Teacher Inquiry 2023: Improving reading and writing engagement with my Year 9 students through creating mixed ability groups within my Year 9 class.
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| 9TKl working on their final project |
I have enjoyed the journey with my teacher inquiry for 2023. Initially I started out with wanting to engage students with reading and writing through grouping them in tailored learning groups. This went into full effect in Term 2 and Term 3. This term I have given the students the space to group themselves and as I expected, they are working in their friend groups. I have found that the initial plan to group them into their learning level groups was a good foundation for them to venture out and work in their own groups and with their friends. They have accumulated a good set of skills and work ethic that is strong enough for them to go out and work independently. I have really enjoyed documenting my inquiry and what I have been able to cover in my inquiry journey this year.
YEARBOOK
This term we are in the process of working (independently) on their final project - Yearbook. The students have completed all of their Common Assessment Tasks, reading/writing tests and exams. I wanted to end the year with a project where they can Reflect, Review, Evaluate and Celebrate their learning journey in English. Creating a yearbook - I believe - is an opportunity for the students to really look back and reflect and appreciate their work and the learning that they have experienced in English. There are different components in the Yearbook that I know would appeal to the students from writing to crafting a visual text - I know that this is the best way to close our learning for the year.
For this project I wanted the students to work in two phases. Phase 1 - the creation process where they work through 7 tasks. Each task will enable the students to build and create the content for their Yearbook. Phase 2 is the final part of the creation process where the students take each phase and place into their final design of their yearbook. In this phase they will create their final design of their yearbook onto Google Slides or Book Creator (both apps which we have used throughout our inquiry).
PHASE 1: 7 TASKS
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| Click on the link to access the Yearbook Project |
Reflection Essay - In this task the students are asked to write an essay (250 - 350 words) where they reflect on the year 2023. They are given some prompts to help guide the written reflection.
Learning Journey - For this task the students reflect on their learning journey, documenting their results and writing and evaluation on their progress and what they thought they did well.
Showcasing your work - Here for this part of the yearbook the students will showcase your best work from English this year. They will choose ONE piece that they did well and explain what it is and why they enjoyed it.
Photo Collage - For this task the students will create a photo collage to include in their Yearbook.
Favorite Text - The students will choose ONE text that they enjoyed from our literature study this year and write a review on it.
Create a cover - For this final task, the students will create a cover for their yearbook.
PHASE 2: CREATING + DESIGNING THE YEARBOOK
For Phase 2, the students had the option of designing and crafting their text on Google Slides or Book Creator. All of them chose to design their Yearbook on Google Slide as it was easier for them to navigate. They had free range on what the design could look like.
The students really enjoyed this project. This project was an opportunity for them to collate their best work, reflect on what they have done, and think about what they can improve on. Ultimately this project was an opportunity for them to create and produce a text that celebrates their work, their voice and enhances their mana. Here are some awesome examples of the Yearbook Project from my inquiry focus group - 9TKl.
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| Cover |
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| Pepeha |
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| Reflection |
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| Reflection |
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| Learning Journey |
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| Showcasing my work |
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| Photo Collage |
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