The Data Guidebook for Teachers and Leaders

Dr. Depka is an educational consultant and author. Eileen has supervised and coordinated curriculum, instruction, assessment, special education, educational technology, and continuous improvement efforts. In addition, she provides professional development for K–12 administrators and teachers. Eileen has taught all subjects at the elementary and middle levels, and she has also taught graduate-level courses. As a consultant, she has worked with schools and districts across the country, focusing on topics including assessment, grading and reporting, portfolio development, rubrics, continuous improvement, and data collection. Since 1998, Eileen has presented at the local, state, and national levels.  Eileen has been featured in and consulted on educational videos, and she has written online courses. She is the author of Focus on Homework, Designing Rubrics for Mathematics, Designing Assessment for Mathematics, and The Data Guidebook for Teachers and Leaders: Tools for Continuous Improvement. She is the co-author of Formative Assessment in the RTI Framework and a contributing author to Data Enhanced Leadership.  Her newest book concentrating on questioning strategies will be available later this year through Solution-Tree press.   Eileen earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin.  Her Master’s and Doctoral degrees were earned from Cardinal Stritch University.  Eileen is passionate about student achievement and is driven by the belief that all children can achieve academic success.  Her goal is to work with teachers and administrators to collectively increase expertise and add to strategy banks used in educational settings in an effort to impact student achievement.

• List of FiguresPrefaceAbout the Author1. Data-Based Decision Making and the Improvement ProcessWhat Do the Experts Say?The ProcessThe Improvement CycleClosing Thoughts2. Data CollectionWhat Should Be Collected?Creating a BalanceMust-Have DataTools: The Three “T’s”Closing Thoughts3. Delving Into the DataGetting a Closer Look at DataDefining a PurposeCreating an Atmosphere of AcceptancePlanning and Implementing the Data DelveClosing Thoughts4. Standardized and State Test DataReporting DataComparing Response TypesItem AnalysisPromoting Analysis and DiscussionClosing Thoughts5. Using District AssessmentsDistrict AssessmentsCollecting the DataWhy Collect and Share?Closing Thoughts6. Rubrics: Data Use and OrganizationGaining a Common Understanding: Holistic and Analytical RubricsGathering Individual Student Data From RubricsReporting ResultsCommunicating With StudentsEvaluating Group Data From RubricsClosing Thoughts7. Classroom Assessment DataThe Purpose of CollectionGrade Book HighlightingItem AnalysisClassroom DisaggregationsRubric ResultsA Systematic View of Classroom AnalysisDaily ReflectionClosing Thoughts8. Students and DataFeedbackReflectionCharts and GraphsClosing Thoughts9. Experiencing SuccessGenerate InterestMake Data a HabitInvolve OthersPromote the CycleCreate an ExpectationExpect ChangeProvide SupportCelebrate SuccessBibliographyIndex

"At last, a book on data that both teachers and administrators can use to improve student achievement. Her text and user-friendly forms guide veterans and novices through a process that makes data an integral part of teaching and learning."