Speak Out August 2021

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Leaps in Literacy

"Our school was at a crossroads in its teaching of literacy skills", explains Heather Roper, Andale School’s in-house speech pathologist. "Teachers were frustrated with the dated materials and program format. There were inconsistencies in classrooms, in their adaptations and teaching methods. Students seeing external speech pathologists often received recommendations that were difficult to reinforce using the school program and materials. It was time for a change." In 2019, Andale School undertook a comprehensive review of the school’s literacy approach and outcomes. After much research and investigation, Andale School decided to introduce the MultiLit program (Making Up for Lost Time in Literacy), a research initiative of Macquarie University. "Ultimately, the decision to introduce MultiLit was easy. We were looking for a comprehensive program which could be introduced throughout the school, in each classroom. We were impressed with the evidence supporting the approach. We liked the comprehensive and varied options for capable students, and we liked the extensive training and support for our teaching staff. It’s been great to use an Australian program with easy access to training and support," explains Heather. Andale School is a specialist primary school in Kew, Victoria, for students experiencing language and learning difficulties. With only three classes and a maximum student capacity of 32, each student has an individual learning plan tailored to his or her unique learning needs. Andale students commonly have challenges with • receptive and expressive language • auditory processing • following written and verbal instructions • short term auditory memory • fine and gross motor skills • attention and concentration • confidence and self-esteem • pragmatic and social skills. Even in a small school like Andale, there are significant differences between students’ capabilities. Most students require ongoing explicit and systematic teaching of literacy at Tier 2 or 3, to develop decoding and comprehension skills. Other students learn to read

Member Heather Roper with a student of Andale School.

quickly and fluently, but struggle to comprehend at the same level. They do not require MiniLit or MacqLit, but other programs and supports targeting comprehension. As Heather explains, "MultiLit was a compelling choice for our students because the program addresses the range of students’ needs, from foundation through to secondary. It allows us to train all staff in the use of one program, and group students according to skill level rather than just class level, if required. Students are regularly assessed to identify progress or areas for attention. Our teaching staff find the program consistent with their teaching practice, and complementary to their widespread use of decodable readers to support and engage students." Now, some 18 months on from the initial MultiLit rollout, all Andale teaching and support staff have undertaken MultiLit training. MultiLit is across the entire school and used by all three classes. Each Andale student who requires ongoing development of decoding skills has four MultiLit sessions per week. MultiLit is an excellent addition to the curriculum for Andale. "We’re seeing some real literacy progress for our students", communicates Justin Walsh, Andale’s principal. "It is so important we develop strong readers. It is the key to helping them access the wider community and to enjoying other experiences which enrich and engage them. We are still in the early days, but each student is making clear and steady progress. We’re really pleased we transitioned to MultiLit and look forward to embedding this further in our curriculum." For more information about MultiLit, see https://multilit. com For more information about the approach to literacy at Andale School, please contact Heather Roper hroper@ andale.vic.edu.au

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August 2021 | Speak Out