Back to school in the speech therapy world means SLP data collection. It also means playing the scheduling Tetris game. You’ve got a lot of students, a lot of schedule restrictions, and only so much time in the day. Inevitably, you’re bound to end up with at least a couple of…cue the sad violins…mixed groups.
As much as we’d love to group students however we want and to make the dream schedule, it never seems to work out that way, does it? Though I can’t fix your schedule, I can give you a few of my best tips for SLPs collecting data in mixed groups!
1. Groups within the group
Identify common goals or areas of need among students in the mixed group. If possible, sit students who have similar speech or language targets near one another. This will streamline data collection by allowing you to focus on a specific set of goals during group activities. This can even allow you to take data on multiple students at one time, depending on the situation.
2. Use a common activity
It isn’t easy to manage 4 different activities for 4 different goals. It makes life WAY easier if you have one game or activity that you can tweak for each student. A few of my favorite common activities include things like:
- Crafts – This Accordion Craft Set is perfect for your mixed groups. Each student is completing the same craft but with their own specific goal. Makes taking data super easy.
- Books and story-telling – If you can master the skill of using one book to target multiple goals, your planning could get a lot simpler. Keep a sticky note or data sheet close by and you’ll get some great authentic data.
- Simple turn-taking games – You don’t need anything fancy to make sure you get those trials in and that data collected. Students can complete their tasks and then take a turn in the game.
You can also check out my printable baseline data tools. They have built-in reinforcement activities to do WHILE you take the data. My students love to color, stamp, or stack erasers on the target sheets.
3. Utilize technology
Leverage technology to simplify data collection. There are various apps and software designed for SLPs that allow you to input data quickly and efficiently. These tools can streamline the process, leaving you with more time to interact with students.
Whether it’s a large program like SLPtoolkit, my TPT digital baseline data tools, or simply using Google Sheets, anything to save time is worth looking into. You could even use technology to video record your sessions to review later for data analysis.
Be sure to check out this blog post for some great ideas and tools for taking online data!
4. User-friendly data sheets and checklists
Having a structured way to mark each student’s progress during the session can help you capture data without interrupting the flow of the session. This is especially useful in a group setting where you need to keep track of multiple students simultaneously.
Make sure you find the data sheets that work best for YOU. I’ve tried approximately 567 different data sheets because I’m always looking for a better way for SLP data collection. There are several available in my free resource library. Some are even specifically made for mixed groups, like the one above!
5. Rotate your focus
Depending on the size and dynamics of the group, you can rotate your focus on different students during each session. This ensures that you collect data on all students over time without overwhelming yourself. For instance, during one session, focus on collecting data for one student’s goals, and during the next session, focus on another student’s goals.
PRO Tip: You do not have to try and take all the data in every session. Do not attempt to mark every single attempt. Markdown around 10 good trials and then put down your pen and focus on your students. 🙂
Remember, flexibility is key when working with mixed groups. Adapt your data collection methods based on the needs and progress of your students, and always prioritize meaningful interactions and progress over extensive SLP data collection.
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