How do I collect and analyze student data?

In my preschool classroom, I have not used technology to collect data from my students. I do collect data often from them, but it involves students physically marking "what type of pet they have at home" or "what their favorite food is". Then this data is collected and used for further discussion or teaching of graph or math concepts. I have only done this type of data collecting in class as a whole group. I have not directly taught my students how to do this, but through repetition, they are learning how it works. One way I collect data every morning is I have a magnet board in the classroom entry. On it, there is a question of the day, with a question like "Which food do you like most?" Then three choices are given in picture form. Each student has a magnet with their name that they place under the answer that they choose. Then later durning our morning meeting, we talk about the results. This is a good way to teach name recognition, take attendance, and talk about math words like "more, less, the same". I line their answers up in a graph like fashion as well. The question of the day changes every day and my students never seem to get bored of it!