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

Junior Certificate School Programme

DEIS Planning for LiteracyDEIS Planning for Literacy

NSPI ConferenceNSPI Conference

March 2013March 2013

Michael O’Riordan JCSPMichael O’Riordan JCSP


Think –Pair -ShareThink –Pair -Share

What is already working well?What is already working well?


Place MatPlace Mat


DEIS Partners – working DEIS Partners – working together together


School Responsibilities under School Responsibilities under DEISDEIS


Targets in the StrategyTargets in the StrategyThe Strategy sets out a series of The Strategy sets out a series of

qualitativequalitative

and quantitative targets for improving and quantitative targets for improving literacy standards for the period literacy standards for the period 2011-20202011-2020

Improve our attitudes to literacyImprove our attitudes to literacy• Raise public awareness of the importance of oral Raise public awareness of the importance of oral

and written language in all its forms incl. print, and written language in all its forms incl. print, writing and digital media writing and digital media

• Foster an enjoyment of readingFoster an enjoyment of reading


Summary of the key Summary of the key changeschanges


Literacy Rich Literacy Rich EnvironmentEnvironment

•Strong message•Value of reading•‘This is a Reading School’•Corridors, classrooms•Newspapers, magazines•Top 10 Reads


Definition of LiteracyDefinition of Literacy

Literacy includes the capacity to read, Literacy includes the capacity to read, understand and critically appreciate various understand and critically appreciate various forms of communication including spoken forms of communication including spoken language, printed text, broadcast media, language, printed text, broadcast media, and digital media.and digital media.

(Literacy & Numeracy for Learning and Life 2011, (Literacy & Numeracy for Learning and Life 2011,

p.8)p.8)


What is the focus ofWhat is the focus ofDEIS PlanningDEIS Planning

Evidence-based, systematic planning over Evidence-based, systematic planning over a three year cycle:a three year cycle:

The focus is on outcomes for students The focus is on outcomes for students rather than inputs by the school – rather than inputs by the school –

‘‘what evidence do we have that our what evidence do we have that our

interventions are making a difference in interventions are making a difference in our schools’our schools’


The self-evaluation process


Building on the previous Building on the previous stepssteps4. Implementation

and monitoring

2. Prioritise and set target(s)

3. ActionPlan

1. Review

5. EvaluationGather solid evidenceAnalyse it

Make judgements


‘ ‘ We are committed to learning We are committed to learning lessons from schools that have lessons from schools that have managed to improve literacy managed to improve literacy and numeracy standards, and numeracy standards, especially school that work in especially school that work in challenging circumstances.’challenging circumstances.’

‘‘The outcomes of the evaluations The outcomes of the evaluations of DEIS will help us here.’of DEIS will help us here.’

R. Quinn, Minister for Education & Skills, March 2011 R. Quinn, Minister for Education & Skills, March 2011


Some thoughts for DEIS Some thoughts for DEIS Planning in LiteracyPlanning in Literacy

• How is your school dealing with literacy How is your school dealing with literacy

planning?planning?

• Has Has baseline databaseline data been collected?been collected?

• Has the data been Has the data been gathered & analysedgathered & analysed

in relation to measures already in place?in relation to measures already in place?

• What What challengeschallenges if any have arisen? if any have arisen?


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.


Further findingsFurther findings

• Working in PartnershipSchools should make more active

efforts to elicit the views of parents and students in data gathering and should incorporate their views into planning processes.


Literacy Targets?Literacy Targets?


TargetsTargets

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


SMART TargetsSMART Targets

• Specific Specific - - Focus on Focus on pupilpupil learning outcomes learning outcomes• MeasurableMeasurable –c –clear and preciselear and precise• Attainable Attainable -- reflect ability and needs of reflect ability and needs of

studentsstudents-a-appropriately challengingppropriately challenging / / ambitiousambitious

• RRealistic ealistic – – to both school context, baseline to both school context, baseline data and specific actionsdata and specific actions

• Timed Timed - allowing time for planned actions - allowing time for planned actions to be implementedto be implemented


Language of targetsLanguage of targets


A useful formula …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



Action PlanningAction Planning– What ?What ?– How ?How ?– Who ?Who ?– When ?When ?– Resources required ?Resources required ?

Taking into consideration what is already in place Taking into consideration what is already in place and working welland working well


Literacy Planning in JCSPLiteracy Planning in JCSP


Plan to Promote Literacy & Plan to Promote Literacy & NumeracyNumeracy

Target(s):

Actions:

MeasureMeasure Who?Who? Lead Lead responsibilityresponsibility

When?When? Resources?Resources?

Monitoring:

Evaluation:


www.jcspliteracy.iewww.jcspliteracy.ie


School Wide ApproachSchool Wide Approach

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


SDPI MaterialsSDPI MaterialsReview InstrumentsReview Instruments

DEIS Plan FrameworkDEIS Plan Framework

Explanatory MemoExplanatory Memo

Appendix to Explanatory Memo: Appendix to Explanatory Memo: Targets and Target-SettingTargets and Target-Setting

www.sdpi.iewww.sdpi.ie


Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

JCSP - Resources for Developing a JCSP - Resources for Developing a School-Wide Approach to Literacy School-Wide Approach to Literacy

JCSP - Resources for Developing a JCSP - Resources for Developing a School-Wide Approach to School-Wide Approach to NumeracyNumeracy

www.jcsp.iewww.jcsp.ie

www.jcspliteracy.iewww.jcspliteracy.ie

www.education.iewww.education.ie

Documents

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