17 May 2021

Curriculum Report – English

Programme

Whole School:

• • Students are grouped for reading and writing on a needs basis and regular lessons happen.

  • All classes have instructional reading sessions with groups of children at similar reading levels as often as possible through the week. This is supplemented with reading material for practising at home.

  • Instructional writing is linked to instructional reading. Students are supported to read about and talk about what they are going to write. They are encouraged to check their writing, and their peers' work, against success criteria to make sure they have included everything they need, and to consider improvements.

  • Casey Caterpillar is a focus of the writing programme in our new entrant/year 1 classroom and the language of this programme carried through to year 2.

  • Teachers provide models of handwriting for the children to practise correct letter formation. The Middle syndicate uses the same language that is used in the junior classes with Casey the Caterpillar to make best use of what the students already know.

  • Junior teachers have started to use a structured literacy approach in most classes. This involves phonemic awareness and using decodable texts. Phonics teaching is a huge part of the literacy learning in our New Entrants/Year 1 classroom 

  • Teachers use shared reading and shared writing to emphasise the conventions of print and to teach a range of strategies to use when problems arise.

  • Oral Language is an integral part of the Reading and Writing programme.

  • Many children have the opportunity to do buddy reading in class to help with reading confidence, speed and expression.

  • Middle Syndicate teachers use the information from Peters Spelling test to make targeted lists of words, based on the patterns of sounds, to address individual learning needs.

  • IRIS reflections are used to identify next steps for teachers in order to ensure that we are considering our knowledge of what makes a good literacy lesson and Relationship Based Learning kaupapa

  • Students with identified literacy concerns have access to additional support from teacher aides and their progress is monitored so concerns can be discussed at syndicate level.

  • Literacy planning will start to be more collaborative and supportive

  • We will continue to use experts we have on our staff to develop our Literacy instruction and progress

Assessment Procedures

• • We are starting to use the Learning Progressions Framework for Reading and Writing. Multiple sources of evidence are used to help teachers make judgements using the PACT Tool. 

  • Judgements are made in Term 1, with a further judgement made  in Term 4.

  • All students are tested on running records (seen texts/PM Benchmarks) as needed, according to the Assessment Guidelines. Literacy Progressions Framework is used to determine curriculum levels. 

  • As mentioned above, the Phonological Awareness Screening Tool and Little Learners Love Literacy Assessments are used for the structured literacy approach. 

  • Junior Syndicate are using Observation surveys more closely for a form of assessment.  Every child will be tested on the observation survey every 6 months up to 2 years at school.

  • IEP goals are assessed through Learning Stories (Narrative assessment) linked to IEP’s.

Trend Analysis

• • This is the fourth year we will have had a complete and accurate set of writing data. From our schoolwide Literacy data we can see improved progress across levels. 

Beginning 2020

Beginning 2021

Students and Groups of Students at risk

Teaching and learning strategies to address the above.

• • Sharing of best practise - Through syndicate meetings and inquiries and using IRiS

  • RBL/Observations/Meetings on teaching practice happens. Currently, Maths is our focus but we have started to also reflect on teachers reading programmes..

  • Assessment will be moderated at Syndicate Level and also school wide.

  • Most teachers use 9-11 as their set time for Literacy programmes in their class.

  • Senior and Middle Syndicates are using Inquiry to guide contexts for reading and writing

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

  • Student achievement is being monitored each fortnight at syndicate meetings.

  • Support staff included in relevant PD and invited to discussions and PD that teachers are involved in as needed.

Looking Ahead

• • Ongoing assessment is used to inform weekly planning, including regular writing samples taken and analysed.

  • Teachers using professional readings and our cycle of inquiry to improve practice.

  • Teachers will continue to develop Literacy programmes according to the needs identified through this process.

  • To look ahead at creating opportunities to involve Support Staff in timetables/grouping and discussions within Syndicates.

  • Middle and Senior Syndicates will start to integrate a phonemic awareness spelling programme into their Literacy programmes

  • Most Junior teachers will be piloting a new reading programme - A Science of Reading, resources have been purchased following a professional development day.  Should we have some success with this it will be rolled out to all Junior classes in 2021.

  • We will apply for Literacy pld from MOE to commence in 2021 and ensure that this is closely aligned with the Relationship Based learning pld that will continue until the end of 2022

  • Teachers will be more familiar with Literacy and how it works in our school by using the revised essence statements below.