How to Use Data Folders

Special education teachers know that taking data on our students’ progress is crucial! But, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to keep track of how students are performing, especially as they work with different staff members during centers. That is where Data Folders come in! Data folders are an awesome solution for keeping student data organized and updated. Read on to see how these folders work!

Set Up a Data Collection System

A data sheet titled "Goal Data" with four goals written in. — Set up data sheets with your students’ goals.

The first step to implementing Data Folders is to determine HOW you will collect data. I like to use the Goal Data Sheets from the Simple Data Sheets Bundle.

Using the Goal Data Sheets, write down each of your students’ goals. It can be helpful to color-code by subject (such as red for reading, blue for math, green for writing, et cetera) to keep things organized!

Prepare Data Folders for Centers

How to Use Data Folders — Color-coded data folders make progress monitoring easy!

After you have set up the data sheets you will use, you are ready to set up your folders. It’s easy! Using a two-pocket folder, add your data sheets to the right side of the folder. Current targets will stay on the right. As goals are mastered, they will move to the left side for maintenance. Add a cover sheet to the front of the folder to label whose it is. TIP: Color code the labels to match each student’s visual schedule and other materials!

Teaching and Mastering Goals

A clear plastic bin containing plastic bags with IEP goals labeled with different targets — Setting up IEP Goal Bins keeps learning materials organzied.

Once your data folder system is set up, you will introduce and teach the learning goals to your students. Centers are perfect for this! Because centers are fast, individualized learning blocks, you are able to quickly introduce targets, provide time for practice, and check for understanding. Using IEP Goal Bins helps you keep all of the materials you will need organized and handy!

Implementing the Data Folder System

An open folder with a data sheet and a label reading "targets" — Organize learning targets and mastered goals in your folders.

Once those systems are set up, you can start utilizing Data Folders during your center rotations! As you teach targets to your students, take data on the goals using your data sheets.

Once a student has mastered a goal, move it to the left side of the folder. You can then add new targets to the right side. In addition to teaching new learning targets, it’s important to have students work on their mastered goals each week in order to maintain learned skills.

Be sure to take time to train the paraprofessionals you work with to ensure that they understand the system. Having them on board will make data collection a breeze! Having all the data in one place helps you determine what your students need!

Have questions about using data folders in your classroom? Ask them below! And make sure to check out the Simple Centers System to learn more about how to implement structured centers in your classroom!