A change like that is simply not possible if you are relying on the reporting structure of a large system like NWEA MAP, ELPA, or Panorama. Those programs are powerhouses, and they will always have a place in data visualization, but what they are lacking in is flexibility and customization features. Yet with Google Looker Studio and a customized dashboard, the change can take place in minutes. If you truly want to see reports that show exactly what you want, and nothing more, doing data work for yourself or working with a consultant is essential.

When I first started experimenting with data visualization, I heavily utilized the charts and graphs available within Google Sheets. There were obvious perks to using this platform. First of all, building charts and graphs in Sheets is intuitive. You highlight the range you'd like to visualize, and a simple graph is generated for you. Sheets is also good (and getting better) at predicting which type of graph may be best for you. The second perk is that all your visualizations are in the same place as your data. It's easy to go back and forth or view them side-by-side. However, there are some downfalls to using Sheets as your visualization tool.

The biggest disadvantage, in my opinion, is the difficulty in protecting raw data. When multiple people have access to the Google Sheet with the charts and graphs, you run the risk of contaminating the raw data, because they may be able to access that as well. Yes, you can set up protections and hide sheets, but that is cumbersome, and it is easy to let something slip through the cracks. The second disadvantage is the way most charts and graphs in Google Sheets are static. They are meant to show one thing in one way. This limits the user's ability to interact with the data to learn what is most useful for them. 

Making your data visualizations dynamic and interactive is essential if you want your people to actually use it. The data needs to be relevant to them, whatever their needs may be. This is where Google Looker Studio is so useful. Charts and graphs can be configured to cross-filter with each other. They can be controlled by dropdown menus. You can take a close look at one student, or you can see a summary of every student in the building, all on one page. Sure, you could build a page in Google Sheets that has several different graphs, but the more graphs you add to a page, the more confusing it gets. Having one graph that can be manipulated however the user likes is far superior. Additionally, Google Looker Studio allows as many users as you want to be viewing a dashboard and interacting with it simultaneously. In other words, when I filter with a dropdown menu, no other viewers see changes to their view. This allows for your entire team to analyze data that is relevant to them at the same time. Finally, using a dashboard made with Google Looker Studio ensures that all your raw data is protected. Most of your teachers will never even know there is an underlying spreadsheet or other data source. They will just know they can click whatever they want and nothing will get messed up!

If you'd like to talk more about making your data dynamic, check out my contact page to set up a time. The first one is always free!

For those of you who do not know me, I love to ride my bike. When I say love, I mean it. In the last 3 years, I have ridden just over 20,000 miles. Many of those rides have been over 100 miles, and, as you can probably imagine, there are several challenges that come with riding a bike for 100 consecutive miles. Of all the things I have learned from endurance cycling, one lesson stands out. It does not matter how good of shape you are in if you do not pair it with proper hydration and nutrition.

In the cycling world, it is affectionately known as "bonking" when you are out on a ride, feeling great, loving life, and then out of nowhere, you realize you have no energy left. You run out of gas. It feels as if your legs are full of lead, your thinking becomes fuzzy, and the slightest uphill feels like a mountain. At this point, it is far too late to eat or drink and recover, so more often than not, you end up making a shameful phone call for someone to come bring you home. It is a lesson most people only need to experience once. For me, it was on a long training ride by myself. I felt fantastic through the first 60 miles. My breakfast carried me through the morning, and all signs were pointing towards a strong finish. Then, in the span of a few miles, I noticed I had stopped sweating, my pace had dropped significantly, and I was struggling to ride in a straight line. I knew immediately what was happening to me, and recognized it was too late to fix anything. I had put myself in a very bad spot, and my only option was to slow to a snail's pace and finish my ride, bonk and all. It was extremely ineffective training, and it is by far the most miserable I have ever been on or off the bike.

Bonking only happens to cyclists who have not eaten and hydrated properly, and the secret to avoiding this catastrophe is actually quite simple. Rather than eating a massive meal and drinking gallons of water in preparation for a ride, you need to eat small amounts of food and drink small amounts of water throughout your ride. You should never feel hungry, and you should never feel full. In essence, you are trying to keep your tank half full at all times. While a big meal may help you ride well early on, it inevitably leads to crashing and burning later. However, when nutrition and hydration are properly executed, you can ride for hours without stopping, and your rides end up being much more effective and enjoyable!

Now of course, there is a connection between this story and my work as a school data specialist. It happens often that I hear teachers talk about days in their school year being set aside as "data days". I've been part of them too. I have even spoken to teachers who go on "data retreats" each year. These are often done early in a school year, after fall testing is completed. When I ask teachers the next question of what they get out of their data days, their response is disappointing more often than not. From my limited research and first-hand experience, it seems that designated data days or data retreats are commonly perceived by teachers as a waste of time. And I have to say I agree.

Obviously it is a positive any time a school sets aside time for teachers to be looking at data. That is far better than the alternative of not looking at data. However, the problem with having a designated day for data use is essentially the same problem as eating a massive meal before a long bike ride. That huge influx of data gives you a great boost for the start of the school year. You can take what you learned and apply it to your students in very effective ways. But then the middle of the year rolls around, and the last time your teachers intentionally looked at data was September. This is a problem, because before long, your teachers will start bonking. And when teachers bonk, students bonk. Looking at data can't wait until the next data day. It needs to be an ongoing process so your teachers can quickly identify and meet student needs. It does not matter how good your data is if you do not pair it with proper analysis, both in technique and timing.

In cycling, we use the phrase, "Eat little and often." In our schools, we need to "Look little and often" when it comes to data. What I mean by that is we need to be looking at data for a few minutes each time a decision needs to be made. Don't get sucked in and look for hours. Look for a few minutes, then use what you learned to start creating action plans. When we do this, we identify student needs as they come up, not months later, when it is too late to recover. 

So, going forward, try to be more intentional about diving into student data during your prep time, while you watch TV at home, or as you plan a new unit. But set a timer for yourself. Look for 10 minutes MAX and then get after the good part: making plans to help your students grow!

-Sam

This week I was vacationing at the cabin owned by my grandparents in northern Minnesota. The cabin will always be one of my favorite places. To me, it is a place that holds countless childhood memories of exciting family vacations, late nights around the campfire, fishing with grandpa, and tube rides behind the boat. In recent years, the cabin has taken on new meaning as a symbol of rest and relaxation. It is also a reminder of the my grandparents' generosity and the love they have for our family.

They get so much joy from letting family members schedule a few days alone at the cabin, and most times, they ask no payment besides some help with housework, yardwork, or other projects that need to be done. It is a small price to pay for a few days away from the chaos of the world. 

On this particular trip, one of my payments was to split some wood for campfires. My younger brother, who had been there a week prior, warned me that this was no ordinary wood. This was trick wood, wood that refused to be split. It immediately reminded me of the times I've heard teachers say, "I've done all I can, but this student just won't learn!" 

When it came time for me to split the wood, I came prepared. I replaced the old, dull splitting maul with a new, sharp one. I also supplemented it with a small wedge, designed for splitting difficult logs. 

As I began splitting, I noticed that each piece was slightly different. They were all wood without a doubt, but each one had its quirks. Some had more than a few knots, or odd angles to work with. Some had little branches coming off the sides, and others split of into several sections, with each section being big enough to split on its own. Some pieces split on the first swing. These pieces were fun because they made me feel like an all-star lumberjack. Other pieces took several minutes and upwards of 50 swings to split. There were stretches of 5-10 swings where it felt and looked as if nothing had happened. I was using all the right tools, all the right methods, but still they would not split. But then, with one final blow, the log would split cleanly down the middle. These pieces made me feel like a true rookie, but when they finally did split, now that was a good feeling. The morning went on, and I neared the end of the pile.

Finally, I approached the last log. I had been saving this one for last because it had a bit of a reputation. This was the log my brother had warned me about. It's also the one pictured in the heading of this post. I spent the next 45 minutes using a new maul, a specially designed wedge, half the tools in my grandpa's garage, and the end result was nothing short of extraordinary. The wedge designed for splitting tough logs was stuck halfway down the log with no hope of moving forward another inch, and less than no hope of ever being retrieved. I had done everything right. I used all the tools, worked hard with them, and all it got me was stuck. That's when I realized that all logs are not meant to be split. Some pieces are meant to be the big log you throw on top that will burn for hours, or the log you use as a chopping block to help split the rest. I worked another 45 minutes to get the wedge out, called myself a fine lumberjack, and went on with my day.

There are three lessons in this story.

1. It doesn't matter how hard you're working or how good of a teacher you are if you aren't using the right tools or methods. Maybe you have a student who is struggling to learn to read. It would be foolish to think that they will eventually just figure it out with enough hard work. Those students may demand innovative instruction (the new maul) if they are going to grow. They are going to need supplemental tools, specially designed for them (the wedge), in order to thrive. 

2. Every student will challenge you in different ways, but the most challenging students also lead to the most fulfillment. If you've taught in the classroom, and I expect you have, you know exactly what I mean here. You can probably think of names as you read this. Sometimes students will need us to use all the right tools, all the right strategies, AND work harder than we ever have before. There will be days when progress feels like a myth, days where you make tiny steps forward. But, with persistence, you can almost always expect a breakthrough. (I say almost because of lesson #3.)

3. When all else fails, remember that every student is an expert at something. Not every log will split, and not every student will be on-level or pass all their tests. But our job as teachers is so much bigger than academics and test scores. Our biggest privilege as educators is to work hard with each student to find out what they will be successful in. Success looks different for every student. We must do all we can to make sure our students are good enough at the basic skills then walk alongside them towards whichever version of success they choose to pursue.

BONUS LESSON: Whenever you feel like being an educator is hard, be thankful you don't have to chop wood all day!

-Sam

As educators, we often view the last day of school as the finish line. We can't wait to wrap up the school year, pack our classrooms into summer storage mode, and forget about them for a while. We're more than ready for some well-deserved and much-needed time to focus on our own well-being or the well-being of our families. We get excited to enjoy days at the lake, pool, beach, golf course, mountains, or wherever else we find relaxation. We plan to catch up on some fun reading that has been cast aside for 9 months. We can finally do all the things we wanted to do during the school year, but never quite had time for.

It is clear that summer is a valuable season in the life of a teacher, and without it, I fear burnout rates would be even higher than they are. However, summer is not meant to be only for recovery. It is possible to improve your teaching, even during your summer break! Today I'd like to tell you how in 3 simple steps.

Step 1 - June: The "Just For Fun" Month 

For many teachers, June is the first month of summer. I try to accomplish the following things in the month of June.

1. Get over my last group of students - I love my job because of the kids, and each year, without fail, the last day of school is bittersweet. Some years it is more bitter, other years it is more sweet, but every year comes with a sense of loss. The first week of my summer vacation is spent reminiscing and reflecting on the great parts of the past school year. I think about what I will miss, and what I won't miss!

2. Do whatever is restful for me - Some people like to read. Others like to lay out in the sun or go for a walk. It could even be a side job! For me, I like to go out on long bike rides and then lay on the couch with a bowl of ice cream. June is made for teachers to spend time doing whatever will help them recover from 9 months of hard work in the classroom. Find an activity that is restful for you, and do it a whole lot!

3. Get out of town - Even if it's only for one night, find a way to leave town for a vacation. It is amazing what a change of scenery can do for your mental health. Splurge on this one a little bit if you can!

4. Sleep - You likely finished your school year in a little bit of sleep debt. Research shows you can make up lost sleep as much as 7-10 days later, so there's your excuse to sleep in!

Step 2 - July: Ease Back In

4th of July is always a turning point for me. It is when I start to think about what I would like to accomplish before school starts again. My reading shifts from "just for fun" books to some self-selected (or potentially assigned) professional reading. If there are any course or online trainings I would like to complete, I try to do them in July. I still do many of the same things I did in June, but I sprinkle in some professional development as well. I do not go into my classroom unless I absolutely have to. Many school districts have their custodial staff do some deep cleaning in the summer, so that is a good enough excuse for me to stay out of the building! July is also when I start thinking of specific goals for myself as a teacher during the following school year. This year one of my goals was to create learner profiles for my 3rd graders to help them monitor their performance on standardized tests and their progress on reading goals. Let me know if I can do anything to help you meet your goals. I'm happy to teach you some tips and tricks!

Step 3 - August: Get After It!

August is another month with a few checklist items. You should still do a few of those "just for fun" things, and you can even take a vacation, but the focus definitely needs to shift a little. Here is what I do in August to get ready for the start of a new school year.

1. Start shifting my sleeping and eating schedule - No one likes looking at the clock at 10am thinking, "When's lunch?" No one likes it when you've gotten in the rhythm of taking a nap every afternoon, and now you have to teach a math lesson. Start your school year preparation  by making sure you are physically ready to be in the classroom all day again.

2. Get back in your classroom - Now is a great time to start hanging up new posters, redoing bulletin boards, rearranging your classroom, organizing your classroom library, cleaning that one closet or drawer for the first time since last summer, and all the other things we never seem to have time for during the school year. 

3. Look at incoming student data - Maybe your school has some time built into your back-to-school work days for data analysis. If so, you are lucky! If not, take a peek at your future students' scores and data from the previous year. Focus on looking for patterns in your class as a whole rather than trying to identify needs for specific students before you've even met them. For example, noticing that your class average was 5 points below the norm on MAP Reading can change the way you teach the whole group, but noticing that one student was 5 points below tells you far less about a single student. Individual students can change a lot over the summer, but class averages are generally pretty accurate.

4. Buy some new clothes - I start each new school year with one new outfit. For me, that feels like a big splurge. Some of you may have no problem picking out at least one new outfit! The reason I do this is simple. When I wear new clothes, I feel confident. When I feel confident, I am generally a better teacher. Treat yourself a little bit!

So there it is. A roadmap to using your summer wisely and coming into a new school year ready to go at it again for another 9 months. I wish you all the best this summer as you rest, relax, and recover from last year and begin to prepare for the following year!

-Sam