Curriculum Report – English

Focus

• • What is the vision for this curriculum area and what is the particular focus at this school at this time?

  • Vision:

    • To create a community of learners with:

      • High Academic achievement in Literacy

    • To create a community of Maori learners with:

      • High Academic achievement in Literacy

  • Focus: enhancing Written Language

Programme

• • What have the students done over the last 12 months to advance that vision?

    • Students wrote and read on a regular basis

    • They have been exposed to a variety of motivational experiences to enhance and interest their writing

    • They worked in specific groups

    • Talked to their teachers about their next steps regularly

    • Used modelled writing to develop their own writing

    • Re crafted their writing to make it more interesting and develop ideas further

    • School wide spelling essential lists developed for all children

Trend Analysis

• • What do the results of the student assessments show?

    • How well is the long term vision being advanced?

    • Are students succeeding?

  • While our pupils often take some time to achieve in literacy, by the time they are in year 6, their final year, 68.5% of our pupils are “at” or “above” the National Standard for reading.

  • In reading we also need to be more consistent in providing activities and guidance to improve comprehension as our assessment tends to be dominated by running record accuracy.

  • While 63% of our year 6 pupils are at expectations in written language our year 4 and 5 pupils need a boost.

  • The 2013 National Standards Report in written language told us:

    • 81% of year 4 pupils are either “below” or “well below” expectations.

    • 82% of year 5 pupils are either “below” or “well below” expectations.

    • More boys than girls are “below” or “well below” (74% compared to 55%) particularly in the “well below” category.

    • In 2013 years 4 and 5 fared worse than other year levels. This is the same trend as we found in 2012.

Students and Groups of Students at risk

• • Who are the students who are not succeeding at this time? (in general terms).

    • Generally our brand new 5 year olds struggle at times

    • At risks students have been identified

Teaching and learning strategies to address the above

• • Using some aspects of the Reggio Emilia philosophy in most rooms

  • Teachers involved in PD with experts and are viewing each other rooms / programmes to get further ideas

  • Sharing of practise

  • Senior Staff are viewing children’s books/teachers planning and offering feedback

  • Walk-throughs focus on :

    • Modelling books

    • WALTS understood?

    • Books should show progress over the year.

    • Justified grouping takes place

    • Assessment is consistent and reflected in books

  • Assessment will be moderated

  • The school timetable will be adjusted so the 9 – 11 am slot is literacy school wide

  • A school-wide spelling programme will be implemented.

  • eTap results will be more closely analysed to determine exactly what aspect of writing is hampering achievement (e.g. punctuation, impact, spelling?) and activities to focus on them will be sourced and shared.

  • Each class will have a target group whose progress will be monitored.

  • Teachers will share ideas for motivating writers such as topic choice, presentation or incentives.

Looking Ahead

• The direction focus may change at the end of 2014 depending on student achievement  data.