Jacob Martin

Primary School Reading Improvement Plan (PSRIP) PSRIP is a structured, CAPS aligned, learning programme (SLP), that includes : • daily lesson plans (with the routine and core methodologies) • Big Books (for Shared Reading) • Display Boards • Handwriting Charts • Management Documents (with curriculum trackers and assessment tasks and rubrics/memos) • Resource Packs (with flashcard words and theme word illustrations) • Worksheet Packs (for Group Guided Reading) • and training guides and handbooks which are resources required to teach the EFAL lessons. Main features of PSRIP • The use of routines for each phase and grade. • A two week routine is followed to cover all components of CAPS in a logical sequence. • The first week of the routine focuses on receptive language. • The second week of the routine focuses on expressive language. • The core methodologies used in each phase. • ‘Classroom culture’ is a big part of the PSRIP. Teachers are asked to develop a safe space for learning, where learners feel confident and encouraged to try out new language, without fear of ridicule. Benefits of using PSRIP • These core methodologies are ‘best practice’ activities to teach each lesson and help in explicitly teaching reading in the Foundation Phase and beyond. • They are also suitable for use in a class with many learners. • Using the same methodology over and over allows the teacher to internalise the activity, and deliver the lesson in an expert manner. • It also allows learners to ‘know the structure’ of the lesson, and therefore focus on the content. • Finally, once teachers and learners have mastered the core methodologies, pacing improves and teaching and learning become more efficient. Summary • Follow the same routine every week. • Use the same core methodologies to teach all lessons. • Teach themes that last for two weeks. • Use the Display Boards to ‘frame your work’ for the week. • Use your resources in a routine manner, prepare them, use them and store them properly. • Work on your pacing – you will get faster! • Create a happy, safe, ordered space for learning. • Use transitions and attention getters for better classroom management. • Work as a team! https://nect.org.za

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Check out this wonderful Reading Comprehension workshop by Smriti Parikh from The Acres Foundation 📚

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The announcement from KHDA came as surprise but was needed and very welcome. I think many/most schools are under undue annual pressure and overly focus on the yearly inspection; an inspection that often comes six or seven school months since the last, with little time to embed change. We are proud of the progress we have made over the last two years, moving from Acceptable to Good and increasing ratings in most areas each year, (43 rating improvements in the last two years), but our focus has been too much on the rating rather than the practice/s that underpin it. The decision whether to opt for a full inspection next year, to achieve improved ratings / overall school rating, has to be tempered by the need to focus internally on progress in meeting our school goals; goals that need time to develop and be fully embedded. I am sure there will be schools that want to try to increase their overall rating and will continue with the annual inspection, however, a year without a full inspection, for those schools that opt for that, is not to relax but to focus on embedding improved practice. The meetings with KHDA earlier this year showed that KHDA is committed to listening. In my group everyone raised concerns over the impact on schools of annual inspections; it also raised the point that employing the expertise and experience of inspectors in assisting schools at the ground level in making necessary improvement could pay great dividends. We are committed to continuous improvement and have valid targets for improvement; we now have the offer of extended time to achieve this, in a valid manner. My option would be to focus on improvement and hopefully, have KHDA support and feedback on our steps and progress towards realising those targets. This change will benefit the students; they will experience better provision and their learning and progress will improve. If that comes at the expense of a year without me posting that we have 'improved ratings', that is a small price to pay.

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Register for this webinar to find out how the use of ChatGPT helps students develop self regulation. SRL or SDL is a key competency for learners to develop. It would be interesting to see how an artificial "expert" helps to scaffold this development and how we as the human experts can use AI as a tool in the classroom for this purpose. As human experts, embracing AI and adopting it as part of our toolbox is the next big evolution for future ready educators. https://lnkd.in/ghgPXcbS

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