Bilingual Schools Network WorkshopFriday 12 August, 2011

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Collaborating effectively to enhance literacy

Carmela Caruso

My Journey About Me

1989 – 2011 Teaching in the Bilingual Programs

Change of structure• Pairing teachers

Bilingual Grants Project• Extra teachers, purchasing of resources, multicultural aides

The Lalor North school structure supports all staff at the school and facilitates collaboration. This helps us to achieve the professional standards that will lead to the improvement of student learning

outcomes.

Structure of the School• Lalor North Primary School has 340 students. All students learn a language – Greek, Italian or

Macedonian. • All teachers work in Professional Learning Teams – Early Years, Early Middle Years, Middle Years and

Specialists Early Years PLT

Standard Program 2 x Prep/1 classes, 1 x1/2 class, 1 x Grade 2Greek Bilingual Program1 x Prep/1 – Ana/Viv/GeorginaMacedonian Bilingual Program1 x Prep – Mirjana/Janine1 x 1/2 - Jovanka/Lorena

Early Middle Years PLTStandard Program2 x 3/4 classesGreek Bilingual Program1 x 2/3class – Mandy/CarmelaMacedonian Bilingual Program 1 x 3/4class – Mirjana/Elizabeth

Middle YearsStandard Program3 x 5/6 classesGreek Bilingual Program1 x 4/5/6 class – Mandy/AnaMacedonian Bilingual Program 1 x 5/6 class – Jovanka/Lorena

What were our goals?1. To improve teacher practice.2.To improve student outcomes

Working collaboratively we achieved both!

Literacy standards improved by working with staff on best practice strategies.

1. Professional Development – Early Years initiative2. Resources – Literacy and Numeracy resources were purchased and

translated. Computer, scanners, cameras etc...were purchased.3. Collaboration and Communication - sharing of the curriculum4. Good strategies in the English and the LOTE – Early years strategies,

Reciprocal reading, literature circles5. The Effective Schools model (2006)– focus on teaching and learning,

high expectations of all learners, professional leadership, stimulating and secure learning environment, purposeful teaching, learning communities – working in partnership with families.

All teachers worked together on proven strategies that improved student outcomes and teacher practice.

Where are we now in 2011?How does this collaboration work? What does it look like when you walk

around the school?

Collaboration at Lalor North occurs at two levels:

1. Bilingual level Paired teachers working together sharing the curriculum and the

accountability. Purposeful teaching P/1/2 – 11 sessions of English, 15 sessions of LOTE + specialists and pmp3/4 – 16 sessions of English, 9 sessions of LOTE + specialists and sport5/6 – 16 sessions of English , 9 sessions of LOTE + specialists and sport

2. At the School Level All staff are a part of a Professional Learning Team and attend weekly

level meetings. Northern Region initiative –AiZ (Area Improvement Zone)• Professional Learning – Literacy, Numeracy, Data analysis, Classroom

Management.• The structure of the Reading and Numeracy classroom lesson. Teacher’s weekly work program template is linked to the e5 Instructional

model Daily Numeracy lesson structure Learning intention – What are we going to learn today? Engage – number fluency Launch – tasks are explained Explore – Students work independently Explain , Elaborate – summary – Was the learning intention achieved? The School Improvement Team (SIT) and all staff sharing best teacher

practice strategies.

One school with many programsTeachers working in partnership

Professional Learning Teams membershipProfessional Learning

Respect and valuing of allStudents learning through LOTE