Data Tracking Dilemma

Thursday, July 24, 2014

This year will be my fifth year as an SLP.  I would like to say at this time that I have data tracking mastered. However, I can't seem to find "something" that works consistently. I am not sure that "thing" exists. Tracking data is an imperfect and ever evolving task!


What have I tried so far?
  • I have tried Super Duper Inc.'s data tracking app. It took a LONG time to input all students goals. Then to keep them updated after every IEP was a nightmare. 
  • I have also tried creating an excel sheet with groups. It worked for a while, but I grew tired of having my computer open during groups. 
  • I don't think I can even count how many different paper forms I have tried! I think I probably adjust my form about three times a year, maybe more. I end up getting inspired by a new form I find and then try it out for a while. 

 What works for me?
  • This last year I set a goal for myself to at least track the student's number of sessions to ensure I was meeting their IEP times.  This was the reason I created the Attendance Calendar (free!) I have the students circle that they are present in speech. 
  • I also created a log for myself that stated that they were in attendance, if not the reason why. I circled the goals we worked on and a note about what we did that session (e.g. artic drill, board game for vocab, etc.) 

Where I have trouble? (Admitting your weaknesses makes you stronger right?)
  •  I couldn't finding a place to track the actual trials, data, notes, levels of prompting, behavioral notes. As well as attendance and things got messy.
  • I had kept all my logs in each students folder, and I found myself with piles and piles of folders in front of me. At the end of the day it was daunting just to look at!
  • I like things streamlined...this was NOT streamlined. It wasn't easy to take data either and I ended up making things harder for myself.

What am I going to do about it?

  •  I got inspired by the lovely Ms. Thrifty SLP She shared her log with me. Which I loved! However it was still in paper form and wasn't working for me
  • Another SLP on the Facebook SLP group said she uses 2X4 shipping labels to take data.
  •  I married the two, I created a form using my old form, some of Ms. Thrifty's form, and 2x4 shipping labels and now I want to give it to you!!! 

HOW TO MAKE IT: 
  1.  Buy Avery White Shipping Labels in 2x4 (#18163) I found mine at WalMart. I only bought a few to start to see how I like it! 
  2. If you want to make your own version download the Avery Template here.
  3. If you want to use my pre-made labels download that here (note the preview will not show what it actually looks like, download it!) 
  4. Make a place to stick the labels, I used the same Avery template but deleted a few boxes to include a place for the student's name etc.  Download my version here or a new one with room for goals here
  5. Print and GO! 

HOW TO USE:
  1. Grab a clipboard. 
  2. Keep a big stack of the labels on it. 
  3. I plan to fill out most of the info that I can. This way I have less work to do. If you make your own you can fill out the year, school. You can even make pages for groups and preload the students names on them!
  4. Take data during the group.
  5. When done with the session or at the end of the day take the stickers and SLAP (haha) them onto the students data sheet! DONE! I cannot wait to try this system out!
Would love to hear how it works for you, or feel free to share other ways you track your data!

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42 Comments »

42 Responses to “Data Tracking Dilemma ”

  1. This looks great! I need to figure out a way to combine this but also have each kids goals all in front of me at the same time. I feel like I always forget 1 goal and end up with not enough data at the end of the quarter! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks Jenna! I do the same thing! I usually do the same thing where i tend to target the same goals and then go "Oh yeah I forgot about that one!" That is why I liked having the folders. I may add the student's goals to the top of the "slap the sticker" page. That way I can review it everyday when I put the data sticker on it. Thanks for reading!

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    3. Foremost, I love this label data tracking system and plan on using it next school year (for my CF) with some personal adjustments. I was thinking of printing up some blank ones and incorporating the student goals into the daily schedule (as seen in Natalie Snyder's blog (Retrieved from https://slpnataliesnyders.blogspot.com/2015/08/weekly-data-sheets-for-slps-with-freebie.html).

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  2. Oh, I think I want to adopt you!! I believe you have created just what I need, no changes needed! I may go out to buy the labels and get started today! You, my dear, are a lifesaver!!

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    1. Rhonda, Thanks for reading! Please let me know how it goes for you!! I hope this is a lifesaver for me as well! I am glad I got this done during the summer months, as I usually try to change up my data after the year has started....which makes things complicated!!!

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  3. Love this! My system from last year is very similar- probably thanks to Ms. Thrifty as well! I used these labels with pre-printed spots for the name/date/session and numbers to circle the objective number we worked on. Then lines for my data and observations, etc. I also had this pre-printed on the students individual sheets with the hope of using less labels, but found it much easier to just go back and stick the labels on over the next session instead of pulling out their sheets and flipping pages. Totally worth the cost of the labels! Worked really well when I went into classrooms. I love the grid you have here! Hope this system works as well for you as it does for me!

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    1. Ohhhhh! Thank you for sharing!! As I have not yet used this system it is great to hear from someone else how it worked well for them!! I think I may just leave the sheets blank and write in name by hand so I don't have to do the pulling out sheets/flipping through etc. :) Might take me an extra minute of prep to write their names on each label...but in the end i think it will be easier.

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    2. I just did initials on the labels, then at the end of the day I was able to quickly place them on each student's "main data sheet(s)" which I have to file in the cumulative files at the end of each year. I totally understand wanting the goal in front of you, but I have to jot down a lesson plan ahead of time ("Fig Lang-TPT Idioms Halloween packet" or 'ire' sentence level- Step up to /r/) so while I'm sticking the labels I'm reviewing my list of goals/obj. (stuck to the front of their data sheet with updated one stapled on top) as needed. I'm going on fourteen years of SL and there is still no perfect way unless you have minimal caseload and can afford to leisurely write notes!

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    3. I love both of your ideas! Having the labels for data....then putting them on "main data sheets" and pairing them with a lesson plan so that you can stay on top of everything, including all of the goals! I was going to try a different system this year....but this one might be even better! :)

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  4. Wow..this is very cool. I used a similar grid system from a fellow blogger, but the label system is very intriguing..... I, like Jenna, need to figure out how to have the goals in front of me too...it's so easy to forget a goal once you're in the groove of the school year! thanks for sharing....

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    1. I totally agree. I loved having the folders with the data sheet and the goals RIGHT behind it. However piles of folders and flipping and searching was annoying. I think I might add the goals in tiny writing to the top of the "slap the sticker" page. I think I may be able to copy and paste them directly from our IEP system. If you figure out a way to do it, let me know!! If not I may take a short cut and just staple the goals to the back of the sticker sheet.

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  5. Jenna, I think you could type in the goals in the header of the datatracking2014. I just tried to move things around a little bit with less space on the top. Goals should fit underneath

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    1. Awesome Joy! That's exactly what I was planning on doing. That's how my district's data form is set up! Goals at the top and data beneath!

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  6. Added a new version of the sticker slapping page! haha! There should be room for some goals now!

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  7. Great post! I love how you formatted the labels :). I wrote a post on how to incorporate them when going into classrooms, which totally helped me out this past year! (http://speechpeeps.com/2013/12/intervention-in-classroom-that-actually.html). Thanks so much for the freebie!

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    1. ohh! I am going to go look at your post right now! :) Thanks for sharing!!

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  8. Thanks for sharing your ideas! I have also been trying to perfect my data collection system. When I was in grad school, one of my practicum supervisors used to write the goals on the top of a page and then just collect the data from each session next to the date of service listed. This helped keep track of absences too. We also used to write a quick note at the end of the session for an activity or page number to pick back up next time. This helped with planning. :)

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  9. So is each sticker for one session? I love it when organized brains share their smart ideas!! I would want to modify it, so that I could fit data from multiple sessions to save on stickers. Thanks!!

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    1. Yes they are set up for one sticker per session right now. It could be changed :) I can send you the template Felice!

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  10. Thanks for sharing ~ I love these data stickers!! I was hoping to change the credentials in the last line to "M.S., CCC-SLP" but am having trouble. I can edit everything except that last line for some reason. Would it be too much trouble to upload a second version for those of us with Masters of Science degrees? Please and thank you!

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  11. yes what she said above...I am pretty tech savvy, but to edit the title you have to remove the top two boxes overlapping the text box with the title which is tedious and messes with the format...can you repost a version without a title??

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  12. I love this! I guess I need bulk labels now. Off to Sam's Club I go... ;)

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  13. Thanks for giving me the idea to use labels - I have tons of them now!
    All Y’all Need

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  14. LABELS and sticky notes--what would we do without them???? :) :) :)

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  15. So, I really want to try your mailing label data collection sheets! And I love your template except for I just need to edit the M.A. to M.S. and for some reason that is the only text that I can't edit. Any idea why this is or know how to trouble shoot it? Thanks so much for you post! -Amy from NV

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    1. I need the same thing. Did you figure it out?

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    2. I need the same thing. Let me know if you figure out how to change it.

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    3. Ladies, e-mail me and I can send you another version!

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  16. When I downloaded and printed the grid of squares was squished together. Any ideas to fix this?

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    1. You should be able to move them Katie. That is weird! Email me queenspeechslp@gmail.com and I may be able to send you a better one!

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  17. I have tried to download your template for the labels but have not been able to get it to print out complete. Is there another link I could try? I have the labels and just need to print. Thanks for the freebie and any help you can offer!

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  18. I have tried to download your template for the labels but have not been able to get it to print out complete. Is there another link I could try? I have the labels and just need to print. Thanks for the freebie and any help you can offer!

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  20. I love these data stickers! I will be using these this year! no more taking home those bulky folders! Thank you so much!

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  21. This will be the 3rd year I have used your data sheets and every time I come back to them, I LOVE THEM! :) Thank you so, so much for sharing and helping me be more efficient (and consistent) in my note keeping and accuracy!

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  23. I was wondering where do you put the data stickers - a folder like manila? and then how do you organize it all.

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