A Good Day For a Bad Haircut

This is what happens when an elementary principal Wins a bet. Maybe I have things backwards.  We got what we wanted, full student effort on our assessments.  We set a goal of 80% or more students showing full effort on their spring tests.  Our classes all exceeded that goal and our school as a whole was at 90%.  The top two classes were Knowlton's and Cataline's, with 96% each.  I guess these photos catch the spirit of silliness.  

Measuring 36 degrees for the piece of pie (10% of the circle).

Using Data to Help Our Kids

Mrs. Hoilien’s reading intervention students track their fluency on this graph. Each week the bar grows to show growth.

Like many schools, at Sacajawea Elementary, we regularly use data to guide our instruction. We have measurable school-wide goals in reading, math, and in writing as well as in the area of maintaining a safe and positive school environment.  We try to make these goals clear to our students, families and staff. Our staff holds monthly “data meetings,” studying actual measurements from our reading, writing and math assessments.  This data helps us to better serve kids.

Additionally, teachers and students have set goals in their own classrooms. Tracking individual growth is a big motivator.  First grade has a “Read-O-Meter” chart in the hall to track fluency. Fourth grade has a rocket in their hallway that tracks individual growth in learning their Math facts. At Sacajawea, we use data to help understand and celebrate what is working and to guide our next steps to make sure that the needs of all students are being met.

Third grade students earn book charms for every 8 words per minute growth they make in fluency.

3rd Grade Reading Charms Show Growth

1st Grade has a "Read-O-Meter" in the hall to track fluency growth.