RPI - Data Reflections - Do Students Enjoy Reading?

 Room 9s Data

Before the Data Collection

Like all wonderful teachers, when given a form, I checked it out and couldn't see anything missing. I thought there were many questions, but my next thought was that the RPI leaders know what they are doing, and it will provide good information.

1. Following this process, the question is 'Do Students Enjoy Reading?'

2. Using the profile survey we were able to collect data across the class, (3 other classes have completed RPI and I am interested in comparing results at another point in time).

3. Checking the data I found one student was super keen and submitted twice. 

4. Analysing the data with the students took time, especially with trying to get their thoughts. (My main statement was what can you see, there is no right or wrong answer).

5. Here I am sharing my findings which I have also done with my Principal and Class.

6. Act on the data will occur in stages: 

• Discuss specific answers with individuals
• Talk to students about what they would like to read more about
• Find books to increase reading enjoyment
• Encourage all students and talk about improvement not level

When I First Started Looking at the Data 

I realised I could compare Year 7 against Year 8 students, but I couldn't compare males against females. Legislative practice always involves comparing gender, ethnicity, and age. And although I didn't want to go too deep, I did want to see the variation between males and females. Then I thought, 'Do I include 'other' for the students who don't recognise themselves as male or female?' So I checked back to the Manaiakalani Student Survey and how they gathered this information.

Although this was an afterthought, my class was happy to just use the two main categories, making analysis easier. But it did bring up some interesting questions.

Do males actually know what reading entails when at home? Finding out how to set up the TV or PS5 all entails reading.

Having discussions with the different student groups and the principal, it was interesting to see their thoughts on the data. 

A couple of important facts to be aware of in Room 9 we currently have 24 students, 9 are Year 8 and 15 Year 7s. 13 of whom are female and 11 are male. (So glad they all add up to 24)😁

The Data

 

It was interesting even the student said wow what a lot of slides. I responded by explaining that we were doing them all in one day.

Check out our thoughts with each slide. But here is our summary of the data of the most interesting or pertinent points. 

Analysis of the Data

What I/we found out:

• Overall 30% of Room 9 don't like to read 
• More boys go to the library this could be because there are more graphic novels or a larger choice
• Wow, what a contrast 86% of Year 7s enjoy reading compared to 22% of Year 8s.
• 80% of students understand reading will help them, leaving 20% unsure how it helps. A conversation with students is necessary not to persuade them but to understand what they mean.
• The most common genres of books are fiction, comics and pictures
• A few students read a wide range of genres
• 50% of the class read at home on the way to bed or in the evening
• Over Summer more than 50% read a book a week
• What whanau thinks about a student's reading ability is similar to their belief in themselves.
• For goals, many thought understanding what they were reading was a priority

Questions the WE asked - 

• Why don't a third of the boys like reading?
• The boys who don't like reading at home are they the same as those who don't like to read at school?
• How do I get these non-readers into reading?
• How do we get more than 50% overall enjoying reading in Room 9?

Favourite Responses:

• I love reading and I can't stop
• I need help
• I only have feelings about the graphic novels and the images, not chapters book feel with words only
• To be able to Understand the Secret Meanings

Final Thoughts

The survey has given me a lot to think about and discuss with individual students. 

Following this process, the question is 'Do Students Enjoy Reading?'

Using the profile survey we were able to collect data and this will be interesting to see again mid-year and later in the year.