Raising Pasifika Achievement SCICON 2010

Guiding Lights on the Journey Data Student voice Talanoa Ako Ako Principles Observation I have been working with a school for 2 years looking at raising pasifika acht, Before that raising Maori Acht Often in these cases the HoD/Principal/ERO sees an issue, some of the teacher’s don’t. So what sort of process do we go thru’ in looking at issues like these?

Biology No % N % A % M % E All 184 41 35 15 9 NZ European 73 27 36 23 14 NZ Māori 10 40 Pasifika Peoples 43 70 7 Asian 49 31 12 Other 67 33 Chemistry 185 26 29 17 18 44 28 11 38 61 Physics 107 20 50 13 39 51 8 5 6 46 22 4 25 The HoD came to me really concerned with these NCEA results. What is this 2007 data telling us? Only 30 % Pasifika students passing Bio (cf 60% chem, 50 % px) Not ESOL issue – cf asian Few M/E cf chem To present this to the teaching staff, need to take NCEA data and put it in a format that is easier to follow So this is one lot of data. We can also collect more – ERO reports, AsTTle, student voice % Stats: Red = worse than national average, Green = better, Black = same

Student Voice Be clear what you want to find out Which adult? Explain purpose of the exercise Establish ground rules Oral feedback works better Transparent recording Student responsibility for learning Food helps Student voice means ask the students for feedback Include questions that invite students to take responsibility for their learning HANDOUT Who – someone who is not classroom teacher eg HOD, SCT - Use a Pasifika adult too where possible, include them in Q formulation? Ground rules eg no teacher names (subj OK), confidential Record as you go so students can see and correct, their words is good Start with TK questions – see handout

All those questions came down to this summary HANDOUT

Compass for Pasifika Success Learner at the centre Values – reciprocity, respect, service, inclusion, relationships, spirituality, leadership, love, belonging, family How do the values impact on students in the classroom?

References Pasifika Education Plan NZC Evaluation of the Effective Literacy Strategies LEAP (Language Enhancing the Achievement of Pasifika) Adrienne Alton-Lee’s Quality Teaching for Diverse Students in Schooling: Best Evidence Synthesis Margaret Franken’s article on Principles of effective literacy practice for EAL students in NZ classrooms Making Language and Learning Work DVD Our own experience as learners, teachers and facilitators in the area of Pasifika education. So where do we go to get help?

Talanoa Ako Ako Principles Know the learner Use home language/knowledge/experiences Activate prior knowledge Make new learning relevant Include literacy Provide high challenge Provide multiple learning opportunities Use culturally relevant texts, contexts 7 PD sessions in 2009, covered 7 of these So lets look at the handout Pasifika principles – pages 2 & 3 give the reasons why this imp

For HoDs – a template for classroom observations Now each group given one of the 8 to look at with some questions to start discussion

Know the Learner Find out about students’ background Give students option of sitting together with those from similar background (to use L1) Disaggregate student achievement data for Pasifika (&/or specific ethnicities) Know the Lr – Culturally & Academically Background - ethnicity, languages spoken at home, proficiency in L1 (speaking, listening, reading, writing), length of time at school in NZ, church attendance Siliva’s template

Use Home Languages, Knowledge & Experiences Invite students to discuss in L1 Use relevant greetings Pronounce names correctly Use oral language to scaffold into academic language Use visual images & graphic organisers Use Pasifika learners as ‘experts’ within class L1 = first language

Activate Prior Knowledge Use brainstorms, concept stars etc Teach students how to work cooperatively Plan units of work using a thirds model 1/3 exploring prior knowledge 1/3 acquiring new knowledge 1/3 relating this new learning back to students’ lives Provide opportunities for cooperative learning “So what does that mean for us now”

Culturally Relevant Texts & Contexts Explore texts from a wide range of sources: integrating music, oral visual and text; video/DVD; posters, brochures Use contexts relevant to Pasifika students in NZ as well as traditional themes or knowledge Tsunami Examples of Pasifika wildlife Evolution

Include Literacy Integrated approaches e.g. Inquiry learning Use ‘effective practice’ from Effective Literacy Strategies (Yrs 9-13) Many Pasifika students are ESOL as well Remind teachers of Effective Literacy Strategies yr 9 – 13 MoE # 30320 0800 660 662

High Challenge Use scaffolding Set achievable and incremental learning goals Use ‘where to next’ learning steps Exit cards to give feedback

Multiple Learning Opportunities Use integrated approaches across the curriculum that permit continuity of process, vocabulary, content learning, study/information skills etc Teach skills for co-operative learning

Link to Aiga Link learning experiences to parent and community expertise and local contexts Help students to become a successful Pasifika learner

Compass for Pasifika Success Learner at the centre How do the values impact on students in the classroom?

Other Resources Connections and Conversations: Making Links for Learning. DVD/handbook aimed at Pasifika Making Language and Learning Work – science DVD activities aimed at ESOL TKI has many resources too DVD handout

Pasifika Education Plan: Goals Ensure Pasifika young people demonstrate improved achievement in NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 and University Entrance. Increase the quality of teaching and school leadership by increasing responsiveness to Pasifika learners and families. Increase effective engagement between Pasifika parents, families and teachers and schools focused on learning. 1-3 = ECE, 7-9=tertiary,10-11=sector wide

An inclusive curriculum means including the kids we teach in the books we choose, the stories we tell, the classroom environment and the content we select. Even more important is the way we teach: the interaction between every teacher and every student. Lingo Video, Australia

Pasifika Education Plan: 2012 Targets Increase Pasifika school leavers achieving NCEA L1 literacy/numeracy to 93 % Increase no. of registered Pasifika teachers by 20 % to 1,520 At least ½ of schools demonstrate improved effectiveness for Pasifika students since their previous ERO review. Increase the proportion of Pasifika students leaving school with at least NCEA L2 to 75% & with UE to 30 % Reduce the Pasifika school suspension rate by 20 % Reduce the Pasifika expulsion rate to one per 1,000 students The proportion of Pasifika trustees on BoT should be at least the same as the proportion of Pasifika students of that school. Lit/Num 2008: 84% Tchrs 2008: 1270 Leavers w L2 2008: 63% w UE 2008:23% Suspensions 2008: 7.2/1000 Expulsions 2008: 5/1000

So What do we Need to do? Improve our teaching so it is more responsive to students’ needs and experiences Support parents to engage effectively with us Improve conditions (including teaching) needed for effective engagement & learning Design a curriculum that meets the needs of all students