Tracking Progress

So what is the purpose of systematic instruction? Well, one of the purposes of systematic instruction is to keep track of progress, successful or not, of the goals on the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). When tracking progress, one can see how successful the instruction is. If the instruction is not successful, then the teacher will make a decision as to the changes that need to be made. If the instruction is successful, then by keeping track of the data one can see when the student has met the criteria for completion of the goal.

At least once a year, a group meets to discuss the IEP of the student. One part of the IEP is made up of the goals that the student needs to work on. The teacher is expected to report on the progress that is being made on these goals. Due to the IEP being a legal document, the teacher has to keep track of all of the progress that the student is or is not making. On occasion a teacher’s data sheets are called into legal question. For this reason, the data sheets need to be kept up to date.

The data sheets that you read about and saw examples of in the systematic instruction section of this unit are the first step in keeping track of the progress. The second step is to take the data and transfer these data on a graph. You can see the progress on the data sheets, but graphs are much easier to read. Some teachers may have the peer tutors make the graphs, so make sure that you understand each part of the graph. The students should also be keeping track of the data on a graph of their own. The purpose of having the student keep track of her or his own progress, is that the student will know how she or he is doing. After having the student complete the graph, the progress needs to be discussed. Where the student is currently performing needs to be discussed, as well as how far he or she is from reaching the goal.

Most teachers keep the data graphs in the form of a line graph. For students, a bar graph is may be easier. Below you will find examples of a line graph and a bar graph. Take a close look at them both and think about which would be easier for you to do and easier for the student to complete and understand. There are several pieces of information that needs to be on every graph:

• The student’s name
• The task being worked on
• The dates that the task was worked on and for which data were collected
• The number or percentage correct

The goal should also be indicated. Some teachers do this by highlighting the line the student needs to reach.

Example Line Graph

Example Bar Graph

*ACTIVITY* The activity for this section is to develop a graph on your own. You will need a piece of graph paper and an instructional unit data sheet on one of the students. Make sure that you have person from the teacher to use the data sheet. You will develop a graph and transfer the data from the data sheet to the graph. After you have set up and transferred the data, turn the graph into the teacher. Make sure that you make the graph easy to read and follow.

Link to next section: Alternate Portfolio

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