Week 6 Term 1 - Teacher Practice: Reading Journey for Year 9 English: Embracing their literacy + Reading Groups (March 4 - March 8)

EMBRACING THEIR LITERACY 

In my last post (see Alby's Blog Post Entry - 25/02/24) I reflected on 'understanding your literacy' - in relation to my Year 9 English class understanding their PAT reading comprehension results. Since then we have spent time in Week 4 and Week 5 understanding their literacy journey and what it looks like in relation to their PAT reading comprehension levels. 

We have spent time understanding the curriculum levels and where student are expected to be with reading. I have also used the time to affirm the students, that their PAT reading comprehension results (and/or number) does not define who they are as a person, it is an indication for the teacher to see what areas need support and how they can help them grow in reading. The student's have used the 'Big Picture: PAT Reflection Document' to review their reading score and to set some goals for reading. 

Y9 with their PAT Reflections 

Embracing their literacy is an important part of their learning journey. My intention for the students is to embrace their literacy - accept it and own it regardless of where they are in their curriculum level. Some of the feedback that the students have shared with me in relation to embracing their literacy is: 

"I am not really happy with it because it is not a recommended level I am suppose to be at. When I see my reading level now, it makes me want to work harder" 

"I feel OK about it. I want to bring it up (my reading) because it's going to help me when I get older"

"It's OK, I am at the right level. I want to make it better to get a higher mark"

"I was very happy because I got higher than where I am supposed to be. I want to get Level 8 next time" 

Overall they appreciated knowing where they are with their reading levels and are aware that there is room to improve and grow. Knowing this going into our new reading unit is going to be really helpful for both myself and my students. 

READING GROUPS

For our new reading unit, the students will be working through it in reading groups. The groups are determined and designed based on their reading scores from our most recent PAT reading comprehension test. 

PAT reading comprehension results (Term 1) for my Y9 English class

Across the class, there is representation across Curriculum Level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. I have organized the groups into four colors: 

• Yellow Group: Stanine 1 - Stanine 2
• Blue Group: Stanine 3
• Green Group: Stanine 4
• Purple Group - Stanine 6 - Stanine 7

As we approach our new reading unit, the students will work in these groups for the reading comprehension. The students will read the same text but I will design different comprehension tasks for the four different groups that builds on their strengths and hopefully strengthens their areas for improvement. My intention with the reading groups is to keep the students in these groups for the remainder for Term 1 and then mix them up in Term 2. Keeping them in their reading level groups will help me manage the comprehension tasks, the students can work together in silo and hopefully improve. When I mix the groups up, they should be able to bring their strengths and work together. I look forward to documenting the journey!