Project: Empowering learners through improved reading literacy and access to knowledge

1. Project:Empowering learners through improved reading literacy and access to knowledge Fani Nolimal,PhD, project leader National Education Institute Slovenia fani.nolimal@zrss.si

2. BASIC data of the project • 2-year project: school years 2011/12 in 2012/13 • 42 PS included ≈ 10 % of all primary schools, selected on the basis of a public call • CRITERIA for selection: Performance on NKTin L1 and/or MATHs in 5 years • Low performance schools, • facing the problems of learning deficiencies of students from destimulating low SES family environment, • interested in improving their performance. 2. High performance schools, • with experience in development and research work willing to share experience (e.g. by multiplying ).

3. Definition of READING LITERACY (RL)(PISA and PIRLS) To develop the capacities of learners • to acquire information independently, • to relateitems of information and interpretthem, • on the basis of information to createcomprehensive notions of meanings and explanations of phenomena and events, • to thinkabout them and evaluate them, develop arguments for acting in a certain way on the basis of information, • to orient themselves in new situations, compare critically, draw conclusions, etc. (Project plan, 2011)

4. PURPOSE and general GOALS of the project: • Contribute to assuring equal learning opportunities; • Improving access to quality education: • Integration of efficient didactic strategies to achieve higher levels of reading literacy in formal education; • Contribute to the implementation of the national strategy (a set of activities) for the development of RL.

5. GOALS on school level(schools participating in the project): • Improve readingmotivation and interest; • Improve reading and writing techniques; • Improve reading with understanding; • Introduce reading learning strategies (RLS); • Develop the processes of reflection, meatacognition and self-accountability; • Improve the language of instruction and learning communication; • IMPROVE PERFORMANCE on NKT and PISA

7. Continued…

8. Continued…

9. Structure and management, professional support, and activities of school

10. STRUCTURE of the project distributed leadership and administration School level National level Head of project – Project trustee at MESCS – ESF support services

11. The role of the school trustee • Takes care of information provided to SPT; • The school’s partner in the implementation of the project in all it’s phases: • baseline studies, support in designing operational plans, implementation and monitoring of the realisation in school • planning, performing and monitoring (feed-back)of individual action steps; • Counselling for the choice (and implementation) of advisory services, procuring professional literature • Providing professional support and aid to the memebers of SPT in work with the project group in school • Other: as agreed

12. HOW do we implement the goals set?MODELof professional support to schools SUPPORT ACCOUNTABILITY AR Methodology School Trustees Head and members of the SPT

13. ACTION STEP (AS) 1SEPTEMBER 2011 – MARCH 2012 AS 3 Support by SCHOOL TRUSTEES AS 2

14. Action STEP (AS) 2APRIL – SEPTEMBER 2012

15. Action STEP (AS) 3 OCTOBER 2012 – AUGUST 2013

16. Recorded positive (+) change • Improved awareness, attention, teachers’ responsibility for the development of RL • New quality of teaching and learning, new methods, RLS … • Increased emphasis on • emerging literacy, teaching literacy, acquiring reading techniques, reading with understanding, motivation • Revived team work • Improved knowledge, expression, higher assessment grades, NKT performance • Positive parents’ attitudes towards the project and RL

17. Recorded weaknesses, problems … (—) • Lack of relevant professional literature • Lack of knowledge • Ineficient work with learners from deprivileged environments, metacognition ... • The school operational plans too large; • Resistence from co-workers; • Some parents’ doubts;

18. — • Pupils not used to active role; • Rigidity of school system • Criteria for reliable and objective measuring of results • ...

19. What needs to be done in 2012/13 school year? • Maintaining the existing level of moivation for work; • Disseminating the project within school staff and within regions; • Developing metacognitive processes; • Support to learners from deprivileged environments; • Setting up appropriate levers of monitoring, intermediate and final evaluation; • METHODOLOGICAL DESIGN • FINAL CONFERENCE

20. Thanks for your attention Expanding knowledge