Focus Area One Success for all Students

WHAT WE WILL DO: Implement age appropriate and targeted instruction in Literacy

What Occurred in 2022:

This was the second year of our staff in Pre-primary to Year 2 delivering the InitiaLit program. New staff to this phase of learning were given significant time to be inducted to the program.

The most significant impact on our English block for 2022 was the implementation of the Spelling Mastery program for our Year 3-6 students. In 2021, the decision was made to stream all students after their placement test, and this allowed for a targeted approach to the delivery of the program. Education Assistants were assigned smaller groups alongside their teacher colleagues. There were several disruptions to the program with COVID measures not allowing students from different classes to mix during the day. The overwhelming feeling about the program in 2022 was positive with strong engagement of our students in the program and teacher and EA confidence in delivering the program. The data from the pre-criterion to post-criterion test reflected an immense improvement in students spelling accuracy. Staff reported that they saw an improvement in students applying their new spelling knowledge in their written texts.

A core group of staff participated in The Writing Revolution professional learning in an aim to upskill on teaching strategies used to improve students writing at a sentence level. From this professional learning, staff combined and trialled strategies to implement into the Syntax Scope and Sequence.

The Deputy Principal and English Coach reflected on the plateau of data in students’ writing. They investigated several scope and sequences with the aim to improve the sentence structure in students writing along with creating a common understanding of the metalanguage of syntax.

An English committee member developed a thorough K-6 scope and sequence for handwriting. Staff contributed to develop a shared common language for teaching cursive in the Year 3-6 space.

Recommendations for 2023

• Consolidation with InitiaLit. The introduction of MiniLit Sage supports the alignment and sequence between InitiaLit and MiniLit Sage.

• Early identification of students that struggle with the Tier 1 program through Whole School Assessment Schedule

• Further exploration of what Reading looks like in Years 3-6 and upskilling in the Science of Reading and the Science of Learning.

• Exploration of how The Writing Revolution strategies can assist students in demonstrating their comprehension of texts read.

• Further digital resources uploaded to support the implementation of Daily Reviews.

• Implementation of the EPS Syntax Scope and Sequence.