Making Data Work for You: A Simple Way to Teach What Kids Actually Need
Let’s talk about data. We hear this word and instantly think of paperwork, admin reports, and wasted time spent keeping admin happy—but with no real impact on our own students. But what if we could use data in a way that actually makes teaching more effective? Instead of collecting numbers for admin, we can use it to pinpoint exactly what our students need—so we’re not just rushing through the curriculum but actually filling their learning gaps.
One of the best places to implement this approach is in Numeracy lessons. These are often seen as “wasted” lessons because they don’t always align with the curriculum, but they have the potential to be powerhouses for student growth. Instead of treating them as an extra lesson with no clear purpose, they can be the key to closing gaps and building student confidence in maths.
Right now, many teachers feel like they’re teaching content that doesn’t match what their students actually need. With more students on individual learning plans, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in paperwork while still not helping kids in the way you want. That’s where diagnostic testing comes in. This isn’t about collecting data for admin—it’s about gathering the right information to guide your teaching. It takes some planning, but the payoff is huge.
I’m going to share what I do in my classroom that took me from feeling like I was drowning in guilt over not providing what each student needed to having a clear action plan and real individual goals for EVERY student in my class.
Step 1: Choose a Well-Planned Maths Diagnostic Test
Start with a deliberate and well-structured diagnostic test that covers key maths skills your students need to succeed. This isn’t something to throw together last minute—it should be carefully chosen so you can get meaningful insights.
- Check your school’s resources—look in the resource room or ask your HOD for a diagnostic tool.
- Choose a test that assesses base skills from Grade 1 to 9 (or at least a grade or two above your current year level). Having a broad range is important so you can truly see what students don’t know.
Taking the time to set up a strong diagnostic test means you’ll collect data that is actually helpful—not just a list of scores that don’t tell you what to do next.
Step 2: Analyse the Results
Once students have completed the test, don’t rush through marking. The real value comes from taking the time to look for patterns in the results.
- Whole Class Gaps: Are there skills that most students struggled with?
- Small Group Gaps: Do certain groups of students have similar struggles?
- Individual Gaps: Which students need one-on-one support with specific concepts?
This step is essential because it helps you teach with purpose instead of guessing what your students need. I love using a colour-coded Excel spreadsheet to record and analyse my test data—it makes patterns so much easier to see!
Step 3: Use This Information to Plan Intentional Maths Lessons
Now that you have a clear picture of what your students need, it’s time to plan lessons that will actually help them progress. This takes careful thought—you’re not just squeezing in extra activities, you’re adjusting your teaching to be more targeted and effective.
🔹 Start with a focused, 10-minute whole-class explicit lesson on a skill that most students need to improve. Keep it short and clear, with plenty of practice. I always use student whiteboards for this—it’s a quick and easy way to assess who has grasped the concept and who needs more practice.
🔹 Use small group rotations to give students the support they need in a structured way. Group students based on their learning gaps and work with them on targeted activities that directly address those gaps.
🔹 Introduce goal folders for individual practice. Each student gets a folder with a list of their personal goals and carefully chosen activities to help them improve. This gives them ownership of their learning and ensures they always have meaningful work to do. Yes, this does take some time to set up, but get a teacher aide to help with this!
Step 4: Post-Test and Analyse Growth
Once you’ve worked through targeted lessons and given students time to improve, it’s time to reassess. A well-timed post-test lets you see exactly how much progress has been made.
- Use the same diagnostic test (or a very similar version) to measure growth.
- Compare results with your original spreadsheet—this is where you see the magic happen! I love colour-coding my data, and it’s always satisfying to watch those struggling areas shift to green.
- Celebrate success! Share growth with students so they can see how their hard work has paid off. Even small improvements can be a huge confidence boost for kids who struggle in maths.
This step isn’t just about data—it’s about proof that your intentional teaching made a real impact. It also helps you identify which students still need extra support, so you can refine your teaching even further.
Why This Works
This isn’t a quick fix or an extra task—it’s a better way to teach. Instead of racing through the curriculum and hoping kids “catch up,” this method ensures they actually understand the maths they need. It also gives you confidence that you’re teaching what matters, not just ticking boxes for admin.
Taking the time to properly assess, analyse, and plan means your students will get what they actually need—and you’ll feel like the teacher you want to be.
