Michelle Gainer has been working with schools, principals and district administrators for more than 10 years helping them to understand and analyze data and implement key strategies to increase student achievement. With 15 years of classroom teaching experience in mathematics and the author of four elementary and secondary mathematics textbooks Michelle provides particular expertise in the analysis of student data and mathematics instruction. Michelle has National Board Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Mathematics.
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mgainer's blog
Spring Break Time
By mgainer - March 27th, 2009
Spring Break is a wonderful time of the year. You've completed at least three-fourths of your school year and are heading into the last stretch. This final break should get you through! Do you have at least three years worth of data for each of the school grade cells? If so, what is the format that you have that data in?
Cognitive Complexity
By mgainer - March 20th, 2009
FCAT is done - Spring Break is coming - only about nine weeks of school to go for the year! Remember, that is one-fourth of your school year! Make sure that time is used wisely. Marzano research has shown that there is a strong
correlation between teacher use of higher order questions and higher levels of student achievement. The Florida DOE shifted from using Bloom's Taxonomy to using Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels.
FCAT Week 1
By mgainer - March 13th, 2009
Has everyone had a smooth week with FCAT? I hope so! We don't need any FCAT horror stories. I am sure all teachers that administered the test were well trained on ethics and process. After all, what makes the test standardized is having consistency in the manner that the test is given.
February 27
By mgainer - February 27th, 2009
Is everyone working hard to get ready for FCAT? There is a lot happening in the schools right now to prepare students at the last minute. Just don’t stress the kids out! They need to do their best and should not fear the FCAT.
If you haven’t done longitudinal analysis of your AYP subgroups or the cells of your school grade, this is a good time to gather that data for the past 3 to 4 years.
Offer for Support
By mgainer - February 13th, 2009
Right now one-sixth of your school grade is in the can! You have just a couple of weeks and the whole thing will be over – whew. I am sure you have all done a lot of work this year and your students are prepared. You may want to take one last look at the students in your extra care groups and make sure they have been given instruction on all of the benchmarks tested. You can find the content focus of the benchmarks tested on our Help Page.
This week I have been sending out a quick analysis of some of our schools FCAT data from 2008. You are all on my list and I am sure I will be getting to your school soon. If you have any questions or need help with any analysis, please let me know. Have a great weekend! - Michelle
