Yolanda Soryl Phonics

Yesterday we attended the Yolanda Soryl Phonics PD at the Kohia Center. The focus was around how phonics was 1 searchlight learners could use to help them in Reading and Writing.  I particularly like the quote: 

The most effective early reading programmes...

...have these characteristics:

- systematic explicit phonics instruction

- large amounts of oral reading with quality feedback

- word level practice to develop fluency

"Taken overall the research on reading suggest that what is required during the first three years is a balanced reading programme in which some time each day is spent on grapheme/word level analysis, word meanings (vocabulary building), prose reading and fluency building."

Church, J. (2005)Accelerating Reading development in Low Achieving children:

A Review of Research.Christchurch:University of Canterbury, p22

What I have learnt form yesterday: 

That phonics is a one way I can explicitly help learners make a connection to literacy. 

Assist with the transfer of knowledge by clearly and often showing and talking about the links between phonics and reading and writing and how we make them.

Data Analysis and Spiral of Inquiry

Last week we had Nadine Sorrenson at our staff meeting to talk about using the expertise within our school and starting with the end in mind.  This made me think firstly about where I wanted to go with my own inquiry and also how I am assisting the junior team, as a leader, to focus in on their own Inquiry. I therefore invited Robyn Anderson, our in school COL leader, to join us for our team meeting. We decided that our focus this term will be on:

1) Gathering the evidence 

2) Analysing the data        

3) Identify the trends         

4) Research ideas. 
     

Robyn has been invited to join us for future meetings as we work collaboratively to accelerate learning.  I have also had a closer look at Robyns Spiral of Inquiry and how she carefully analysed the data and what questions she asked. I have learnt that there is so much power in having collegial discussions and it is fantastic that we are able to tap into the expertise we have within our school. I will be using this model to analyse my own data in order to have a clear idea of who and where my learners are at in their learning and how they want to learn. 

Robyn Anderson blog  

Spiral of Inquiry

Professional development with Nadine Sorenson focussed on Teacher agency and its link to the Teacher Spiral of Inquiry.

Some thought provoking questions were asked i.e.

Do I know how to get my learners to the expectation?

Where I would like them by the end of the year.? Start (Using the Data) with the end in mind …..

Am I using the expertise within the school ? (Team meetings as well as across syndicates to help with ideas i.e collaboration.)

What tools am I using to monitor and track the learning?  

Do I have a sense of urgency? - we make a judgement early in T4.

If we stagger the learning across the terms will I achieve the results I want?

Teacher Agency   

What am I doing and what was the impact?

Did I notice, recognise, and respond.  (I notice something, I recognise it as…. My response based on learner response.)

Have I allowed for multiple opportunities to practice in differentiated ways?

So much to consider and think about. On reflection I think it is imperative to have someone who has started this journey and who has the insight to come and share with myself and the junior team. I realise that if I find this to be a daunting task, our 2 new beginning teachers will as well if not more so. I do think that I consider these things all the time because that is what we do as teachers but, writing about it and unpacking it so that others understand will definitely be new learning. The next step would be to invite Robyn Anderson to a team meeting to help us gain even more clarification and help us get started.