Error Logs

It’s easy to celebrate our students’ successes, but what about their mistakes? Mistakes are great. Mistakes are the best opportunities for learning! They show us what we know, what we don’t yet know, and what we can do better next time…

…but only if we pay attention to them.

An error log is a great way to keep track of mistakes, notice patterns, and start to improve. It can look different depending on the situation.

We can track any sort of error we want on an error log. Here are some ideas:

• Number of questions missed

• Topic of questions missed

• Skills missed

• Number of spelling or grammar errors

• Number of careless math errors

• Standards missed

Large Group

For a large group error log, a spreadsheet is almost always easiest. Put each students name down the first column of the spreadsheet, and use each additional column to track errors. The log can track a single assignment or even an entire school year. The cells on the spreadsheet can be as simple as an x for an error or as detailed as percent mastery. Spreadsheets also allow for some fun conditional formatting, such as automatically highlighting every error in red, which will make it easier to visualize trends.

Small Group

Depending on the number of students, there are many different ways to approach a small group error log. A single spreadsheet is helpful for tracking one piece of information for every question or topic, but we can see more patterns if we collect more information. An Excel workbook can offer a different spreadsheet for each student.

One-on-One

An error log for an individual student is more flexible and can be kept in almost any format, from handwritten notebook to Google doc. A single table or spreadsheet can include multiple pieces of information from any single error, such as: question number, reason for mistake, missed content, missed strategy, and plan for next time. A student or instructor can keep an entire workbook of spreadsheets, with one sheet for each assignment, or an entire document of tables, with one table for each assignment.

Finally, remember that the goal of an error log isn’t to keep a list - it’s to look for patterns and address them. What are some errors that keep popping up? Which content and strategies are sticking and which aren’t?