FMS Data Day
October 26, 2015
Day off for students -- not for teachers!
A day of professional development...although students may get a day of rest, it is not that for our teachers! They work very hard on data and professional development days to refine their instruction. Doing what is best for students is evident in the many discussions at FMS today!
8:00-10:00: Full Faculty in Media Center
Overview of day, Benchmark 2 activity, & Save the last word for me
10:00-11:00: 1st Rotation
11:15-12: Lunch on your own (Falcon Feast)
12:00 – 1:00 2nd Rotation
1:00-2:00 3rd Rotation
2:00-3:00 Final Rotation
3:00 -6:00 Conferences
Our teachers began the morning by "Taking a Walk in One Another's Shoes...". Teachers participated in a mock assessment of the upcoming 2nd 9 weeks benchmarks. This generated discussion among the content areas about connections, ah ha's, surprises, and an opportunity to share best practice ideas with one another. Teachers also got to experience first-hand the expectations for our students, which will help them learn how to support them in all content areas.
There were breakout sessions following the whole group morning activities. These breakout sessions provided an opportunity to differentiate some of the activities based on content area and to provide small group conversation that is so hard to find time for in the midst of a busy school day. The conversations were rich, and our students will benefit from all the hard work our teachers put in to the sessions they attended.
It's also important to note, that although the day was jam packed with activities, we were still able to stop for a time of fellowship and relaxation for lunch. Everyone brought a dish to share and we had a "southern style" Falcon Feast for lunch.
It's also important to note, that although the day was jam packed with activities, we were still able to stop for a time of fellowship and relaxation for lunch. Everyone brought a dish to share and we had a "southern style" Falcon Feast for lunch.
Independent Reading on Formative Assessment
Teachers took time to read excerpts from Chapter 3 of Jim Knight's book, High Impact Instruction. This chapter focuses on various types of formative assessments, and teachers reflected on what they currently use, as well as some they would like to try in the near future.
Learning Gains and Gaps
One of the breakout sessions focused on learning gains and gaps from our Performance Series assessment (district-wide accountability piece). This session helped teachers understand the idea of meeting students where they are and scaffolding learning so that everyone can make gains (growth) rather than focusing on everyone getting to the same place at the same time.
Understanding the Data
Teachers had an opportunity to look at Item Analysis from Benchmark 1 as well as Performance Series tools. Backwards design was discussed as a best practice for ensuring Pacing Guides, Standards, and Benchmarks are in line with the curriculum being taught. In addition, there was conversation about vocabulary and formative assessments to help meet the needs of all learners.