Why this group of learners? #4

Writing can be a freeing, immersive and cathartic experience. With 60% of our learners sitting below the national average, it's clear that this is not the perception or experience that they have whilst writing. Writing is an essential skill as it helps individuals to communicate better — written and verbally— across all areas, be it professional, social or academic. It can also help give you the leverage you need to meet your needs. Being clear and concise regardless of purpose will help our ākonga succeed in their studies, careers and other important aspects of their lives. Writing is one of the foundational skills that will come in handy in school and in the real world.

Statistically across Aotearoa, Yr8 girls outperform Yr8 boys by 12 scale points. This means there is an approximately 1.5 year gap between boys and girls in writing at both year levels. Ākonga Māori score 10 scale points lower than non-Māori students by the time they reach Yr8. Showing a 1-1.5 year gap. Pasifika students score 3 scale points lower than other students on Yr8 writing, indicating a gap of approximately 0.5 years. These findings tell us that across Aotearoa our ākonga Māori and Pasifika needs for writing are not being met. Schools and the wider community are not providing the support or resources to develop and nurture the writing talents these ākonga could have. There is a lack of a national literacy strategy that works for all of its students regardless of gender, race, socio-economic factors or other.

These statistics reflect what is happening at our kura and in my classroom. Sadly, it is the majority of our ākonga making 3/4 of them the target students. Our personal writing results from the easTTle writing test in Term 1 show that of the 20 students I have for writing, 14 of them are writing below their age level. Currently, six of the 14 are writing at a Yr2-3 level or within the New Zealand Curriculum Level 1. Ten of these 14 learners are male. Our Māori and Pacific learners need a literacy programme that caters, excites and develops them. For who they are as Māori and Pasifika peoples. Regrettably, that is not our current programme.