Check. Decide. Do. Teach What Today Told You.

Bryan Gelbke

01 Oct 2025 — 2 min read

Reading the Signals (So You Can Act)

Transition time creeping up? Pre-correct the routine, add a 30-second model, shorten materials distribution.
Same 6 kids missing work? Shrink the task, chunk it, assign peer supports, and schedule a 2-minute check-in.
Behavior spikes after lunch? Front-load expectations, add a calming opener, adjust seating for 15 minutes post-lunch.
Exit tickets split 40/40/20? Teach a 10-minute micro-lesson to the “Almost” group tomorrow; give “Got It” an extension; re-teach the core misconception to “Re-teach.”

Truth Bite: Data should change tomorrow, not just the next unit.
Visionary Check: Write one sentence: “Based on this week’s data, next week I will ______.”

Equity Lens: Whose Story Are We Missing?

Disaggregate your quick checks by student groupings you teach (e.g., quiet vs. vocal, frequent movers vs. steady attenders).
Rotate who you call on and who you conference with... track it for a week.
Check materials and examples... who sees themselves?

Truth Bite: If you don’t look for gaps, you’ll teach to the average that doesn’t exist.
Visionary Check: Pick one group to “over-notice” this week and write the evidence you see.

Parent Communication, Powered by Data

Lead with a specific observation (“Jamal finished 3 of 3 problems independently today!”).
Add the next step (“Tomorrow we’ll try a timer to keep momentum in the first 5 minutes.”).
Invite partnership (“Can you ask him what felt easier today? I’ll do the same.”).

Truth Bite: Data is easier to hear than opinions, it lowers defenses.
Visionary Check: Script one positive, data-anchored message you’ll send this week.

Common Pitfalls (And the Fix)

Pitfall: Tracking 12 things at once.
Fix: Cap at three. Add one per month.
Pitfall: Only looking at end-of-unit tests.
Fix: Use 2–3 item checks mid-week.
Pitfall: Collecting but not deciding.
Fix: End every “Data Huddle” with one small change for tomorrow.
Pitfall: Treating data like judgment.
Fix: Treat it like a compass: information to steer, not a verdict.

Truth Bite: Good data is kind, it tells you where to help first.
Visionary Check: Circle the pitfall you fall into most and write the fix on a sticky where you plan.

Your First “Data Week” Challenge

Choose three metrics: attendance/tardies, one behavior target, one learning check.
Run a 5-minute daily tally and a 10-minute Friday huddle.
Make one instruction tweak for Monday.
Send one positive, data-anchored note home.

Truth Bite: Momentum comes from small wins, not massive overhauls.
Visionary Check: Put next Friday’s Data Huddle on your calendar right now.

When the Safety Net Goes Silent: Supporting Students During the SNAP Pause

When a government shutdown hits, the impact doesn’t wait at the Capitol: it lands in classrooms first. For many students, SNAP is not “extra help.” It is how they eat. When those benefits pause, even briefly, families are forced into emergency mode overnight. Groceries stretch thinner, meals get smaller,

From Pivot to Practice: What You Do Next Is What Keeps You In the Classroom

Last week was the moment... the edge between quit and continue. You named it, you paused, and you pivoted. This week is about traction, or building the habits that keep you from sliding right back to the edge again. Because staying isn’t a feeling you wake up with. It’

First Year Visionary: The Pivot From ‘Quit’ to ‘Continue’

There comes a time in every new teacher's first year that they wonder if they have chosen the wrong career and start looking for the nearest exit. When you start to experience this, STOP! You did not waste your college years on the wrong major and you haven&

From Grades to Growth: Using Assessment Data That Changes Tomorrow

Grades tell you where students landed; data tells you where to go next. The magic isn’t in the test, it’s in what you do the day after. What Counts as “Data” (Hint: More Than Tests) * Quick checks: entry slips, thumbs/whiteboards, 3–5 item exit tickets * Work samples: