PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

The following are some of the key points about resources that support student learning.• Students learn best when they can identify themselves and their experience inthe texts;• Texts for shared or guided instruction and independent reading should have arange of difficulty; and• Resources should be relevant and current and aligned with new curricula.PIRLS 2006 EncyclopediaIn 2006, the Ministry of Education published The Guide to Effective LiteracyInstruction, Grades 4 to 6, which was based on the research in the expert panelreports. This resource document is supported by online modules (http://www.eworkshop.on.ca). The guide also addresses a number of issues such as the gap inliteracy achievement levels between boys and girls. The Ministry also has publisheda practical guide for K–12 teachers entitled Me Read? No Way! with strategies to helpimprove boys’ literacy skills. Parallel documents and online modules are available forFrench-language schools. 45To further the goal of 75% of students meeting or exceeding the provincial standardin reading, writing, and mathematics by 2008, the Ministry’s Literacy and NumeracySecretariat works with district school boards to set student achievement targets, developimprovement plans, and identify initiatives that will help improve student achievement.The Secretariat has developed a strategy to improve student achievement based on provenpractices (e.g., uninterrupted blocks of time for reading, writing, and mathematics), usingcommon assessment tools and providing professional learning support for staff. Morethan 12,000 teachers and principals have been trained in shared reading, and 16,000 havebeen trained in differentiated instruction. The Secretariat also has focused on literacyleadership of school administrators. In addition, there are a number of initiatives inplace to identify effective literacy strategies and allow schools and districts to share theireffective strategies with others. Recent initiatives include encouraging the establishmentof a professional learning community in every school. Support has been provided toboards to implement tutoring programs and purchase additional student resources. TheOntario Focused Intervention Partnership provides a range of supports for boards andschools, in general, and more intensive support for specific schools that have experienceddifficulty in achieving continuous improvement in literacy and numeracy.The Secretariat conducts research in Ontario’s English-language and French-languageschools to identify successful practices that result in improved student achievement.Successful practice is shared through monthly webcasts; an online journal, Inspire,and research monographs. In addition, the Schools on the Move initiative has beenlaunched to identify schools demonstrating effective practice resulting in improvedstudent achievement. These schools share their successful strategies with other schoolsacross Ontario.Funding has been provided to school boards to hire 3,600 teachers in an attemptto reduce class size to 20 students in junior kindergarten through grade 3 in 90% ofclasses by the 2008 school year. The Ministry also provides a range of targeted fundingCanadaTIMSS & PIRLSInternational Study CenterLynch School of Education, Boston College 79