Reading Revival at Park Ridge

Primary School
DATE 22 AUGUST 2016

Strive, Learn, Excel

Learning Intention and Success Criteria

Learning Intention:

We are learning to understand the Park Ridge Primary School journey

to implement change to reading pedagogy so that student learning
outcomes are enhanced.
Success Criteria:
We will be able to identify the effective strategies Park Ridge Primary
School used to implement and embed change across the school to
improve student learning outcomes in reading.

Strive, Learn, Excel

School Overview
Situated in Rowville in the eastern
suburbs of Melbourne
640 students
Changing staffing profile (retirements,
illness and maternity leave)
Stable leadership
Fingers in many pies; we were doing
lots of things
SFO 0.4

Strive, Learn, Excel

Kotters 8-Step Model

Step One:

Establish a Sense of Urgency

Step Two:

Form a Powerful Coalition

Step Three:

Create a Vision of Change

Step Four:

Communicate the Vision

Step Five:

Remove Obstacles

Step Six:

Celebrate Short Term Wins

Step Seven: Build on the Change

Step Eight:

Institutionalise the New Approaches

Strive, Learn, Excel

Establish a Sense of Urgency

NAPLAN Reading Growth Data had decline over the past two years
Low Growth

Medium Growth

High Growth

2013

9%

53%

38%

2014

32%

56%

12%

Genos Creating Motivating Workplaces Survey clearly showed that there was
not a consistent pedagogical approach across the school.
Staff Survey results also supported this same view.

Strive, Learn, Excel

Form a Powerful Coalition

Vertical Team Approach (Principal,
Literacy Leader, Leading Teacher,
Classroom Teacher) + Assistant
Principal, 3 classroom teachers
including a Graduate
Sought advice from experts (Lisa
Sperling)
Visited a site of best practice, taking
staff who were identified as effective
agents of change (Footscray North
Primary School)
Utilised the services of a Principal
mentor

Strive, Learn, Excel

Create a Vision of Change

Decided on the processes and ideas
we valued
Presented 2013 NAPLAN data to staff
and school council
Trialled these processes in selected
classrooms
Videoed teachers teaching reading
strategies in their classrooms to share
with colleagues
Met regularly with the HPLC team, our
mentor and other selected staff

Strive, Learn, Excel

Communicate the Vision

Planned & conducted a Curriculum
Day
Established non-negotiables for the
teaching of reading & established
guidelines during Curriculum Day
These guidelines were:
Reading Conferences twice a term
Book Boxes for all students
Students regularly setting Reading
Goals
Class libraries in all classes

Strive, Learn, Excel

Remove Obstacles
Changed the daily timetable to best teach
reading
Implemented PAT testing, along side of
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmarking to gather
further data and track growth
Staff attended professional learning
conducted by ACER on PAT data analysis
Established a Scope and Sequence in Reading
No timeline developed for change so as to
acknowledge and cater for differences in staff
preparedness and confidence
Purchased resources
Opportunities for teachers to trial changes

Strive, Learn, Excel

Celebrate Short Term Wins

Celebrated Literacy Week throughout the
school

Established a weekly Reading Award

presented at assembly
Identified and encouraged the early
adopters
Published teachers videos of themselves
trialling reading conferences
Positive feedback from leadership to
teachers having a go (non judgemental)

Strive, Learn, Excel

Build on the Change & Institutionalised

the New Approaches
After the final Bastow survey which identified
that teachers were still feeling anxious about
reading conferences, we continued to provide
professional learning opportunities to support
teachers
Created Park Ridge Primary School Literacy
Guide and Reading Conferences Protocols
and Resources
Created an Assessment Schedule so that all
assessment, why it is used, when it is
implemented and how the data is collected is
transparent to all

Strive, Learn, Excel

Build on the Change & Institutionalised

the New Approaches
Refurnished the Library to promote and
maintain the high profile of reading
Continued focus on reading supported by two
staff members attending the Bastow
Leadership in English
Implemented the Gradual Release of
Responsibility Model in our classrooms
Collecting and using available data (PAT,
Reading Conference, Fountas & Pinnell, On
Demand, Teacher Judgements)
Reading Conferences (2 per term, high
quality, meeting student needs, addressing
students reading goals, record keeping)

Strive, Learn, Excel

Build on the Change & Institutionalised

the New Approaches
Shared view of best practice in teaching reading to ensure instructional
consistency

Induction of new and returning staff

Whole school common language
Strategically grouping professional learning into blocks to avoid
fragmented, ineffective learning
Detailed planning templates which include Learning Intentions and
Success Criteria used in all year levels

More PLT meetings built into the meeting schedule

Leaders engaged in and discussing professional research based readings

Strive, Learn, Excel

Build on the Change & Institutionalised

the New Approaches
Confidence in teaching reading
OK
April
October

Confident

Extremely Confident

14.2

76.1

9.5

60.9

39.1

Ability to assess reading strategies

OK

Confident

Extremely Confident

April

23.8

66.7

9.5

October

8.7

70.2

21.1

Confidence in a one on one reading conference

OK

Confident

Extremely Confident

April

28.5

47.6

23.8

October

4.3

82.6

13.1

Strive, Learn, Excel

Build on the Change & Institutionalised

the New Approaches
Genos Survey Top 5 Scoring Items
Item

Agree

Strongly Agree

The staff in my school work collectively to help students

achieve their fully potential. (NEW)

19%

81%

There is a commitment to high quality teaching at my

school. (NEW)

19%

81%

The staff in my school work collaboratively to improve

student learning.

23%

77%

As a team we are continuously striving to improve

teaching and learning. (NEW)

23%

77%

The teacher in my school readily share their skills and

expertise to improve student learning. (NEW)

27%

73%

Strive, Learn, Excel