Data Collection Tips for Special Education Teachers
A Better Way to Understand Student Performance Across Classes
By Karla Banks, Special Education Teacher & Blogger
Do you struggle to collect student data from all the teachers who work with your students? Here are a few quick and easy tips to get you started.
Collecting data on prevocational skills, social-emotional skills, and other behavior goals is difficult because I want to document how students perform in all settings. I have found that Google Forms can be useful for collecting data from a variety of teachers.
Google Forms are quick and easy to use. You can set up the forms so that the teachers you work with can complete them in less than a minute. The easier and faster the form is to complete, the more likely busy teachers are going to have time to complete them. Set up your form with multiple students so that each teacher only has to fill out one form.
I set up the form using the checker box grid. I use the following titles: Excellent, Satisfactory, Needs Improvement, and Not Observed. On the left side, I list the student’s name and the goal from their IEP. At the end of the document, I leave a space for teachers to make notes.
After you have the form ready, copy the link and send it to your teachers. You can also set up an automatic email to send out the link each week so you don’t have to.
You can grab your own copy here to edit for your students:
For skills that can be tested using flashcards or lists, Google Sheets is a great way to start. Use this template to add sight words, math facts, or other skills you are working on. After you fill in the skill down the left side, make a copy of the sheet for each student. Rename each sheet with the student’s name. Type the date at the top of the column. If the student gives a correct response, just click the corresponding box. The total will update at the bottom of each column making it easy to record.
You can grab your own copy here to edit for your students:
I hope these easy forms make collecting data easier for you!
Karla Banks has taught special education for over 21 years. She currently teaches 3rd-5th grade students with a variety of abilities. Her goal is to create rigorous materials that help students bridge the gap from their learning disability to their grade level. All students can learn, but we have to find the ways in which they learn.
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