Template for SharpReading School-Wide
This template provides a detailed outline of the school-wide implementation of SharpReading over a two year period and beyond. Everything you need to know about the delivery is here for later reference. Just pick through the pieces that have immediate relevance to you as you learn more about our training process.
Fill out the online form at the bottom of this webpage and we will provide you with a tailor-made proposal, including costing for each of the steps based on your school needs and budget.
STEP 1: Start-Up Webinars or Workshops
PURPOSE: To get teachers off to a good start
This is the launch, the initial event, the face-to-face interaction with the ‘expert’ that is so important to get strong buy-in from your staff. We suggest a TOD before school starts at the beginning of the year but this could be at anytime during the year.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRAINING:
Our start-up Webinars or Workshops include
1. Making sure teachers understand the thinking behind our approach.
2. Hands-on experience with the teaching routines (teachers practice with their peers) so that they get that “I can do this" feeling and are motivated to make a start in their classrooms straight away.
There are two different initial workshops (Stages 1&2 and Stage 3) and we recommend that teachers only attend one in the beginning stages as we want to avoid teacher overload.
Start-Up Webinars
We run these as a 4 hour Start-Up Webinar with a 2 hour Follow-Up Webinar about 6 weeks later.
This allows for both Start-Ups to be held on the same day - for example 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:00pm-5:00pm.
Alternatively, we can run these as 3 x 2 hour webinars after school or at times that eliminate the cost of relieving staff.
Start-Up Workshops (usually all day 9am-3pm)
We recommend two separate days for these initial workshops. However this is not always practical and we can do a morning/afternoon split as suggested for the webinars.
Which SharpReading Stage should our teachers attend?
Teachers should tackle the stage that is going to meet the needs of the majority of the students in their class. There is provision in this plan for additional teacher training later in the year as it becomes necessary.
Stages 1&2 Start-Up: "Developing Decoding Fluency in Beginner Readers"
Obviously these stages are the starting point for Prep/NE to Year 3 teachers, but as the year progresses the Year 2 and 3 teachers will need Stage 3 as well. CLICK HERE for our criteria for Fluent Decoders who are ready for Stage 3.
Stage 3 Start-Up: "Teaching Reading Comprehension - The Foundation"
Year 4-8 teachers will have a majority of their class working at above Purple on the NZ colour wheel (PM Level 20 or a reading age of 7-8 years), and will therefore be ready for Stage 3 (Comprehension).
What about the very capable readers?
All students who are fluent decoders, whether they have a reading age of 8 or 14+ years, have to make a start on Stage 3. It is the foundation that Stages 4-6 is build upon. Teacher training for Stage 4 and Stage 5 will come later.
What about this readers that are still struggling?
A significant number of students will still require decoding support (typically 1-2 plus years behind their chronological age) and teachers should do the training for "The Struggling Older Reader" later on.
EXPECTED OUTCOME from STEP ONE:
Teachers should introduce the guided reading routine they have learnt as soon as possible to build their confidence and fluency. Initially this might just be with only one group. If it is the beginning of the school year it is not necessary to wait until the full reading program is sorted and launched.
WEBINAR COST: $195 NZD per teacher (+GST for NZ Schools)
WORKSHOP COST: $195 NZD per teacher (+GST for NZ Schools)
PLUS travel (ex Christchurch, NZ) and accommodation.
STEP 2: Complete ONLiNE Courses
PURPOSE: To provide ongoing professional learning after the initial start-up event.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRAINING:
One ONLiNE Unit a week
Management needs to make provision for teachers to work through the units in the appropriate ONLiNE Course (8 units of work).
Much of the essential information in the first four units is covered in broad strokes during the workshop - the theory and some practice with peers at delivering the routines.
With this information teachers can start straight away on the practical component of their initial training - getting comfortable with the routines in their own classroom. Experience tells us that with 10-15 hours of this practise they can achieve what we call COMPETENCE with the routines.
However, there is much more that can be achieved through working diligently through Units 5-8 to achieve FLUENCY which is recognised by awarding Certificates of Accreditation.
Teachers should meet in their teaching teams or Year Level teams and work through the unit material which typically includes:
* a learning goal
* a short explanation
* video model of the learning goal
Practical Component - Teachers should set themselves short term goals for the next week, a number of lessons that will be taught to achieve the specific focus of the unit.
At the next meeting the teachers should complete the Review which is built into each unit.
UNIT REVIEW
1. Share successes
2. Identify any roadblocks or possible confusions - brainstorm solutions or contact Hilton
3. Set new short term teaching goals if there is more to be done on this unit
4. Start on the next Unit and set new short term teaching goals
DESIRED OUTCOME from STEP TWO
6-10 weeks after the Start-Up, teachers should be well into the ONLiNE Course and have completed a significant number of Guided Reading lessons.
STEP 3: In-School Support
PURPOSES:
1. Provide ongoing coaching and feedback to teachers on the stage they are working on.
2. Provide management with an indication on progress being made with the implementation.
DESCRIPTION of the TRAINING
Two visits should be scheduled in the first year of implementation. These include before school briefings with teachers and short after-school workshops as may be deemed necessary, but the main focus of the visit is for your SharpReading Consultant to spend 45 minutes in each teacher's classroom. This is designed to be very non-threatening and teachers find this very helpful ..."Best PD ever!"
What does the In-Class support look like?
1. Teacher teaches the Guided Reading Routine for 10-15 mins - Consultant collects data on the delivery of the routine.
2. Observer guides the teacher through a self-reflection process using the data that has been collected.
3. Teacher identifies appropriate next learning steps for themselves.
4. Consultant provides modelling of an aspect of the routine if this is appropriate.
Where it is not possible or practical for in-school visits, we can provide much of the above support through our systems of Virtual Feedback.
IN-SCHOOL VISIT #1: 6-10 weeks after Start-Up
KEY POINTS for the first visit
1. The focus is on teacher COMPETENCE
Teacher know that we are not expecting perfection, just looking to see whether they can follow the script and deliver the routine (a bit like getting a driver’s licence).
2. A reasonable practice time
Six-ten weeks after the the start-up workshop gives teachers a reasonable chance to develop some confidence with the teaching routine.
3. Make corrections before they become bad habits
It provides an opportunity to correct misunderstandings and errors before teachers get too far down the track.
4. Provides some accountability
Teachers know in advance that this is going to happen so there is significant motivation to make a start.
EXPECTED OUTCOME:
Typically, after the first visit we would expect the program to be being delivered across the school at a COMPETENCY level; an average of 40-50% efficiency.
That means most teachers are now confident with the routines and can deliver with good accuracy and pace without relying on the Teacher Script.
IN-SCHOOL VISIT #2: 25 weeks after Start-Up
KEY POINTS for the second visit
1. The focus is on teacher FLUENCY
Are the teachers now free of the routine and understand the nuances of the learning that is occurring.
2. Accreditation of Teachers
If good systems have been established and teachers are experiencing success with this approach, 50-80% of teachers will have met the standards that we have set and can be accredited as SharpReading Teachers.
4. Additional Training for Teachers
The second visit may be the time to include training in additional Stages for some teachers.These can be run as 2 hour after school workshops.
Stage 3 for Year 2&3 teachers (Cost $99+GST per teacher)
Struggling Older Reader for Year 3-6 teachers (Cost $135+GST per teacher - includes $80 of resources)
Stage 4 for Stage 3 teachers who are showing reasonable fluency or are accredited for Stage 3 (Cost $80+GST per teacher)
EXPECTED OUTCOME for VISIT 2
After the second visit the program will be being delivered at an average of 60-70% efficiency across the school with at least 50% of teachers accredited in one SharpReading stage.
COST for STEP 3 (Two In-School Support visits)
Daily charge out rate (available on request).
We allow for 6 teacher observations per day (with careful scheduling) which gives you an indication of how many days you would need to book for each visit.
PLUS Travel (Return flights from Chch) rental car, and AirB&B accommodation
PLUS any additional after school stage workshops as outlined above.
STEP 4: Training In-School Coaches
PURPOSES:
1. Provide ongoing coaching and feedback to teachers on the stage(s) they are working on to achieve Teacher Accreditation.
2. Provide training opportunities for In-School Coaches.
DESCRIPTION of the PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
1. Teachers continue to work towards Teacher Accreditation
Teachers develop fluency with routines through mileage using all of the stages they have trained in. SharpReading should be the default instructional reading approach in all classrooms.
2. Provisional Coaches complete the Coach ONLiNE Course
This includes
- Practice of accurate collection of observation data for competence and fluency of the classroom teaching from videos included in Coach ONLiNE.
- Training about how to maintain positive relationships with peers - avoiding a culture of judgment.
- Training about how to assemble and analyse school-wide data and formulate a school support plan.
3. Input from SharpReading Consultant
In-School Support visits for teacher observations and feedback (Term 1 and Term 3) which double up as the practical component of the In-School Coaches training.
KEY POINTS for IN-SCHOOL VISITS
In-School Support (Visit 1 - End of Term 1)
A full round of teacher observations and feedback
Coaches accompany Consultant - practice data collection and observe feedback process
In-School Support (Visit 2 - End of Term 3)
A full round of teacher observations and feedback
Coaches accompany Consultant - take over responsibility for data collection and feedback to teachers.
This should result in Coach accreditation.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Our job is to support trainers so that the School meets the criteria for SharpReading School Accreditation
1. SharpReading Coaches are accredited
2. The SharpReading program in the school is operating at 80-90% efficiency.
3. 80% of teachers are accredited in at least 1 SharpReading Stage
4. SharpReading is acknowledged in the school curriculum plan as the primary instructional process in reading
5. Documented school-wide plan is in place for teacher support by coaches to ensure
i) integrity of SharpReading approach is maintained over time
ii) clear SharpReading training pathway is established for new teachers in the school
COST for STEP 4 (A minimum of one In-School Support visits and In-School Coach Training)
Daily charge out rate (as for Step 3)
How many days will we need to book for each visit? Plan for 6-7 teacher observations per day
PLUS Travel (Return flights from Chch) rental car, and AirB&B accommodation
PLUS Coach ONLiNE Course - $250+GST per trainer (we suggest 1 trainer per 7 teachers)
PLUS any additional Stage training as outlined above.
STEP 5: A SharpReading School
BEYOND THE INITIAL TRAINING
"What are the ongoing costs for access to the ONLiNE Courses for a SharpReading School?"
Provisional SharpReading Schools - 1 User Licence System
When a school commits to an ongoing program of school-wide professional development we refer to that school as a 'Provisional SharpReading School'. During this time we operate under a 1 User Licence system, where each teacher involved in the training has to have their own SharpReading account and login details for each of the three courses that they can train in (the Stages 1&2 Course, the Stage 3 Course, and the Stages 4&5 Course).
The cost of these 1 User Licences is included in the initial Start-Up training cost - a Start-Up Webinar or Workshop plus 12 months access to the appropriate ONLiNE course.
The school must purchase additional 1 User Licences for additional teachers that come on board or for teachers who want to upskill themselves in additional stages.
Please note: These costs do not include in-school support days that are part of the ongoing teacher training towards accreditation and the development of Coaches within the school.
On Becoming a SharpReading School - the School Licence System
Once the school meets the criteria for an accredited SharpReading School (usually at the end of two years) they receive a certificate of accreditation.
In the next calendar year we will offer the school a School Licence for all of the ONLiNE Courses and issue a new School Certificate of Accreditation for that year. The annual cost for a school licence is NZ $500.
What are the cost trade-offs for the school if they renew their licence annually?
1. All teachers have ongoing access to the ONLiNE Courses for review and to upskill themselves in additional stages without the school having to purchase 1 User Licences.
2. This also applies to new teachers in training - they are covered by the School Licence.
3. Coaches have ongoing access to the Coach ONLiNE Course and have a training tool (the ONLiNE courses) for working with teachers.
The online training with some Coach supervision should do the job for upskilling teachers now that the program is well established in the school. It does place some added responsibility and workload on the coaches and, where possible, we do recommend sending new staff to a public start-up workshop or getting them to attend a start-up webinar. This is not essential and is an optional extra cost outside of the school licence.
Schools who have not opted for School Accreditation can continue to operate under a 1 User Licence system for their teachers (12 months access to courses - pay as you go).
Make a Booking Today
If you are ready to make a booking for your school based on the information above, fill in the details and any other information that you think is relevant, make a request for a Start-Up date and we will put together a quote that suits your specific needs and budget.
Want to discuss this further? Give us a call +64 (0)27 357 2573.