Transformed Writing, In Less Time With More Enjoyment
Term 3 has got off to a chilly but highly successful start - many of the schools we are currently working with are discovering fast, easy and lasting improvements in student writing.
These transformations are happening as a result of kaiako and ākonga quickly unlearning some old habits and learning some new ones. Here are just a few of the quick, free strategies that are creating such high levels of success in our schools:
Using rubrics in Google Classroom that have both numerical and word-based success criteria, which are meaningful, motivating and accessible to learners.
Well-designed and scaffolded writing tasks that are designed and created by kaiako (not simply downloaded), in less than 5 minutes, that are customised to the needs and interests of our ākonga. "Choice and Voice" always wins!
Station rotations - although this is a model we have been using for many years, Dr Catlin Tucker has recently written a book and created a podcast about this.
Optimising cognitive load to appropriate levels of “productive struggle” for all ākonga, through effective differentiation strategies. This can be further underpinned and automated by using pre-defined Groups in Google Classroom.
Differentiation by task, time, rubric, groupings - when some or all of these strategies are used, the classroom climate immediately improves and our ākonga get an enhanced sense of ambition and success.
Drafting digitally and “publishing” with handwriting - a reversal to common classroom practice for many - this means that the quality of the writing is optimised (via formative feedback cycles) and then the handwriting is as good as it possibly can be, as the learner is genuinely proud of their content and doesn’t have to deal with paper based corrections.
There are several additional, downstream advantages of these new workflows:
Reduced screentime is coupled with higher expectations and outcomes.
More relational, small group interactions with the kaiako - enabling a “Warm and Demanding” culture to develop.
Fewer devices are needed for each classroom - typically 1 device for every 3 ākonga as per the Station Rotation model.
When using devices, our ākonga start to “Do more, In less time and To a higher standard”.
Less pain, more gain!
The significant reduction in both screen time and number of devices needed in a classroom saves both time and money, as well as delivering enhanced learning outcomes. Yet another example of how Learning First is continuing to deliver more more less, for our schools is by identifying and addressing pain points.
“Beware of pain you get used to” would be great advice from a dentist - sadly, many of our kaiako and ākonga have become used to unnecessary levels of pain, when it comes to learning in general and writing in particular. This is an area where our strategies create instant, lasting outcomes for all learners - and writing becomes an enjoyable expression of personality and creativity. Nudge theory strategies are also used here, to fully motivate and engage all learners. This translates into an absence of “Early Finishers, Late Finishers and Never Finishers” in our classrooms.
A recent example of this occurred at Spring Creek school in Blenheim - After just one coaching session with Martin Hughes, the teacher immediately applied the strategies discussed, resulting in a remarkable shift in classroom practice the very next day. The quality of writing, completion of work, and responsiveness to feedback improved significantly—particularly among ākonga who had previously been reluctant writers. This transformation also led to a noticeable reduction in challenging behaviours, many of which had stemmed from the frustration of struggling with writing.
“This has been an incredible start to our PLD journey with Martin. The immediate impact on both learning and engagement has been powerful, and we’re excited to continue growing alongside Martin and our team".
Cheryl Alderlieste, Tumuaki, Spring Creek School, Blenheim
To learn more about how student writing can be rapidly transformed in your school, feel free to contact Martin - [email protected]
