RPI - Day 2: Know your learners as Readers

What I like about RPI is the clarity and explicit-ness delivered by the facilitators. It's a safe space and teachers are free to ask questions throughout the sessions. 

I enjoyed the little korero by Dorothy, insightful to hear how the Manaiakalani Reading Programme has developed over-time from 2007. It was great to hear how her attendance at the ISTE conference inspired the idea of creating a Korero Pt England Podcast channel, that engaged so many learners, including those reluctant readers.

My favourite take-away from Day 2 was the understanding behind each component of the Teacher workbook. My mentee teachers last year did share it and we implemented it into our reading programme but the ownership for me, personally wasn't there. I wasn't as driven to use it as the other teachers. Simply because I felt I didn't fully comprehend the purpose behind it and how to use it. Now, being part of RPI - everything is making sense. I think being front-loaded with some of the resources last year has really helped.

My goal for the next 3 weeks and the rest of the term is to fully invest my time into ensuring the Teacher workbook is successfully implemented in my practice, so that my team can follow suit. I see how effective it is to have everything on ONE sheet under different tabs. It has data, planning, progressions, LTP - non-negotiables that teachers should have accessible in their planning.

YAY for another informative RPI session. Oh, and this time round, I am not feeling as over-whelmed as Day 1 lol.

Reader Profile Survey Reflection - RPI

Wow! Having looked at the Reader Profile Survey I had my class complete, I was quite shocked with the data (in a good but curious way). I'm glad I had the learners complete this to give me insight into what they liked/disliked about Reading. 

Here's a link to the responses - click here

As you can see from the image above, none of my students go to the library to get something to read. This prompted me to book my class in for weekly visits to our school library. Our librarian has yet to set-up our system for students to take books out BUT over the last couple of weeks, we have enjoyed our Wednesday afternoons in our school library. We use this time for students to explore the resources and books available in our library but to also use the time for some research, teaching them that information can be found from books too, not just google (or the internet). 

I explained to them that in my time - we had books called an ENCYCLOPEDIA and this was our google back then. Most of their jaws dropped and eyes went big (lol).

Something else I found interesting was that the learners did not enjoy receiving books as presents and that about 1/3 of my learners own a public library card. I was a little heart-broken because to me, I read this as a "I dislike reading".

After having a great discussion with my learners about the survey, I was able to gather some responses about WHY reading for most of them was not likeable. On the contrary however, I looked at their responses of the type of books they like to read in their own time and was pleased to see the results. I found out that many of them like fiction books, novel/chapter books and funny books.

I think from here onwards, my goal is to teach my kids about the benefits of reading. I want to re-ignite or ignite a passion for reading and I think I need to lead by example FIRST. One of the take-aways from RPI Day 1 was, I listed a down names of engaging chapter books that some of the fellow RPI teachers mentioned was a great read for their students. I emailed our school librarian the names of these books and she has placed an order for them. 

I am going to begin TEACHER READ. It might not be a big step, but personally, I need to model to my class that their teacher loves to read and hopefully this move/change in practice will be the start of something special this year.