ELA Newsetter

January 4th, 2025

Using Benchmark Data to Drive Instructional Decisions in the New Year

Happy New Year!

As we work to complete benchmark assessments, the new year presents an opportunity to adjust our instructional approach. Thoughtful data analysis will help identify students who are on track, as well as those who may need additional support through small group instruction and intervention. When reviewing your Fastbridge data, check out the following reports: Group Growth Report, Screening to Intervention Report, Individual Skills Report. These reports provide valuable insights into student growth and areas for improvement. Understanding this data will support your planning for both whole-group and small-group instruction.

Group Growth Report

This report shows academic progress over time and can help set clear goals for your class. Use the color coding at the top to select the benchmark you want to track for specific assessments.

Screening To Intervention

This report highlights recommendations for class-wide or small group interventions based on the benchmark assessment data.

Individual Skills Report

This report provides an overview of individual student performance in earlyReading, aReading, and CBMReading, including scores and a breakdown of mastered and developing skills.

Unit Assessments

As you analyze benchmark assessments in Fastbridge, unit assessments provide an additional data point to guide your instructional decisions. Each administered unit assessment offers valuable insights into student understanding and mastery of the concepts taught in Wonders. Here are key elements to review when analyzing your unit assessments:

Top Three Missed Questions: These questions are highlighted to help identify common areas of struggle.
Concept Connections: The assessment also links these areas to where the concepts are taught in Wonders, allowing you to focus on specific content for review or intervention.

By reviewing these key pieces, you can better tailor your instruction to meet student needs.

Here are links to unit assessment frequently missed questions: