2024 CoL Teacher Inquiry: Bursts and Bubbles

 I'm delighted to share my amazing CoL journey with you all. As we arrive at the end of 2024, it's a moment to reflect on the insights gained and anticipate the possibilities ahead! It's been an incredible year of learning and growth. As we reflect on our CoL journey in 2024, I'm filled with gratitude for the insights gained and excited about the possibilities ahead. I'd also like to extend my congratulations to Anjila for sharing her inquiry journey and to all the inspiring CoL teachers who have generously shared their experiences. Your journeys have truly motivated me.

Here is a short reflection of my Inquiry Focus for 2024 and following that, there's a summary of my 2024 Inquiry in the form of a Google Slides presentation.

Kia Ora everyone!

My Inquiry question for this year was: Can reading stamina and increased reading mileage, lead to improved performance in e-asTTle reading comprehension/PAT assessments?

I identified this as my focus when I noticed that many of my students struggled to sustain their attention during extended reading tasks, and their comprehension of complex texts was often limited.

To build a rich picture of my student's learning, I used various assessment tools, including PAT Reading Comprehension, e-asTTle Reading, student voice, recorded lessons, and baseline observations.

During the profiling phase, I noticed a significant gap between my students’ reading ability and their engagement with text. Many students lacked the stamina to read for extended periods, and their comprehension strategies were often ineffective.

After taking a mini-lesson with my focus group and profiling my teaching, I gained valuable insights. For example, I could have asked more probing questions, provided more wait time for students to respond, and reduced my own talking time.

The changes I made in my teaching included:

Implementing small group reading instruction, Increased Variety of Text Types, and Sending extra reading materials home: This strategy helped, especially those learners who had attendance issues. 

This year Glen Innes School has embraced a new learning model, Flip Learning, to enhance student engagement and outcomes. The flip learning is based on the learning theories of Piaget and Vygotsky. 

Our school's implementation of Flip Learning in Terms 3 and 4 provided a valuable platform to enhance student engagement in my reading class. By involving whānau and utilising this strategy, I witnessed a noticeable improvement in collaborative learning. While implementing Flip Learning presented some challenges, consistent communication with whānau through Class Dojo and phone calls was crucial in achieving improvements in student engagement and learning outcomes.

Overall, the changes in student learning are significantly positive, with noticeable improvements in engagement, comprehension, and confidence.

The evidence for this rating includes: increased participation in class discussions, a deeper understanding of complex texts, and accelerated progress in Reading Assessments for my target learners.

A significant takeaway from this inquiry journey is the importance of maintaining engaging, effective, and explicit reading lessons, with a strong emphasis on timed reading exercises.

Remember, friends, every child is a reader, and every reader is a leader. By fostering a love of reading and providing targeted instruction, we can empower our students to reach their full potential.

Read Theory Snapshot

Here is my baseline Time point Data 2 - Evidence of Shift

Hanga- Create Workshop 2024

 "Digital Technologies Empower Creativity"

On Friday, May 31st we had our cluster Teacher Only Day at Panmure Bridge School. The keynote was from Dr. Craig Hansen.
I must say how absolutely stellar your presentation on AI was! Your insights were not only profound but also incredibly engaging. The way you broke down complex concepts and made them accessible to everyone was truly impressive. Thanks for inspiring us! 

During our Kahui Ako workshops, teachers from the Community of Learning (COL) took the initiative to share their technology skills to incorporate "create" activities in their classrooms.

I presented with my colleague Anjila and I absolutely enjoyed it. Our presentation was about how to use "Kleki" and "Polyline" on Google drawing.

 

 

Research Literature - Three pieces of Professional Reading to support my Hypothesis.

Three pieces of Professional Reading to support my Hypothesis.

1. Peer-Assisted Learning/Literacy Strategy

PEER ASSISTED LEARNING/LITERACY STRATEGIES (PALS) is a peer tutoring strategy that can be incorporated into a literacy curriculum to improve fluency, decoding, and comprehension. In PALS, students are divided into pairs and alternate between the roles of the tutor and tutee. Each student takes a turn reading aloud, listening to his/her partner read, and providing systematic feedback to each other. Students are trained to use partner reading, paragraph shrinking, and predication relay during PALS.

2. Inference - Making 

Inference-making at the primary level in reading offers a wealth of benefits for young learners. Here are some key advantages: Boosts Comprehension: By actively making inferences, children go beyond the literal meaning of the text. They use clues and their background knowledge to "read between the lines" and understand the deeper meaning of the story. This leads to a richer and more complete understanding of what they are reading. Strengthens Critical Thinking: Inference-making requires critical thinking skills. Children analyse information, make connections, and draw conclusions based on the text and their own experiences. This strengthens their ability to think critically and solve problems in other areas of learning. Enhances Vocabulary Development: As children encounter unfamiliar words or phrases while making inferences, they are more likely to ask questions and seek clarification. This exposure to new vocabulary helps them expand their word knowledge and improve their overall reading fluency. Improves Engagement: When children actively participate in figuring things out while reading, they become more engaged with the text. Inferencing turns reading from a passive activity into a detective game, making it more enjoyable and motivating. Builds a Foundation for Future Learning: Inference-making is a crucial skill not just for reading, but for all subjects. By developing strong inferencing skills early on, children are better prepared for success in future learning endeavors across various disciplines. In short, inference making at the primary level is a powerful tool that sets children up for success in reading and beyond.

3. Reading Rocket

Here's why reading stamina is important:

Deeper Comprehension: When you can read for longer stretches without getting worn out, you can delve deeper into the text. You have more time to absorb information, make connections, and understand the overall meaning.

Improved Retention: The longer you focus on reading, the better you remember what you've read. This is crucial for learning and academic success.

Greater Enjoyment: Reading stamina allows you to truly get lost in a good book and appreciate the story or information being presented. It can turn reading from a chore into a pleasurable activity.

Academic Advantage:  In school, students with strong reading stamina can tackle longer texts, assignments, and exams with more confidence and ease.

Reading stamina is a child’s ability to focus and read independently for long-ish periods of time without being distracted or without distracting others. Building reading stamina is beneficial for everyone, from children just starting out to adults who want to improve their reading habits. There are many strategies to help you develop this skill, like setting realistic reading goals, choosing engaging materials, and creating a comfortable reading environment.

Hypothesise and Research

Formulating a hypothesis is a crucial step in the teaching inquiry process. It provides direction and clarity, helping me focus my investigation and ultimately improve my teaching practices. By following the steps outlined below, I can create a strong, testable hypothesis that will guide my inquiry and lead to meaningful insights into your educational practice.
Remember, the goal of a hypothesis is not just to find answers, but to foster a deeper understanding of my teaching methods and their impact on my students. 

The steps that I followed to formulate my hypothesis were as follows:

1. Identify the Problem or Question in my teaching practice for Reading.

2. Conduct Preliminary Research by gathering information related to my question. 

3. Defining my Variables by identifying the independent and dependent variable. The independent variable is what I will change, while the dependent variable is what I will measure or observe.

4. Formulate my Hypothesis

As such I came up with three hunches that I have learnt so far about my students and the learning environment.

Given the observed challenges with inference questions and completion of tasks, there may be a need for more focused instruction or practice sessions targeting inference skills to enhance comprehension.

Based  on my observation I came up with this Hunch:

1. If I provide more focused instruction and practice inference skills, then they will be motivated to read more.

Secondly, the observed shyness in some students when reading aloud or sharing ideas could indicate a lack of confidence in their reading abilities. Implementing strategies to build confidence, such as peer support or small group activities, may help alleviate this issue.

Based  on my observation I came up with this Hunch:

2. If I implement strategies such as peer support or small group activities, then there will be more student engagement and participation during reading sessions, as well as a boost in confidence among students who are not so confident to read aloud or share their ideas.

Thirdly, the tendency of some students to guess answers during assessments rather than reading the entire text suggests a possible struggle with sustained attention or reading stamina. Incorporating activities or strategies to improve reading fluency and stamina, such as timed reading exercises or a gradual increase in reading durations, may be beneficial.

Based  on my observation I came up with this Hunch:

3. An emphasis on timed reading exercises and a gradual increase in reading durations will enhance my students' reading stamina.

Here is my SLT Voice:

The most important and catalytic issue of learning for my focus group of learners this year.

 My Focus Group Selection

Selecting my target group in Room 10 has undergone some refinement over recent weeks in Term 1. Initially, I planned to focus on students from two different reading groups. However, following recent assessments, a few students transitioned to the Level 3 curriculum. Consequently, I've decided to focus on eight students from the Level 1 and Level 2 curriculum levels.

2023/2024 PAT and e-asTTle Data

To arrive at this decision, I analysed data from 2023, examining end-of-year running record age and level, as well as end-of-year PAT and e-asTTle data to assess their current academic standing. With the completion of the 2024 PAT testing, I've conducted a comprehensive review of the data across my team and class. 

Priority students Baseline Data 2024

Observations

Observations conducted during reading lessons have provided significant insights. Students frequently lose interest when engaging with journal readings and encounter challenges with inference questions, resulting in unfinished tasks. Moreover, certain students demonstrate reluctance to read aloud or contribute ideas, displaying shyness. Furthermore, it's been observed that during assessments, reluctance to read the entire text leads to guesswork when answering questions.

                                                          Student Survey

Recognising these challenges, I've conducted a student survey to gain further insights into their learning preferences and attitudes. Combining these data sources and discussions with senior leaders and colleagues, I've identified this group of students as my target learners for the year, aiming to address their specific needs and enhance their reading comprehension skills.

Reader Profile Survey Reflection: Knowing My Learners

The survey on reading provided me with valuable insights into the characteristics and preferences of my students, offering a deeper understanding of their learning needs.

 

After conducting a student survey, I've uncovered fascinating insights about my students, which I've incorporated into this blog post to share with you.

The results indicate that a significant portion of the students surveyed have a positive attitude towards reading. About a third really love reading, another third like it sometimes, and another third only read when they have to. None of the students said they don't like reading at all. So, it looks like most students have at least some interest in reading, which is good news! Overall, these findings suggest that while a considerable number of students have a positive attitude towards reading, there is still a portion of students who may benefit from additional support or encouragement to foster greater enjoyment of reading.

Another interesting result was this one as well. The majority of the respondents, 57.9%, indicated that they generally like the way reading activities are organised each week. On the other hand, 42.1% mentioned that they sometimes like it. This suggests that there is a generally positive sentiment towards the way reading activities are structured, with a larger portion of students expressing consistent satisfaction compared to those who occasionally find the activities agreeable. Overall, it seems that the majority of students are content with the setup of reading activities.

Last year my students enjoyed extended discussion so this suggests that my year 6's are looking forward to having extended discussion during the reading class.