25 July PLG learnings

Today we had another rich PLG with our COL peers, Manaiakalani leaders and the Woolf Fisher researchers. Below are some of the ideas I collected during the presentations. It was also a wonderful opportunity to connect with other COL leaders and discuss their inquiries as well as sharing my inquiry with them.

From the convenor, we look at data collated over the years and celebrated the success our students are making compared to other clusters. Russell has also given us some home learning for the next PLG to share one key practice which has an effect on reading for our year level. This really falls into my area of focus because my inquiry is in accelerating the progress of students in reading.

From Aaron and Hana of the Woolf Fisher research team we looked at monitoring and identifying changes in practice. This is an aspect of my inquiry I have been constantly reflecting on. What changes have I done to my teaching practice? What is working and what is not?

Aaron also emphasised the importance of monitoring our practice and progress throughout the year and not waiting until end of year assessment to assess if our inquiries have shifted progress or not.

Difference between inquiry and reflection
Inquiry - evidence based
Reflection - based on feelings

Back to the importance of monitoring. How do we monitor student progress?
Formal checkpoints - deliberately plan mini assessments of the students
Teacher design tests
Checkpoints

We must think about the micro shifts we expect of our learners.

The value of student voice in our practice. Through reflection and listening to student voice, we can really make changes and modifications to our practice.

Those are only some of the ideas I collected today. There is always a wealth of knowledge at our PLG and I am privileged to be part of this wonderful journey of learning with my colleagues.

Exposure to different texts at different times

On constant reflection of my intervention I have observed changes in the quality of discussion from my students. In group discussions the students are taking more leadership and ownership of their discussions. There is also the encouragement and positive praise for the effort of other group members.

We  have been doing stock takes of our learning and have identified the shift in the texts we read and when we are exposed to reading texts. Today we as a class reflected on our journey in reading so far. We reflected on the daily opportunities for us to read during:

• Current events reading
• Novel reading
• SSR 
• Guided reading
• Inquiry learning 
• Reading at home

With the variety of opportunities the students have to read, it is building on their confidence in reading and also showing in their responses to texts and discussions.