie Doyle says
November 3, 2015 at 12:22 amI think I finally have data collection down, but my biggest dilemma is I feel sometimes it keeps me from being fully engaged in my students.
Janel says
November 3, 2015 at 8:52 pmThe most difficult thing for me is taking data on language goals and organizing myself ahead of time.
Genevieve says
November 4, 2015 at 12:09 amFor me it is difficult in mixed groups. I often supplement with descriptive notes and after the session they may be hard to read