Junior Certificate School Programme DEIS Planning for Literacy NSPI Conference March 2013 Michael O’Riordan JCSP

Junior Certificate School Programme Think –Pair -Share What is already working well?

Junior Certificate School Programme Place Mat

Junior Certificate School Programme DEIS Partners – working together

Junior Certificate School Programme School Responsibilities under DEIS

Junior Certificate School Programme Targets in the Strategy The Strategy sets out a series of qualitative and quantitative targets for improving literacy standards for the period Improve our attitudes to literacy Raise public awareness of the importance of oral and written language in all its forms incl. print, writing and digital mediaRaise public awareness of the importance of oral and written language in all its forms incl. print, writing and digital media Foster an enjoyment of readingFoster an enjoyment of reading

Junior Certificate School Programme Summary of the key changes

Junior Certificate School Programme Literacy Rich Environment Strong message Value of reading ‘This is a Reading School’ Corridors, classrooms Newspapers, magazines Top 10 Reads

Junior Certificate School Programme Definition of Literacy Literacy includes the capacity to read, understand and critically appreciate various forms of communication including spoken language, printed text, broadcast media, and digital media. Literacy includes the capacity to read, understand and critically appreciate various forms of communication including spoken language, printed text, broadcast media, and digital media. (Literacy & Numeracy for Learning and Life 2011, p.8)

Junior Certificate School Programme What is the focus of DEIS Planning What is the focus of DEIS Planning Evidence-based, systematic planning over a three year cycle: Evidence-based, systematic planning over a three year cycle: The focus is on outcomes for students rather than inputs by the school – The focus is on outcomes for students rather than inputs by the school – ‘what evidence do we have that our interventions are making a difference in our schools’ ‘what evidence do we have that our interventions are making a difference in our schools’

Junior Certificate School Programme The self-evaluation process

Junior Certificate School Programme Building on the previous steps 4. Implementation and monitoring 2. Prioritise and set target(s) 3. Action Plan 1. Review 5. Evaluation Gather solid evidence Analyse it Make judgements

Junior Certificate School Programme ‘ We are committed to learning lessons from schools that have managed to improve literacy and numeracy standards, especially school that work in challenging circumstances.’ ‘The outcomes of the evaluations of DEIS will help us here.’ R. Quinn, Minister for Education & Skills, March 2011

Junior Certificate School Programme Some thoughts for DEIS Planning in Literacy How is your school dealing with literacy planning?How is your school dealing with literacy planning? Has baseline data been collected?Has baseline data been collected? Has the data been gathered & analysed in relation to measures already in place?Has the data been gathered & analysed in relation to measures already in place? What challenges if any have arisen?What challenges if any have arisen?

Junior Certificate School Programme An evaluation of planning processes in DEIS post- primary schools Summary of Key findings-Summary of Key findings- One of the weakest aspects of the planning process identified was: Target setting Target setting (targets did not exist or were not SMART that is, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound); poor or no collection of data; little or no analysis of data or evaluation at the beginning and end of the planning process.

Junior Certificate School Programme Further findings Working in Partnership Schools should make more active efforts to elicit the views of parents and students in data gathering and should incorporate their views into planning processes.

Junior Certificate School Programme Literacy Targets?

Junior Certificate School ProgrammeTargets Improvement targets may relate to any aspect of pupils’ achievement, including their knowledge, skills and their attitudes. ( SSE Guidelines p.61 ) Improvement targets may relate to any aspect of pupils’ achievement, including their knowledge, skills and their attitudes. ( SSE Guidelines p.61 )

Junior Certificate School Programme SMART Targets Specific - Focus on pupil learning outcomesSpecific - Focus on pupil learning outcomes Measurable –clear and preciseMeasurable –clear and precise Attainable - reflect ability and needs of students- appropriately challenging / ambitiousAttainable - reflect ability and needs of students- appropriately challenging / ambitious Realistic – to both school context, baseline data and specific actionsRealistic – to both school context, baseline data and specific actions Timed - allowing time for planned actions to be implementedTimed - allowing time for planned actions to be implemented

Junior Certificate School Programme Language of targets

Junior Certificate School Programme A useful formula … An example: To increase (verb) the percentage of pupils taking higher level english(thing effected) from 60% (baseline) to 75% (level intended) by the end of Year 3 (date). TARGETS NEED TO REFLECT A SCHOOLS INTENTION TO IMPROVE ON ITS PREVIOUS BEST

Junior Certificate School Programme

Action Planning –What ? –How ? –Who ? –When ? –Resources required ? Taking into consideration what is already in place and working well

Junior Certificate School Programme Literacy Planning in JCSP

Junior Certificate School Programme Plan to Promote Literacy & Numeracy Plan to Promote Literacy & Numeracy Target(s): Actions : MeasureWho?LeadresponsibilityWhen?Resources? Monitoring: Evaluation:

Junior Certificate School Programmewww.jcspliteracy.ie

School Wide Approach TextbooksTextbooks KeywordsKeywords Skim & scanSkim & scan Dictionary workDictionary work Note taking & KWL, 3-2-1Note taking & KWL, Subject Teacher StrategiesSubject Teacher Strategies Reading DriveReading Drive JCSP InitiativesJCSP Initiatives

Junior Certificate School Programme SDPI Materials Review Instruments DEIS Plan Framework Explanatory Memo Appendix to Explanatory Memo: Targets and Target-Setting

Junior Certificate School Programme Additional Resources JCSP - Resources for Developing a School-Wide Approach to Literacy JCSP - Resources for Developing a School-Wide Approach to Numeracy