As I started my new job as a Reading First Coach, I began to realize just how much work goes into entering data so that teachers are able to analyze the data which drives their instruction. In just my first week, I have already began to enter data into Excel Spreadsheets. Excel can be a beautiful thing! However, it can also be super frustrating!! Luckily, I did not have to create the spreadsheets that I inputed data into. Bless the people that are in charge of figuring out the different formulas so that the data shows what you want it to show. The data which I was inputing was from the PA Profile, which if you are not familiar with that is a Phonemic Awareness assessment. The Excel spreadsheet is an awesome way to show the data. The way the spreadsheet was set up was for the cells to change colors when certain numbers were entered. The colors were red, yellow, and green. This way teachers can see which students are in need of interventions at a glance!
While this particular blog does not have to do with the use of technology while teaching, this is how technology and literacy came together for me this week. Data is a HUGE part of teaching and technology is a HUGE part of gathering, entering, and using the data. And, for the record...this new job is working out great so far! I'm really excited to see where it takes me.
