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Identifying content areas where students stumble isn’t difficult for teachers. It’s as simple as spotting a wrong answer on a test or a skipped question on a homework assignment. 

What’s trickier is diving into the “why” behind the confusion and frustration.

Students grapple with mastering content for a variety of reasons, from classroom-specific issues like complicated curriculum or the rapid pace of instruction, to more complex and personal issues such as poor comprehension skills or classroom disengagement. By the time test day rolls around, it’s often too late to address the underlying problem.

Pinpointing and addressing concerns in real time requires teachers to have immediate visibility of their students’ learning progress, allowing them to customize their instruction based on both individual and classwide learning patterns and needs.

At Montera Elementary School in Montclair, California, equipping our teachers with instant data and supporting them through a team-based professional learning process helped set our students up for success. 

In one year, our 6th graders’ math scores on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress increased by 8.5 percentage points while their English language arts scores rose by 14 percentage points. In addition, for the first time, 70% of these 6th grade students performed proficient or better in the Smarter Balanced Assessments for English language arts/literacy.

By uncovering the deeper causes behind their students’ challenges, teachers are empowered to make change when it counts most — in the moment and in the classroom.

Dig into the data to spot the early warning signs

When students struggle to meet academic standards, educators can’t simply treat the symptoms. True progress only happens when they can determine the causes behind them. 

For instance, if a student misses a math question on a test, they could have made a calculation error, forgotten to carry the one, or didn’t read the work problem correctly. However, if that student misses multiple questions — or the entire class wrestles with specific questions — their teacher needs to understand why and teach to that missing element.

In November 2023, Montera launched a pilot program across our 3rd through 6th grade classes using a platform that allows teachers to create and share interactive test-aligned questions that complement in-class curriculum and meet the rigor of standardized testing. It also enabled students to become more comfortable and proficient with the technology they will use during the CAASPP assessment.

Through the platform, teachers receive instant data on student performance and can access summative assessments that track student progress over time. With these insights in hand, teachers are able to adapt their instruction to close curriculum gaps, intervene immediately when students struggle, and deepen students’ strategic and critical thinking skills so they are not only ready for test day but fully prepared to master classroom content. 

Montera’s test prep process is similar to helping a permit driver navigate the neighborhood around the Department of Motor Vehicles office before their driver’s test. The student is not only gaining a fundamental understanding of how to drive a car — they’re becoming familiar with the streets, stop signs and parking lots that will set the scene for that life-changing exam.

Create a school-wide network of support for educators

According to a study by the National Education Association, 16% of teachers say the lack of administrative support is one of their top sources of stress. And 18% report that expectations set by districts are unattainable, fueling their feelings of worry and burnout.

At Montera, we have set high expectations for our teachers, but with that comes a high level of support from school leaders. 

Through Montera’s professional learning teams program, teachers, staff and administrators meet together as a team every week. Using common formative assessments gleaned through our learning management system, we can differentiate the students who progressed that week from those who did not. And in response to that data, we can create a team-level action plan to support students who are struggling. 

Through professional learning teams, data is treated as an opportunity and never as a source for shame or disapproval. It’s the foundation we can build on to embolden teachers and work together to serve our students.

According to author and inspirational speaker, Simon Sinek, education should be an “infinite game” for the joy of continuous learning and improvement. For educators, this means the one true goal is to model, inspire and support. For students, they will continually build new skills and rediscover a love of learning with each new challenge. 

While a boost in standardized test scores illustrates a milestone in students’ progress, it should never be the end goal. By using data to identify the stumbling blocks to learning and shaping instruction around critical thinking, all classrooms can become safe spaces where kids are encouraged to grow, day after day — getting a little bit better than before.