Analyzing Assessment Data: Peeling Back the Layers

Need fresh ways to leverage beginning-of-year data? Today’s post (the third in a series) offers three protocols for groups as they seek solutions that have been illuminated by the data dives I described in previous posts.
 
Peeling the Onion Protocol
The Peeling the Onion Protocol is one way to better understand the problem before determining solutions. Working in small groups, designate a “Keeper of the Problem” who shares the issue from their perspective. Group members ask clarifying questions, restate the problem, examine assumptions, and begin brainstorming possible next steps. At this stage, every possibility is considered viable – nothing is off the table.
 
Wagon Wheels Protocol
A possible follow-up, once potential solutions have been unearthed, is the Wagon Wheels Protocol. This process, best for whole faculties or other larger groups, creates targeted partner conversations to explore and challenge identified solutions, helping us prepare to put new ideas into action. Depending on how our data dive is unfolding, I prepare one guiding question for each recurrent potential cause that has been identified or for possible solutions that are surfacing. We form an inner and an outer circle, with the same number of participants in each (double up on one if you have an odd #). I state a question, offer some quiet think time, say whether the inner or outer circle will speak first, then, after a minute, signal that it’s time to switch to the other partner. After both have had about a minute to speak, I ask one of the circles to rotate a couple of spaces (either clockwise or counterclockwise) so that new partners are formed. Then we do the process again. Repeat until the important questions you prepared have been discussed.
 
Affinity Mapping
To begin narrowing options, each participant picks their favorite ideas that have surfaced from previous protocols and writes them down, one per post-it note. Everyone sticks their post-its on a wall and works to group similar ideas together and then label each group. I often use the Affinity Mapping protocol for a silent version of this activity (groups should be 8 or smaller).
 
While these processes take time, the investment pays off. Consider which of the protocols described in this and previous posts could help your teams come to clearer understandings. Next week’s post will offer protocols for selecting a path forward, turning data into meaningful action.
 
This week, you might want to take a look at:

Low prep, high impact, collaborative PD:
 
https://www.edutopia.org/article/low-stakes-professional-learning-teachers
 
 
A long-ish read on having students use AI to support learning in the classroom:
 
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2025-08-06-how-sci-fi-taught-me-to-embrace-ai-in-my-classroom
 

Anchor charts at all grade levels:
 
https://choiceliteracy.com/article/anchor-charts-a-tool-for-every-classroom/
 
 
A video reminder that getting students’ names right matters:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZgthkdSLgI
 
 
Tips for starting the year as a new (or continuing!) instructional coach:
 
https://www.smore.com/e54a8
 
That’s it for this week. Happy Coaching!
 
Want more coaching tips? Check out my book, Differentiated Mentoring & Coaching in Education: From Preservice Teacher to Expert Practitioner, available from Teachers College Press!  I’m so excited to share it with you! You can use the code: FDNS25 for 20% off. Click  here  and I’ll email you the free Book Group Study Guide that includes questions, prompts, and activities you can use as you share the book with colleagues.  I hope you’ll love this book as much as I loved making it for you!