Reflecting on - Class Learning Culture| Developing Students' Critical Literacy Skills

Reflecting back on what I have been doing since the beginning of this year with regards to developing students' critical literacy skills in my class. This year as part of being one of the Manaiakalani innovative teachers I have the opportunity to design a tool that helps in developing and improving students' critical literacy skills. 

Below are some learning tasks, activities and websites I have been implementing with my students and as you scroll right down there is a link to the ARBS website which is a very useful website with amazing text database and tasks. 

My post on 14th April this year was on developing a learning culture in class that enables students to develop their critical literacy skills. Since the beginning of this year I have been designing and  implementing learning tasks for students that definitely have engaged students with texts in a critical manner. This was reflected in the latest Reading assessments I undertook in my class. (Probe fiction and non fiction reading assessments). The assessments have revealed that not only students have gone up a level or two in their reading but have been able to fill gaps they had in their assessments in the first Term. 

Kiwikids News Website is a great website to get some topical texts for students to engage with. 

We have been sharing our opinions on many inquiry topics we have done so far this year. Below are examples of two questions/statements we gave our opinion on with reasons that were justified from the texts and information sources. 

Argumentation writing- Students being encouraged to look at both the sides and then form an opinion. 

Students learning to evaluate texts. Students learning to see how authors create mood and atmosphere through writing.

ARBS website- A great resource for getting your texts from and also learning tasks. This website has English, Science and Maths resources under each curriculum level. 

If you have any clarifications or questions regarding any links I have shared in my post, please let me know. 

Nga Mihi