At Taylor Elementary School, Mrs. Hayslip’s fifth graders are learning that life skills like goal setting and self-reflection are just as important as reading comprehension and vocabulary. Through one-on-one data conferences, students meet directly with Mrs. Hayslip to review their individual progress and create personal learning goals, taking ownership of their academic growth.
During these data talks, students look closely at their results from ATLAS state tests, monthly Common Formative Assessments (CFAs), and the Lexia Core5 reading program. CFAs are short assessments that check how well students understand specific reading skills. If results show that a skill needs more work, the teacher can reteach so students won't fall behind. Lexia Core5 is an online platform that places each student at their current level and helps them build reading skills step by step.
Mrs. Hayslip's unique approach is that the conversations aren’t just between teachers and parents, but between teacher and student. By reviewing their own data, students learn to “begin with the end in mind” and “put first things first.” They’re setting goals, monitoring their progress, and learning how to take responsibility for their own success both inside and outside the classroom.
The students agree that this process makes a difference. “If I know what my score is and I am not happy with it, it makes me want to get a higher score,” said Selena. Another student, Carsyn, shared, “It helps me learn to read better. It helps me learn what I need to work on. It helps me see if I need to redo something.”
Mrs. Hayslip’s classroom shows that when students are part of the process, learning becomes more personal and powerful.