RPI Day 2

Today’s professional learning session was a deep dive into assessment, engagement, and effective literacy practices. It provided an opportunity to reflect on where we have come from in the Manaiakalani programme and how we can refine our literacy cycle to enhance student outcomes.

Understanding Effective Literacy Practices

A  focus of the session was recapping the importance of  identifying the practices that make a difference in both engagement and improved academic outcomes. A successful literacy programme must include:

• A well-defined literacy cycle that clearly describes what effective literacy teaching looks like.

• Digital tools to support engagement and academic growth.

• A culture where students see themselves as readers and develop a love for reading.

• The Learn, Create, Share model, which brings together engagement strategies and purposeful learning experiences.

Engaging Our Readers

One of the most insightful discussions was around the power of the hook—how we capture students' attention and sustain their engagement. Dothery shared strategies such as introducing podcasting to immerse students in reading and discussion. Another powerful tool is Adobe Express, which can be used creatively while incorporating noise-cancelling features. THis is something I am yet to try but Iam looking forward to the challenge.

The session also highlighted the emotional and cognitive aspects of reading, reinforcing that reading is not just a skill but an experience that should be meaningful and enjoyable for students.

Assessment: Informing and Guiding Learning

Assessment plays a crucial role in literacy development, and we explored both formal and informal approaches:

• Formative assessment: Conducted during the learning process, this helps guide instruction and provide timely feedback.

• Summative assessment: Evaluates student learning at the end of a unit or period.

Hatty’s research on assessment effectiveness was referenced, emphasizing the importance of using data meaningfully.

A key takeaway was the importance of tracking learning. While using a teacher workbook may at this point in the journey, for me at least, seem overwhelming, it provides a structured way to monitor student progress. The new curriculum should make tracking easier with well-set-out progressions that allow flexibility to break learning down further.

The Power of Reading Mileage

We explored the high correlation between reading in students’ own time and academic achievement. The more they read, the better they become. However, for students to improve, they need to be reading at their level while also being encouraged to step up. A reader survey can be a useful tool in tracking reading habits and identifying areas for growth.

PAT Assessments and Test-Informed Learning Intentions

PAT assessments provide valuable data that can shape learning intentions. These assessments help us tailor instruction to meet individual needs, ensuring that every student is challenged appropriately.  It was a great opportunity for us to learn more about the PAT results and we were given a much closer insight into the different information we can glean from these tests. They tell us so much more than I realised and are more helpful than I thought when looking for next steps.

Planning with the New Curriculum

The new curriculum offers well-structured progressions with room for adaptability. One of the practical planning strategies discussed was using a task board with manageable and measurable learning intentions. This approach ensures clarity and focus in teaching, making it easier to align learning experiences with student needs.

Final Thoughts

This session reinforced the importance of intentional literacy planning, engaging strategies, and meaningful assessment. Moving forward, integrating digital tools, fostering a love for reading, and leveraging assessment data effectively will be key in enhancing student outcomes.

It was an informative and thought-provoking session, and I’m looking forward to implementing these strategies in the classroom!