2024 Teacher Inquiry Question

At the start of this year, I decided to focus my inquiry on improving spelling and phonological awareness in my Year 6 class. My goal is to explore how embedding The Code into my practice can increase students' word knowledge, particularly for those who are at risk or working below expected levels.

My inquiry question is:
"How can embedding The Code in my practice help increase students' spelling and phonological awareness, particularly for those who are below expected levels or at risk?" My teacher inquiry question links to Manaiakalani goals of: improving teacher practice, and making 1.5 Years progress inside a year.

I chose this focus because spelling and phonological awareness are foundational to literacy development. Many of my students, particularly those who speak English as a second language or face other challenges, need additional support in these areas. By improving their understanding of sounds and word structures, I hope to help them become more confident and competent in both their reading and writing.

To begin this inquiry, I have collected data on my students' spelling progress, which includes their spelling test scores as well as additional details such as their age, ethnicity, and student feedback (student voice). Below is a summary table of this data for my target group:

This inquiry is already reinforcing the importance of revisiting essential skills that may not always be fully developed by the time students reach senior school. It's clear that reinforcing these foundational concepts will benefit all learners, particularly those with gaps in their phonological awareness and spelling.