CSI – Comprehension Strategies Instruction

Sometimes it takes someone else to tell us what we already know! So it is with the vexed issue of boys’ reading achievement. In its 2009 report, the OECD acknowledged the critical role played by engagement: “Most of the gender gap can be explained by boys being less engaged, and less engaged students show lower performance” (PISA 2009 Results: Learning to Learn, Vol III, 2009, p.13). more

I was fortunate to share a meal with a group of educators in Marietta, Georgia recently. The journey from New Zealand had been long, and naturally my first impression was of the many differences between our education systems. But not long into our (delicious) lunch I was struck by the similarities of the challenges we face. I’ll highlight just three: more

How would you like to spend your school life in the bottom reading group? No matter what native flower or other cutesy name the group is given, there’s no fooling the students in the bottom reading group and Samantha for one isn’t a fan. Recently Samantha spoke to the camera about her experience as a student who has lived her classroom life in the bottom reading group, and she was forthright – “I don’t like it.” more