Raising Pasifika Achievement

SCICON 2010

Guiding Lights on the Journey

• Data• Student voice• Talanoa Ako Ako

Principles• Observation

Biology No % N % A % M % EAll 184 41 35 15 9NZ European 73 27 36 23 14NZ Māori 10 40 40 10 10Pasifika Peoples 43 70 23 7 0Asian 49 31 43 14 12Other 9 67 33 0 0

Chemistry No % N % A % M % EAll 185 26 35 29 10NZ European 70 17 36 40 7NZ Māori 18 44 28 17 11Pasifika Peoples 29 41 38 14 7Asian 61 23 36 31 10Other 7 29 29 0 43

Physics No % N % A % M % EAll 107 20 50 17 13NZ European 39 26 51 15 8NZ Māori 18 17 61 17 5Pasifika Peoples 6 50 50 0 0Asian 40 10 46 22 22Other 4 50 25 0 25

% Stats: Red = worse than national average, Green = better, Black = same

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

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.

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

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)

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

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

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

Include Literacy

• Integrated approaches e.g. Inquiry learning

• Use ‘effective practice’ from Effective Literacy Strategies (Yrs 9-13)

High Challenge

• Use scaffolding• Set achievable and incremental

learning goals• Use ‘where to next’ learning

steps • Exit cards to give feedback

Multiple Learning Opportunities Use integrated approaches across the

curriculum that permit continuity of process, vocabulary, content learning, study/information skills etc

Link to Aiga

• Link learning experiences to parent and community expertise and local contexts

• Help students to become a successful Pasifika learner

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

Pasifika Education Plan: Goals4. Ensure Pasifika young people demonstrate

improved achievement in NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 and University Entrance.

5. Increase the quality of teaching and school leadership by increasing responsiveness to Pasifika learners and families.

6. Increase effective engagement between Pasifika parents, families and teachers and schools focused on learning.

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

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.

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