January 2009

Have Your Students Performed Below Expectation on the FCAT?

If you’re unsure which students performed below expectation on the FCAT, the NRT vs. SSS Scatterplot graph can make that crystal clear for you.

There is a correlation between scores of the FCAT Norm-Referenced Test (NRT) and the FCAT SSS Criterion-Referenced Test. If a student’s score on the SSS falls below the predicted NRT achievement level, then this student is considered to have performed below what should be expected based on the student’s ability.

The NRT vs. SSS Scatterplot graph has the NRT scores graphed along the x-axis and the FCAT scale scores graphed along the y-axis. There are colored regions on this graph that represent the areas of expectation. If a student’s bubble appears below one of these colored regions then they have performed at an achievement level that is below expectation based on their ability as measured by the NRT.

Here’s how you create the NRT vs. SSS Scatterplot graph:

1. If you are logged in as a Counselor or an Administrator, click “View” beside a grade level for 2009 from your Home page. If you are logged in as a Teacher, click “View” beside your name for 2009 and select “View All Students” OR the name of one class.
2. Click the Scatterplot Graphs icon.
3. Click FCAT NRT Reading vs. FCAT SSS Reading.
4. Identify the colored squares/rectangles at each achievement level. The students within these colored areas performed At Expectations on the last test.
5. Identify the students whose dots are above the colored areas in their column. The students above these colored areas performed Above Expectations on the last test.
6. Identify the students whose dots are below the colored areas in their column. The students below these colored areas performed Below Expectations on the last test.
7. You have now identified Extra Care Kids who performed last year at less than the NRT tests indicate they are expected to do. These are students who have the greatest potential to move up if given focused attention to their needs.
8. Repeat the above process with Scatterplot Graphs: SSS Math vs. NRT Math.

It is a good idea to perform this activity for each grade level. Teachers should also perform this activity for all the students they teach.

After identifying students in your aggregate that fall below expectation, you may want to further analyze their data to determine their weaknesses and reflect on instruction and curriculum that was used with this group. Here are some discussion questions around about this topic that may be used with school improvement committees or evaluating teams.

Possible discussion questions for FCAT NRT vs. SSS Scatterplot:

• Why would students with similar NP values (similar ranks; for example low average, high average, highest ranks) score differently on the FCAT SSS?
• What will it take to keep students performing as expected on the FCAT SSS?
• Why are some students not performing as well as expected? What would it take to get them to perform at the expected levels?
• What instructional strategies or teaching techniques need to be examined which might have been unsuccessful?
• Why are some students performing higher than expected? Are there successful instructional strategies or teaching techniques which could be shared? With grade level colleagues? With receiving teachers?

If you would like to get an online demonstration on how to create the NRT vs. SSS Scatterplot graph, sign up for the next free monthly online training session (see below for scheduled dates and times) and be sure to request that this graph is covered in the discussion. You can also email Michelle Gainer directly at mgainer@studentperformance.com.

Gadsden County School District Renews SnapShot Subscription

Gadsden County School District joins the list of SnapShot schools that have renewed their subscription to the classroom data analysis tool for another term. Student Performance SnapShot has been Gadsden County’s data tool of choice since 2005. We look forward to continuing to serve Gadsden in 2009 and well into the future.

Resolve to Make Gains in Your School Grade

It’s now 2009 and a great time to make New Year’s Resolutions for your school. We suggest that one of your resolutions be to make more data-driven decisions in your school. This shift in thinking can make the biggest impact in improving your school grade. And with your subscription to SP SnapShot, you’ve got the tools to make it happen.

To help you create meaningful queries, formulate questions, and decipher the data that SnapShot provides, we recommend using the SP SnapShot Data Analysis Handbook, which:

• Guides you through the process of analyzing data;
• Helps you ask the right questions;
• Gives step-by-step instructions on performing queries;
• Outlines a timeline of when to run each report;
• Shows you how to generate data that’s meaningful to your classroom;
• Provides talking points for data discussions with parents and students.

The Handbook makes sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions easier than ever.

For more information on how you can invest in SnapShot Handbooks for your staff, please contact Customer Service at 1-866-658-8238 ext. 43.

Free Monthly Online Training Sessions

Got questions about data? Don’t miss this month’s Data Chat Webinar, designed for current SnapShot users to ask their specific questions about data analysis and/or the SnapShot program. A SnapShot Trainer will be online to virtually walk users through each screen to show them exactly how to get the desired results.

The next scheduled Monthly Data Chat Webinars are:

• Thursday, January 22nd from 9:30 am – 10:30 am EST
• Wednesday, February 11th at 10:00 am – 11:00 am EST
• Tuesday, March 10th at 9:00 am – 10:00 am EST

If you would like to attend any of the above sessions, please send an email to Christine Harrison at christine@studentperformance.com. If there is a specific topic that you would like addressed, please reference that in your email along with the date that you would like to attend. Space is limited to ensure everyone’s concerns can be addressed within the one-hour timeframe, so book early to save your seat.