Comments on: Student growth: Why does it matter?

By: Amber AuBain

Amber AuBain — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 11:36:51 +0000

Great article!

By: Lisa Folkema

Lisa Folkema — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 01:23:24 +0000

We primarily focus on the growth of our students with little regard to proficiency. Action toward special ed testing is not preformed until we have monitored and exhausted all resources available. Keeping our students in the general ed population is the goal…as long as they show growth. We feel that students who ‘just need to catch up a little’ WILL catch up and eventually be proficient!

By: Sherrilynn

Sherrilynn — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 17:00:50 +0000

In reply to Jason. It's energizing to see students motivation increase when they track their own progress.

By: Sherrilynn

Sherrilynn — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 16:57:30 +0000

In reply to Brenda Curtis. Ah Ha! Tracking and focusing on potential. That's exciting and energizing for teachers.

By: Sherrilynn

Sherrilynn — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 16:56:41 +0000

In reply to Liana Ferrer. Considering learning styles and interests are key pieces of the puzzle as well. Helping students love learning starts with knowing their interests!

By: Sherrilynn

Sherrilynn — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 16:55:03 +0000

In reply to Jody Steinhaus. Thanks for you comment Jodi. Sharing your learning with your colleagues helps build capacity for all.

By: Sherrilynn

Sherrilynn — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 16:54:10 +0000

In reply to Angela. Understanding the difference between growth and proficiency is critical for making decisions and setting goals. When we look at data, we naturally tend to focus on learning more than teaching. A subtle, yet powerful difference!

By: Sherrilynn

Sherrilynn — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 16:52:39 +0000

In reply to Andrea. Looking at scaled scores helps focus on growth, regardless of proficiency. Thanks for reading.

By: Sherrilynn

Sherrilynn — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 16:51:49 +0000

In reply to Laura. I'm glad you enjoyed reading about my light bulb moment!

By: LQT

LQT — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 16:04:46 +0000

We track reading growth to see how students are progressing. The Star assessment & star early literacy assessment help target & Inform us of the skills they a lacking.

By: Dr. Jolanda Roby

Dr. Jolanda Roby — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 13:52:08 +0000

What is ALWAYS encouraging for the teachers in my school is seeing (on paper) the growth of their students. This informative and encouraging article allows the ones that are in the trenches to keep their eyes on “growth” and not on test scores!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 13:41:35 +0000

Our PLC’s use these reports.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 01:38:29 +0000

We test our lower performing students weekly so that we can track their growth.

By: Christina

Christina — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 23:53:09 +0000

Growth reports are an amazing tool! Great article!

By: RENEE P GRAHAM

RENEE P GRAHAM — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 19:51:32 +0000

Such encouraging info. Growth matters so much more than test scores!

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 15:38:13 +0000

In reply to Jody Steinhaus. I think it is essential to have this understanding that not all students start in the same place, so we as educators have to help them to move forward where they start...Not always getting them to that exact grade level, but concentrate on the actual learning.

By: Virginia Wiedenfeld

Virginia Wiedenfeld — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 05:00:35 +0000

Thank you for examples of how to utilize Star to increase student performance!

By: Janice

Janice — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 03:21:28 +0000

I love to use growth data when conferencing with both parents and students. Parents are happy to learn about individual progress. It makes sense to them.

By: S.Bellomo

S.Bellomo — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 19:36:37 +0000

Using reading practice, individualized to each student’s needs is a key to success!

By: Alecia Walkuski

Alecia Walkuski — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 17:52:56 +0000

I think it is important to have multiple measures for students, just as the article suggests. STAR alone isn’t enough–classroom assessments, observations, and teacher expertise are also important when discussing student growth and potential.

By: Rita Platt

Rita Platt — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 15:12:25 +0000

I think looking at growth is critical for students. They must see themselves learning.

By: JoAnn Mayfield

JoAnn Mayfield — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:30:14 +0000

I like to look at the student’s growth report because it shows where they were and where they may go. Not all students will achieve proficiency, but they can all show growth.

By: LeeAnn Needham

LeeAnn Needham — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 03:55:46 +0000

Thanks. I think we all know and believe this, but I also know that with high stakes testing, students who aren’t on track to do well on the test are moved towards special programs so that modifications can be put in place. Rather than looking for labels for these kids we should look at and play to their strengths.

By: P R

P R — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 01:28:15 +0000

Growth reports are great to show to parents at conferences to show the progress of their children.

By: Carly

Carly — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 00:53:52 +0000

Progress monitoring provides essential data to show if interventions are working. Teachers can’t wait until mid-year benchmarks to know whether our students are growing. Star makes progress monitoring easy.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 00:07:11 +0000

I monitor student growth every year. I feel it’s extremely important to track. If a student starts with me below grade level but improves by 1.5 or 2 years worth of growth in my class that’s a huge accomplishment. They may not have met end of year targets but that kind of growth is significant.

By: Liana Ferrer

Liana Ferrer — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 23:53:11 +0000

In reply to Jody Steinhaus. I completely agree with you. All kids learn at different paces. I also take their learning styles and interests into consideration.

By: Nicole Erwin

Nicole Erwin — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 22:18:23 +0000

I need to check out this report, especially across years

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 21:40:27 +0000

I always like looking at the data and seeing the upward growth on paper as the year develops. It can be a motivating factor as well.

By: Brenda Curtis

Brenda Curtis — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 19:50:28 +0000

We love the growth reports in Renaissance! It is an excellent way to really track a student’s potential.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 18:38:50 +0000

This was a very interesting article.

By: Jody Steinhaus

Jody Steinhaus — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 18:29:31 +0000

All kids can learn. They just learn at different paces and in different ways. I try my best to meet their needs based on their learning styles and with the formative and summative data I have. Making informed decisions is essential to student growth.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 18:16:40 +0000

I like using the scaled score to see students’ growth over time.