Day 9 - Sharing

Today’s learning about sharing really reinforced the importance of giving students the space to be proud of their work. It reminded me how valuable it is for them to share their ideas, receive feedback, and also give feedback to others. Celebrating their learning not only boosts confidence but also creates a stronger, more collaborative classroom culture.

Family Engagement

At our school, instead of blogging, each student creates their own Learning Journey Website (Gsite). This acts as a digital portfolio that curates their learning from Years 7 to 10. It is a live and growing document where students regularly reflect on their learning across different modules each semester, with one module selected for a deeper dive.

Through this process, students share both what they enjoyed and what they found challenging. This not only helps them develop meaningful reflection skills, but also gives whānau a window into their learning journey. Building and maintaining a digital portfolio is also excellent preparation for the next stage of their education.

Twice a year, we come together with our whānau community for an Exhibition Afternoon/Evening. This is a special opportunity for students to share not only their Learning Journey Website, but also other artefacts, presentations, performances, and more. These occasions celebrate student learning in many different forms and strengthen the connection between school and whānau.

Reflecting on my time doing the RPI

What did I learn that could improve my capability and confidence in teaching reading?

I realised that even as an experienced teacher, there’s always something new to add to my toolkit. Small tweaks, like how I model reading fluency or ask questions to spark deeper thinking, make a big difference. Knowing I have fresh strategies to draw on gives me a real confidence boost in the classroom.

What did

There are some simple but powerful ways to engage my learners that tried out. Things like short guided reading prompts, interactive discussion starters, and playful vocabulary activities that enhance critical thinking, provocation and extended discussions. 

What did

Some of the ideas I’ve picked up are perfect for sharing with colleagues and whānau. Quick tips for building reading habits, encouraging independent reading, or supporting comprehension at home can make a real difference beyond my own classroom. I love knowing the learning can ripple out further.

As a Learning Mentor, part of my role is to meet with families three times a year. I currently have 89 families in my care from Years 7–10. These meetings are a great opportunity to collaborate, share ideas, and support learning at home. A big focus has been helping whānau engage with our school module websites and showing them how to find the information they need to support their child’s learning journey.

As my RPI journey comes to an end, I’m grateful to Manaiakalani for providing another valuable opportunity to extend my learning and knowledge, this time in literacy. Over the years, I’ve engaged in many of these opportunities and always find them both informative and meaningful. I walk away with new gems to add to my kete, while also being reminded of the treasures that were already there but had slipped to the side in the excitement of exploring the new. It was also a wonderful chance to reconnect with some familiar faces I’ve enjoyed working with, which made the whole experience even richer.

Thanks Team! 

     

Create - AI Images

 

The students enjoyed using basic writing responses as prompts for AI-generated images in Canva. To take the activity further, they were asked to edit their prompts by adding more description and then recreate the images. This led to the use of rich, descriptive language, producing more detailed and engaging visuals. The students had a lot of fun exploring their creativity in this way, while also developing their skills in precise communication and imaginative thinking.

Here are a few examples ...

Create - One Shot Film

We explored the One Shot Film to create a book review for our favorite book or recent Novel Study book. I used the template provided during the RPI create day and edited to include CANVA as our students are comfortable using this app but also Google Vids for students exploring different digital tools.

   

Here are two students’ creations, which turned out very differently.

One student created an animation with a voice-over about the story 'The Last Kid on Earth'. He really enjoyed the editing process and discovered that his next steps will be to refine his editing skills, as in some parts he had cut too much and there was a slight overlap with his narration. I loved his creativity in not only promoting the book but also in bringing the characters to life with Lego.

Another student used Canva to create a visually interactive video about the Baby-Sitters Club books. It included strong visuals and sound effects, and I loved how she used her own voice to engage the audience while promoting the series.

Overall, the feedback from the students was very positive. They really enjoyed the activity and are enthusiastic about using these creative skills in other areas of their learning.

Day 8 - Create

Creativity is for everyone - Plan for Creativity!

It’s about making something new that works—whether it’s an idea, artwork, invention, or project.

You can be creative by:

• Adding your own style

• Seeing problems in new ways

• Being okay with not having all the answers

• Taking smart risks

• Following your passions

As Vygotsky said, “everyday creativity” helps us all grow.

A hook (hanga) that sparks curiosity

Opportunities to engage deeply with the topic

Space to apply understanding in different ways

Choice in how they present learning

Chances to collaborate with other

Clear connections to the bigger picture of their learning

SISIMO

I first came across the word SISIMO in my early years of teaching. I was fortunate to have a forward-thinking digital colleague who embraced new ideas and encouraged us to explore and create using a wide range of tools.

Sight, sound, and motion (often called SISIMO in education and media literacy) are the three key elements used to grab attention, create meaning, and engage an audience — especially in visual media like film, advertising, or digital storytelling.

• Sight – What we see: colour, shape, images, movement, layout, facial expressions, symbols.

• Sound – What we hear: music, sound effects, tone of voice, silence, volume, pitch.

• Motion – How things move: camera movement, speed changes, animation, gestures, pacing.

When combined, these three work together to create mood, communicate ideas, and persuade or entertain.

Here is a SISIMO activity that I could use during our Film Study later this term. 

In this activity, we explore AI-generated images to create a background that matches the text we are reading. By adding a visual and then recording ourselves reading the text, students get to engage more deeply with the story. It helps with comprehension, makes the reading more memorable, and encourages creativity by connecting words with images and their own voices.

Make Creativity Multimodal

Benefits of Using a Multimodal Approach

• Engages Different Learning Styles: Combines visuals, sounds, movement, and text to reach learners who prefer seeing, hearing, or doing.

• Boosts Creativity: Encourages students to express ideas in multiple ways, like drawing, speaking, writing, or making videos.

• Improves Understanding: Connecting information through different modes helps deepen comprehension and memory.

• Builds Communication Skills: Students learn to share ideas clearly using images, words, sound, and gestures.

• Increases Motivation: Using varied media makes learning more fun and interesting.

• Supports Inclusion: Allows students with different strengths and needs to participate fully and confidently.

• Encourages Critical Thinking: Comparing how meaning changes across modes helps develop analysis skills.

In the busy rhythm of our school days, filled with lesson plans, unexpected changes, and countless responsibilities, it’s easy to overlook one essential element: creativity. Yet creativity isn’t an add-on; it’s at the heart of meaningful learning.

When we intentionally plan time and space for creativity, we nurture students’ imaginations, encourage problem-solving, and build resilience. Creativity helps students connect ideas, express themselves, and engage deeply with their learning.

Let’s remember that creativity can be woven into every lesson and moment. By embracing it, we empower both our students and ourselves to grow stronger, think bigger, and innovate for the future.

Day 6: Vocabulary

 Day 6: Building Comprehension through Word Power

I wasn’t present for Day 6, but here’s what I’ve learned from my colleagues:
Today’s focus was on strengthening vocabulary practice, an essential area that significantly influences student comprehension. Research shows that a learner’s vocabulary is one of the strongest predictors of how well they understand what they read.From listening to my colleagues share their reflections, it’s clear that this session highlighted just how important intentional vocabulary instruction is in the classroom. Being part of a collaborative team has been incredibly beneficial, as it allows me to stay connected to new learning, share ideas, and continue growing my practice even when I can’t be in every session.

Vocabulary

When exploring the word vocabulary, I discovered that it comes from the Latin word vocabulum, meaning “name” or “word.” It refers to the body of words we know and use, often described as our word stock, lexicon, or lexis. It is important reminder that students need multiple exposures to words in various contexts to truly learn them.    

Three Tiers of Vocabulary

Tier 1: Everyday words commonly used by most students in daily life (e.g., house, happy, run). These are usually picked up naturally and don’t need direct teaching.

Tier 2: High-frequency words that appear across different subjects and texts. These are more complex words important for understanding academic material (e.g., analyse, compare, predict). Explicit teaching of Tier 2 words supports students’ success across the curriculum.

Tier 3: Subject-specific words tied to particular learning areas or topics (e.g., photosynthesis in science, algebra in maths). These words are usually taught within the context of the subject.

Robust Vocabulary Instruction: 5 Key Principles

Explanation – Teach new words with clarity and accuracy so students fully understand their meanings.
Meaningful Connections – Encourage students to link new vocabulary to their existing knowledge and experiences.
Fun and Creative Activities – Make learning vocabulary enjoyable through games, humour, and imaginative challenges.
Active Participation – Involve students actively in exploring and using new words.
Regular Review and Practice – Reinforce learning by revisiting and using words repeatedly in a variety of contexts.

Morphology: Words as Building Blocks

Morphology is the study of how words are constructed from smaller meaningful units called morphemes, such as prefixes, suffixes, and root words. These building blocks of language are essential for developing vocabulary, reading comprehension, and overall literacy. A few years ago, during professional development on Structured Literacy, morphology was highlighted as a key element. It was eye-opening to realise that even at my age, I had been producing some words incorrectly. This really made me reflect on the complexity of how words are formed.

Listening to my colleagues’ recap of Day 6 was inspiring, but it also made me feel a bit behind since they’re already using these activities with their students. My goal now is to observe how they’re implementing vocabulary strategies in their programmes and then give it a try myself. The best part about revisiting vocabulary instruction has been discovering new ways to reinforce it effectively.

Programme of Learning

 Day 5 - Planning for the wider learning programme

The beauty of working collaboratively is that when you're away, the rest of the team is there to bring you up to speed. I’m grateful to have colleagues joining me on this RPI learning journey. When we met to discuss this session, what stood out most for me was the reassurance that we’re not expected to use every single strategy or tool we encounter. It’s about selecting what fits, what works within our time, teaching style, and, most importantly, what supports the unique learners in our classrooms in a manageable and meaningful way.

A key takeaway  was rethinking how I use reading apps in my classroom. I explored three tools; two of which I’ve used before, but enjoyed discovering new features and how other teachers apply them, as well as learning more about Literacy Planet.

Epic has always been part of my toolkit, often as a “fast finisher” option. However, I now recognize its potential for more intentional use. With features like curated collections and quizzes, I plan to assign specific texts that directly connect to our current reading focus. These will become essential elements in my multimodal reading slides, ensuring digital tasks actively support our core learning goals.

ReadTheory is a valuable tool for supporting literacy, offering personalised reading comprehension practice that adapts to each student's level. Its instant feedback helps learners understand their strengths and areas for growth, while also promoting independence and a growth mindset. For teachers, the progress data is useful for identifying trends, targeting instruction, and tracking improvement over time. ReadTheory is an effective way to reinforce comprehension skills and differentiate learning in a meaningful and manageable way.

Literacy Planet is an engaging and versatile and supports a wide range of literacy skills, including spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. Its gamified approach motivates students while providing meaningful practice aligned with curriculum goals. I appreciate how tasks can be assigned based on specific learning needs, allowing for targeted support and differentiation. The detailed progress tracking also helps identify areas where students are excelling or need further reinforcement. I am looking forward to exploring Literacy Planet more with my students as it is new to me. 

Today reinforced the idea that technology can be a powerful tool in reading programmes when used with clear intention and purpose. Everything I’ve learned, from teacher timetabling ‘rules of thumb’ to strategies like tracking to empower learners, fits into a bigger picture. By slowly integrating digital reading apps, routine assessment through multi-choice questions, and practices like Read-Like-Writers, Write-Like-Readers, I can make reading more engaging and purposeful for students. Incorporating RA Core Routines such as Annotated Think Aloud and Talking to the Text will further deepen comprehension. These approaches not only support student progress but also help create a more streamlined and effective teaching workflow.