Student Tracking: The Secret to Student Motivation and Language Production in a

Second Language Classroom

By Tristin WestHorizon Elementary- Murray School District, Utah

Dual Immersion- First Gradetwest@murrayschools.org

What exactly is TRACKING?

Teacher–Centered TrackingSpreadsheets and Mastery

TrackingClass TrackingTransparent Tracking

Student Tracking Inventory TrackingUnit by Unit/Objective by

Objective

Teacher TrackingSpreadsheets and Mastery Tracking

Often easiest tracking to stay on top of Teacher takes control and teacher

updates Teacher conveys information and

trends to students Not seen as a strong investment tool Gives teacher valuable information to

guide instruction Excel Spreadsheets and graphs NOT a gradebook

Teacher-Centered TrackingExcel Spreadsheet

Teacher-Centered TrackingClass Tracking

Based off of Teacher Tracker On display in classroom Class averages of mastery or growth Encourages student investment through

class competition Displays and celebrates class growth by

showing where they were, and where they are now

Big bar graphs on weekly quizzes, test score averages, etc.

Relate growth and data to student actions to invest students (paying attention, participating, attendance, etc.)

Teacher-Centered TrackingClass Tracking

Period 1 has 56 STARS!

Period 2 has 63 STARS!

Teacher-Centered TrackingTransparent Tracking

Based on class goals Student-friendly Track progress, growth and mastery Motivating and invest students Generally most time consuming Can have students be responsible- more

student-centered Charts with students names and objectives,

number of books read, homework turned in, quiz scores, addition/subtraction facts

Teacher-Centered TrackingTransparent Tracking

Individual Transparent Tracking

Student-Centered TrackingInventories

List of big ideas in unit, semester, subject or whole year

Students take responsibility for own learning, decipher what it is they know and don’t know

Can be unregulated- students go through and highlight/color what they feel they have mastered, what they are on their way to mastering, and ongoing goals

Can be more regulated and date when they master it

Provide or attach evidence of mastery- assignment/quiz/test/exit slip

Can be a checklist 

Student-Centered TrackingInventories

Student-Centered TrackingUnit by Unit/Objective by Objective

Unit by Unit tracking generally done using daily or weekly assessment data to track progress leading up to unit assessment

Students can create bar graphs Goal bar is usually set at 80% Students keep track of own progress Students determine for themselves how they

are doing, where their gaps and strengths are May look different for different age levels Goal folders, tracking sheets, checklists, color

by number

Student-Centered TrackingObjective by Objective

Why is tracking important in a language classroom?

PURPOSE: Motivation, motivation, motivation

Help students NOTICE when they are using the language and recognize them for it

Track what is needed in your class- tardiness an issue? Track attendance or students on time. Language production an issue? Track students taking risks and producing language. Using language authentically a problem? Track students using language outside of class.

Why is tracking important in a language classroom?

Personally track, as the teacher, their mastery and progress towards the class goal– which should be listening, speaking, reading and writing in target language! Increase effectiveness as a teacher

 Adjust and measure progress towards goals as needed to keep unmotivated and low achieving students engaged and motivated

Great Parent Teacher Conference tool

Different Tracking Tools for Language Teachers

Teacher-Centered

Language Objective Excel Spreadsheet

Transparent Tracking- Wall Trackers

Transparent Tracking- Charts

Individual Transparent Trackers

Different Tracking Tools for Language Teachers

Student-Centered

Objective by Objective Tracking- Language Rainbows

National Language Standards Inventory Tracker

Objective by Objective Tracking- High School Tracker

Where Can I Find all of this Good Stuff??

http://dualimmersionteacher.wikispaces.com Email twest@murrayschools.org