Data Analysis and YET

If the title didn't excite you, I don't know what will! :) Today my students did some work analyzing their reading benchmarks from last week. It was pretty interesting to watch them make graphs out of their data and try and determine their strengths and weaknesses. I have found time and time again, data is something to which all kids can relate. They sort of geek out at seeing how they did (whether it was stellar or not). For some students, it can be a real wake up call to areas in which they need some additional work. Data doesn't lie, so for some kids it is easier to swallow seeing it in black and white. For other kids, it is really more of an affirmation of what they probably already know about themselves as learners. The coolest part for me is to see that kid who looks at their data, thinks on it for a bit, and then comes up to me and says that they did so much better than they did last year (even if it is just a couple of questions better). Those are my yet kids. They realize they don't have it all figured out yet, but they see the growth they have made and they are willing to climb the mountain. I love the yet kids. They inspire me to do better. They are the ones who I think about on those days when I really don't want to get out of bed or feel more like having a little pity party when the day or lesson might not go the way I was hoping. They get it. They know that school isn't about being the best one all the time. They understand that sometimes learning is hard, but worth it in the long run. I think I am a yet kid too. I know I don't have it all figured out. I learn that lesson a little more every day. What I do know for sure is that I, too, am willing to climb the mountain and hopefully be an example (most of the time) of what it means to keep going and know that it's OK not to have it all figured out yet.

Sincerely,

Tara Reed