Shine Magazine, Issue 3, April 2010 - Department of Education and ...

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NationAL PARtnersHIPs New chapter for literacy support in schools Reading recovery tutors can make a world of difference in children’s literacy. By the time he started Year 1, six-yearold John was stumbling on tricky words. He would rather watch television than pick up a book and disliked putting pencil to paper. Judging by early indications, he was a struggling student at risk of falling further behind. But with expert intervention, students like John have an opportunity to ‘catch up’ and develop reading and writing skills that are the very building blocks of learning, says Reading Recovery tutor Trish Priest. Ms Priest, who works with a network of schools in the Loddon Mallee region to provide intensive support to struggling students, is one of eight new Reading Recovery tutors to commence working with schools this year. The experienced educator, who has held principal, assistant principal and teaching roles, rates her current role as by far the most rewarding. Even the weekly commute from Mildura to Melbourne to undertake training in 2009 failed to dampen Ms Priest’s enthusiasm for the job. Ms Priest and her fellow Reading Recovery tutors completed their training, delivered by the University of Melbourne, in late 2009. “Literacy is absolutely a big passion of mine,” Ms Priest said. “This program is the most valuable PD a teacher can do and it was a fantastic opportunity to get involved.” The Reading Recovery program provides Year 1 students who are having difficulties with learning to read and write with 30 minutes of one-on-one instruction with a specially trained teacher each day. The $1 million Reading Recovery boost is part of Victoria’s $38 million co-investment supporting the Smarter Schools National Partnerships. “Literacy is the number one foundation for everything,” Ms Priest said. “It is just so satisfying to see kids click (with their learning) and run with it.” All Victorian government schools with primary enrolments receive funding for Year 1 literacy intervention, including Reading Recovery, for the lowest achieving 20 per cent of Year 1 students. The program complements a raft of initiatives in Victorian government schools and the early childhood sector to foster improvements in literacy. Dr Stephen Brown, executive director of the Department’s newly established Victorian Literacy and Numeracy 16 Shine APRIL 2010
NationAL PARtnersHIPs Secretariat, is spearheading the push to improve these fundamental learning skills in government schools. The Secretariat will coordinate literacy and numeracy policy and programs and assist regional offices, networks and schools to lift student performance in literacy and numeracy. “The Secretariat is an exciting Blueprint initiative,” Dr Brown said. “It will provide a focal point for the system-wide activity in literacy and numeracy.” The Secretariat will also work closely with schools funded under the Smarter Schools National Partnerships, and, according to Dr Brown, “will provide statewide leadership for a focused strategy to improve student achievement in literacy and numeracy over a rolling sixto-18-month period.” S The lowdown on literacy All Prep students are assessed on their English skills when they begin school using the English Online Interview, which measured 130,000 Prep to Year 2 students for the first time last year. the latest NAPLAN data shows Victorian students are among Australia’s best performers in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 reading, writing, numeracy, spelling, grammar and punctuation. sixty literacy coaches are this year working with around 600 teachers in 160 schools to support teachers to improve literacy outcomes. Professional learning for literacy coaches is available through the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership. Visit www.education. vic.gov.au/proflearning/bastowinstitute
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Page 7 and 8: BRIeFCAse Update on Kate n Adventur
Page 9 and 10: FLAsHBACk “Dana Street Primary Sc
Page 11 and 12: BRIeFCAse Samoa, 2.30pm n “I took
Page 13 and 14: cover story Good advice from our to
Page 15: Awards recognise leaders in school
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Page 24 and 25: ON THE GROUND A day in the life of.
Page 26 and 27: sCHool news Sporting stars applaude
Page 28 and 29: SCHooL neWS More Koorie literacy co
Page 30 and 31: Opinion Desma Strong and Liz Freema
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Page 37 and 38: musIC Prestigious music scholarship
Page 39 and 40: ResoURCes Five fantastic films expl
Page 41 and 42: OPINIon You can’t solve all probl
Page 43 and 44: News bites Community use of P21 fac
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Highlights from Top Designs Celebra
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Kitchen rules serve the masses Arou
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eARLy CHILDHood Cluster management
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ReGIonAL rounDUP Good news from aro
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ReGIonAL rounDUP Northern Metropoli
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APPointments The appointments liste
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