Term 3 Update - MIT 20!9

Term 3 Update - Raising Reading Achievement

This term I have been working hard to try and get my site up and running to the class so I am not double handling my work as I am currently putting this on my class site as well. I still haven't had this go live to my class BUT they have been using many of the activities that I have been working on after guided reading sessions. So I am making progress! This will be a school holidays top priority so that I will have it ready for day one for term 4. Although it is double handling of work for me at the moment I feel that this is the best way to see how the activities work in my classroom and I would rather that than having a half finished site in action from my students. 

Data:
Last time I posted I talked about my data making improvements which has been great to see. I have added a graph of my students data and how much progress they have made this year. 

This is from my mid year testing which has shown an increase in reading age for my target group of students. I am hopeful that this trend will continue with my end of year data as well. 

Highlights from the term:
One big highlight from this term has been the attitude of my students towards their learning. I had one of my students ask to have a reading test as she felt that she had made progress in her reading. She had intact moved from reading at 8 years to 8.5 years which is great progress. However the biggest highlight out of that whole thing was this student taking ownership of her own reading and wanting to see how she was going. She has been working really hard and it has been great to see that her hard work is paying off. 

How is my reading site going?
It is getting there it is still under construction and I do have a little bit of work to do over the holidays to make sure that it is up and running ready for week 1 of term 4. Here is a little look at one of my pages that is complete and ready to go:



This is for comparing and contrasting. My overall vision is that I will have this as a guided reading session in class and we will learn how to compare and contrast as a group. Then instead of having to come up with a task that is directly related to the story or article that they have read they will be able to pick an activity that they will enjoy and be able to continue the learning from our guided reading session. 

The comparing reading log is one that can be used across the term and is an activity that can be used every week to strengthen the reading achievement objective. So that leads onto my where to next which is adding more activities to this site and having it ready to roll in class next term! So watch this space to see when I finally go live with my site! 

KPMG Day 3 - MIT 2019

KPMG Day 3 - Raising Reading Achievement

Today we needed to put together what we have been working on and share our ideas at KPMG. This was a great time to reflect on what I have been doing and how my digital tool is coming along. We were asked to cover a few points which allowed my to reflect and think forward to what I need to continue to do to achieve my goal. 

What is the tool and what is it able to do?

It is a google site for students who are reading between the ages of 7 and 9. It will include a range of activities for each achievement objective. After guided reading sessions with the teacher the students will then be able to select from a range activities related to what they have been learning in class. I hope this will give the students the ability to choose an activity that suits how they learn and will be able to maximise their learning. 

Is it making a difference?

So far in my students data from this year I have seen all of my students move up at least 6 months in their reading age or 1 PM reading level. I started the year with a large chuck of my students reading at 8 years and most of them have now made progress to reading at 9 to 9.5 years. So yes there has been some progress in reading age and ability. My students love the new things that we have been doing in class and are engaged with reading and learning. The one thing that many of my students have loved is recording themselves reading and listening back. They reason they love this is they can see how well they are reading and notice the words that they need to work on or parts of their reading that they need to work on. 

How has it evolved?

It has started out as an idea of adding a small few changes to my reading groups to a site where the students can access reading activities. It has now become a place where teachers can have access to resources that are set to specific reading learning intentions and students can have choice as to how they want to practice that skill. They will still have the guided reading session with the classroom teacher and then will have the ability to practice it the best way for them. 

Where to next?

My site is still under construction and I have not made it live to my class yet as there are still many activities that I need to add. But I do aim to have it up and running by the end of the term. I also need to keep uploading my students reading the stories and articles so that others can listen along as an extra way to have access to the text. I will be continuing to add to this for my learners and will aim to have this rolled out in the classroom by the end of term 3. Then the next hope is to have it rolled out to other teachers to use as a tool in their classrooms! So watch this space!

Term 2 Check in - MIT 2019

Term 2 Data 

This term we had testing and reports and I was able to use running records to see how my learners were getting on and to see if the things we have been doing in class have been working. With the testing I found that all of my learners managed to pass one reading level and most made progress of 0.5 - 1 year in reading. This was huge for some of my learners who have not made much shift in reading. 

What did I find out?

From completing these running records I found out that there are two main areas that need work in order for my learners to progress. One of the big things was vocabulary what I am finding is that they are able to read these words from sounding out and looking at blends but they are unsure of what these words mean. Another main thing that needs work is inferring as well as applied knowledge. These will be the focus of what we will be working in order to continue to raise reading achievement. 

What is working?

• Screencastify:
• Still really engaged with this activity and listening to themselves reading. 
• Listening to the story again:
• Listening to the story after we have read to look out for those new words and see how they are pronounced. Gives reading mileage as well.
• Reading tumble:
• Having a reading tumble in place so that each of the students knows what they are supposed to be doing and when. 
• Assigned seats:
• Having a set place to sit and complete work is helping with focus and completing work. 

Where to next?

• Focus on vocabulary:
• Spelling lists every week.
• Silent reading every day.
• Vocabulary tasks every week as part of guided reading.
• Spelling practice part of the reading tumble
• Reading activities:
• Screencastify (continue on with this)
• Follow up activities that require the students to create and use the text they have read to answer questions and find information. 
• Recording some of the stories that we have read that aren't available on TKI - maybe have students reading these. 
• Link to inquiry:
• Information fact sheets - needing to look up new vocabulary
• Front load vocabulary and have this accessible on the wall.

MIT where to?

Over the school holidays I am going to be creating a tool for this group of readers as a space where they can find all of the things that they need to work on. I am still not 100% sure what this will look like but will be something that is beneficial for my learners and will help engage my readers and also at the same time help to boost reading achievement. So again watch this space!