A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action
by Ryan Pool, Assistant Principal for Instruction for CrossRoads Middle School
Taking a school from discussion about PLCs and formative assessment to the actual implementation of collaborative data teaming is no overnight endeavor. Instructional leaders from CrossRoads Middle School will share practical insights about setting the right climate, finding the right data, and forming the right teams to turn talk into action. Attendees will leave with a practical blueprint for data team implementation at their schools.

Balanced Literacy: “Tipping the Scales” in Favor of Student Achievement
by Denise Miles, Curriculum Interventionist, ELA & Social Studies for Creek Bridge High School
In this session, participants will learn about Creek Bridge Middle / High School’s endeavor to accomplish the daunting task of growing proficient readers through the implementation of a school-wide Balanced Literacy model. Facing the challenge of teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students with 2nd grade reading levels, administrators and teachers knew something had to be done to effectively prepare these students for high school. After two years of whole-school Balanced Literacy practice, middle school students have shown dramatic improvements in reading, with some students improving 3 grade levels in one year. Presenters will share quantitative and empirical data documenting students’ growth and will provide practical, honest, step-by-step advice on how to use data to effectively implement the Balanced Literacy model in other schools.

Classroom Mosaic: Using Walkthrough Observation Data to Foster Continuous Improvement
by Robert Jackson, Ed.S., Assistant Principal for Instruction for Dutch Fork High School
Are walkthrough observations a common practice in your district/building? Do you provide teachers with instant feedback? How do you use data and analyze these observations? Using today’s interactive technologies (such as the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and/or laptop computers), learn how Dutch Fork High School created and implemented a systematic and efficient walkthrough observation protocol which tracks observer and classroom performance data while simultaneously allowing school leaders and teachers to create a dialogue which fosters an environment of continuous growth.

Creating Performance Tasks For Texts of Increasing Complexity
by Libby W. Carnohan, ELA/ESOL Coordinator for Lexington School District One
Using exemplars from the Common Core of State Standards, participants will look at the construction of performance tasks related to increased rigor and text complexity.

Data Dialogues Using Powerful Inputs - An LPMS Update
by Andy Hegedus, Sr. Manager Professional Development, Data Analytics for NWEA
NWEA believes that school and district performance improves with the wise use of data. To accomplish this, two things are required: 1) Information generated from data needs to be developed in rigorous ways with the strengths and limitations of the analysis well understood; and 2) the decision making process utilizing the information needs to be structured to gather organizational wisdom and apply it appropriately. This session will review the the latest thinking from NWEA on ways meet both of these requirements.

Discover the Power of Virtual Learning with CompassLearning Odyssey
by Barbara Roberts, Senior Account Executive for CompassLearning
Join us to see how districts can assign curriculum based on South Carolina standards, Common Core and NWEA MAP results to assist students in multiple school settings or accessed by students virtually outside the classroom for summer studies, remediation or acceleration. The K-12 Anytime, Anywhere learning allows students to access learning opportunities; parents to become more involved with the learning process; and educators to plan and monitor activities for students during the school year and summer school.

Keeping Learning on Track: Overview
by Kathy Dyer, Professional Development Consultant for NWEA
The Keeping Learning on Track (KLT) program is a multi-year, interactive professional development program that supports teachers in adopting minute-to-minute and day-by-day formative assessment. One of the lead authors of KLT was Dylan Wiliam, international expert on formative assessment.

Lights, Camera, Data Teams in Action!
by Tami Richardson, Gifted Coordinator for School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties
Join the district content coordinators as we share our district's experiences with the data team process during the past year, from role playing a data team to actual implementation

NWEA and the Common Core
by Mrs. Laura Riley, Partner Relations Representative for South Carolina for Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA)
NWEA is ready to provide Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Assessments for your district.

The Future is Now: Online Integrated Curriculum
by Brenda Black-Morrison, NBCT, Instructional Coach for Spartanburg County School District Three
Learn how SC Districts are using technology to create advanced Curriculum Guides. Spartanburg School District Three's Electronic Curriculum Maps are very advanced. Everybody is contributing to a large variety of standards based lessons and resources, based on best practices. Everyone shares for the common good. Brenda, NBCT will also discuss “How to Create an Effective Lesson Plan”.

The Power of Teaching - Gathering data on and supporting key fundamental teaching behaviors
by David Sundstrom, Author for NWEA
The Power of Teaching program uses proven, research-based teaching techniques to increase both the quality and the quantity of student learning. Power of Teaching analyzes over 40 specific teaching behaviors and demonstrates effective and ineffective practices with rich examples. Through ongoing data gathering, this approach ensures participants easily and quickly learn meaningful, actionable behaviors they can use right away. This session provides an overview of this rich professional development.

Understanding the 2011 norms
by John Cronin, Director - The Kingsbury Center at NWEA for Northwest Evaluation Association
An overview of NWEA's 2011 norming study, the changes in the methodology, and the results.

Using assessment data in a high stakes environement
by John Cronin, Director - The Kingsbury Center at NWEQ for Northwest Evaluation Association
More and more frequently assessment data is being used for high stakes purposes, particularly principal and teacher evaluation. This presentation familiarizes educators with factors that schools must consider when undertaking this work and also provides an understanding of the basics underlying value-added measurement.

Using Data to Help Writers Grow During a Writing Conference
by Mary Lambert, Third Grade Teacher for Nursery Road Elementary
Help! I don't know what to say during a writing conference! You will learn how to create a developmental writing continuum and how to use it to create individualized writing goals. We will also share ideas and strategies to make your writing conferences beneficial for you and your students.

Using PSAT data/SOAS report to Improve Critical Reading Scores on the SAT
by Tim Anderson, SAT Verbal Instructor for Chapin High School
Using the College Board's "Summary of Answers and Skills" Report, a teacher at a South Carolina high school created a curriculum for his SAT Verbal class to remedy the deficiencies outlined in the report. Using 10th grade PSAT data along with 11th grade SAT data for a control as well as a variable group, the instructor was amazed at the results seen in the students' performance on the SAT.

“Efficiency in Schools: Making Data Accessible”
by Donna Manning, State Manager, South Carolina for Interactive Achievement
Collecting data is only useful when it is accessible and comprehensible. “What do all of these numbers mean?” is a frequent question echoing through the halls of our schools and communities. The numbers must be explicit and we must work through those numbers collaboratively to see a change. OnTRAC by Interactive Achievement allows all of the stake holders in a child’s education to work together to increase student achievement. Interactive Achievement was founded by educators in response to the overwhelming need for better benchmark assessment tools. Our onTRAC software provides an accurate assessment of student performance throughout the school year, and our in-depth, instant reports provide administrators with the needed data to make important curriculum decisions. Find out how making the data accessible can increase efficiency in your district.