Charlotte Verity Professional Learning (School Based)

Literacy Processing is how the brain works with the text to get a message (reading) or create a message (writing). Reading recovery children will need to go through every level.  Able - very able readers may move through the colours (i.e. may not spend long on each level) The workshop leader suggests that the book going home is not  a guided book; it should be a phrased, fluent book (even if from browsing book). The take home book should be enjoyable  and not labour intensive. Green level: teach chunking....  a much more effective strategy than sounding out. Other strategies to teach:  * Self-correct * Notice errors * Monitor or checking * Search for information * Find the information (e.g. look for a cue in picture and finding it) * Use the information * Self-correcting * Cross checking Taking running records: * Text must have been seen and taught (guided text) * Record on Marie Clay Running Record Sheet * Include on form: the level, the...

Kate introduced her six stages of Inquiry (Copyright EduKate), see details below: My Next Step  after this learning: * I am going to try planning backwards, flexibly planning according to needs of children and then documenting the learning as we go. * Focus more on FORMATIVE and SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT e.g. a wall display or verbal statement from the children of their learning. This is EVIDENCE OF LEARNING AND TEACHING.  * Spend time unpacking key words, questions and ideas through engagement e.g. picture sorts, ask an expert etc 1. PURPOSE - So what does this mean for our Identity Unit: I will suggest to team that we spend  longer  on engaging the students into the concept of Identity and why its important.  e.g. tell a personal story about why my family is important OR start with the word identity on the board and have students draw/write what they think it means OR cut / sort paper words related to identity. 2. EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP ...

Progress to date One student may achieve the standard for After One Year at school. The other children are working at a 1B level. However, the group have made huge personal steps: * All students now plan and start their stories independently. * 2 of the students include initial and end sounds in words. 3 children consistently use initial, middle and end sounds * 4 students write and re-read their stories independently. 3 make corrections as they re-read.  * 3 of the children include conjunctions, and consistently write 3 or more sentences.  What remains challenging? Letter formation causes 2 students to work very slowly (and they see writing as physically taxing). Developing letter formation causes two other children to have problems when re-reading their work. The group would benefit from correct high frequency word spelling, and could add more details to their responses.  My next steps as a teacher * Continue to offer writing experience activities in rea...

Background: observing colleague with 4 students, who have been at school for two terms. Modelling focused on using sound words (roar, crash etc) and the picture book, Demolition , as stimulus. My colleague was interested in helping the children add detail to stories and use think alouds . Students all used sound words, used finger spaces, were actively re-reading and sounding out words. Some children also added detail. There was a positive climate; colleague praising students' effort throughout; writing was truly  co-constructed  between students and teacher ( kids encouraged to have a go!). There was explicit teaching, repeated throughout modelling e.g. stretching out words 'like chewing gum' and modelling knowing/looking words. Strengths colleague demonstrated / Next steps for me: * Clear reading-writing links made by teacher, often using questions, 'What would our readers want to know?' 'How should we read it?' * Model varied starts for sent...

The Treaty - Why is it important? * We need to understand the past to understand the present * Bi-cultural practise = treaty-based practice * All students should have opportunity to learn about Te Reo,  Māori culture  * Teachers have a role in helping the future generation understand their past and each other (students) * Our country's history (and ours) is a woven mix of  Māori and European culture  Assimilation European migration carried a social policy known as 'assimilation', or that races were hierarchically from 'savage' to civilised races. The British government of the time saw themselves and their culture as superior, and that other cultures should be taught how to 'be' British. Native schools were established to 'assimilate  Māori to the habits and usages of the European' (Consedine, R & Consedine, J (2001) Healing Our History: The Challenge of the Treaty of Waitangi ). The Treaty Debate 'Māori seek justi...

Key features of the writing workshop with students Teaching Focus: adding further detail. 1. ASK students what great writers do. Note their ideas with icons on board. This is your shared success criteria ( see example from TKI ). 2. SHARE writing. Ask PEERS TO GIVE FEEDBACK (e.g. one great thing). 3. ASK students what their next step is (using icons and success criteria). Exemplars to guide my instruction -  Standard after One Year At School http://literacyonline.tki.org.nz/Literacy-Online/Impact/Progress-and-achievement/Assessment-processes/National-Standards-Reading-and-Writing/National-Standards-illustrations My use in class I tried Murray's approach the following day. We looked at one child's work from the previous day. His teaching focus was adding details. Children were able to tell me that great writers: * Think of a story (and plan it - either in head or with a picture) * Say and hear the sounds * Count out the words in their story * Use finger spaces * R...

Reading - reflections and next steps after week 1 in our collaborative journey for Reading: Successes: * Named reading folders and self-managed fruit snack works well - children have a clear system/place for putting their things, and are showing excellent self-management * Most find activities on the reading stations during independent time. I explain each station at the end of our shared book, and repeat the same station activities throughout the week so children gain confidence and independence. * Many grew distracted around 10am. I introduce extra station activities (eg simple alphabet puzzles) at this point. * I want to target reading group time on children's specific needs  -  observing students and having flexible plans is helpful here e.g. segmenting/blending CVC words for one group tomorrow. This requires being flexible with my planning so I can meet student needs as they arise. Challenges: * Are target students getting maximum support for phonics and word knowl...

RTLBs will gather during week 2, 5 and 8 during term 2 2016 Steps to complete an RTLB referral: 1. Get permission from Michelle (AP, SENCO) and Cath (SENCO SUPPORT).  2.  Obtain parent consent form (signed) and ensure parents are aware of learning or behaviour issues. 3. Ensure the following fields are entered: Status: incomplete     Area for support: individual (usually) Reason: ESOL (must have been at school in NZ two terms, without progression) or other If unsure - see SENCO leaders or leave it  NSN: National Student Number (etap - very important) 4. Press save frequently. 5. Load supporting documentation (e.g. running records etc). 6. Behaviour data - be specific  e.g. date, number of physical outbursts (eg hitting), length or tantrum or leaving classroom etc 7. Strategies/Interventions: this covers what you are doing in class / school. It does not cover external interventions. 8. Confirm the consent has been completed by: check ...

As part of my management unit this year, I have established a Wellbeing Action Team and am over-seeing a review into wellbeing using the MOE Wellbeing@School tool. See: ww. wellbeingatschool .org.nz Establishing The Team Schools are made up of various teams and groups. It is critical that each group is represented on our Wellbeing Action Team, so that all groups' needs are considered . Together, we can develop shared strategies to address our common needs, and work to help those strategies happen. Our team includes Year 7-8 student reps, and support staff, parent, leadership and level representatives. Gathering Survey Data The Wellbeing@School tools place a large focus on positive peer relationships. Aspects like bullying, sense of inclusion, and respect are covered. Key findings from Year 5-8 students and staff surveys shows that we need to address the following issues. The strategies so far discussed are detailed. Key areas identified Strat...

I enjoyed reflecting on term 1 teaching and learning with my hub colleague. Together, we discussed challenges and successes, and developed strategies for progressing in term 2.  Reading Unit Evaluation Term 1 reflection on programme (Ind. assessment & reflection is ongoing and evidence can be found in anecdotal notes, running records & reading wedge graphs) : Are the students engaged and progressing? How do you know? *Students have learnt and demonstrate core reading routines (looking after folders, coming to teaching table, undertaking reading activity stations) * Assessment shows many students are improving letter-sound knowledge, high frequency word knowledge and moving up reading levels * Participation in shared book * Celebrating success by sharing what they are practicing at home. What resources are we using/adapting? Big books Take home reading books Reading logs Rowe’s shared games: roll a word Effective Literacy ...

Rowena Barker, my team leader, is highly experienced in literacy. I was excited to come and have her watch my writing lesson.  Notes:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BxdNc5F9bYO1bE1SRDN3WjVmY28 Appraiser Observing Rowena Barker Observation Date 4th April 2016 Teacher Charlotte Verity Observation Time 10.50-11.35 Topic being taught  Writing with Target writers (LC, AA, AVV, TP, RMC, KR) The specific area of my practice / a specific strategy I am trying to implement, that I would like data about or feedback in from the observation:  to use deliberate acts of teaching (modelling, prompting, questioning) to support target students to say, hear and identify letter sounds in writing. Lesson Focus:  I will also provide a sentence starter ‘I went’ to scaffold students. I will model writing a sentence, and ask students to help me to say, hear and identify lett...