1. Raising Pasifika Achievement
SCICON 2010

2. 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?

3. Biology No % N % A % M % E All 184 41 35 15 9 NZ European 73 27 36 2314
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

4. 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

5. All those questions came down to this summary
HANDOUT

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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”

13. 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

14. 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 #

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

16. 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

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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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