The trend or level of variability has changed since the last review

Teachers must not only look at whether there is progress being made or not, but also changes in the trends.  Changes can come quickly, or slowly.  If there has been a sudden dramatic improvement or drop off in performance, it will behoove the teacher to ask why.  Additionally, it should cause the teacher to pause if data which was relatively consistent in the past now becomes wildly variable.  

Potential Remedy

With each of these statements, changes in data should cause the teacher to pause.  If a student's performance perhaps there is some factor which has suddenly come into play.  It could be a new task which is difficult, or even something in the student's personal life.  Performance which suddenly improves should prompt the teacher to pay attention to what happened with the student to lead to such improvement.  Was there something that clicked, or was it a particular manner in which the information was presented?  Teachers who pay attention to their data will note when they do something right so they can replicate it in the future!   Data which becomes wildly variable may indicate that the task has become boring to the student.  That is he can perform well when he wants to and otherwise doesn't put any effort in.  Wildly variable data is often an indication of simple noncompliance in a student.

You can email Dr. McNair at jmcnair@calbaptist.edu

Copyright Jeff McNair/jeffmcnair.com