MOVING FORWARD WITH STUDENT VOICE

“Why Student Voice matters?”

WHY?

• School is becoming boring for students.• Enthusiasm decrease from Kindergarten ( 95%) to

Year 9 ( 37%) (Jenkins).• NAPLAN results reflect this and decrease from

Year 5 to Year 9 ( in value adding)• Only thing worse than being bored is having to

teach the bored• The digital world outside school is exploding with

information, entertainment and social connect.

WHAT?

STUDENT VOICE MATTERS

Research tells us that when schools promote Student Voice:Classroom teaching improvesStudents learn betterStudents feel a greater sense of belongingPolicies are made more effectiveTrust and support increaseDemocracy strengthens

THE STUDENT VOICE CONTINUUMPlace you where your classroom and W.C.S is at

1.• Token – SRC , Captains

2.• Beginning to listen - through student surveys, focus groups, student run activities

3.• Acknowledgement – student mentoring, training students for specific roles

4.• Authentic student involvement – whole school analysis by students and staff ; results

implemented, SRC with roles and responsibilities

5.• A culture of trust and respect – co-construction of curriculum, collaborative student/ staff

evaluation of teaching practices and acted on

6.• Democratic partnership- student constructing curriculum, students advises on pedagogy

and assessment informing teaching, student feedback adopted into reflective practice.

HOW READY IS WADALBA FOR STUDENT VOICE?Evaluating the conditions for student voice

SPEAKING Who is allowed? To whom? What about? Language?

LISTENING Who is listening? Why? How?

SKILLS Are dialogue skills encouraged, supported & developed?

ATTITUDES Do individuals regard one another with care and equality?

SYSTEMS How does student voice happen? Do systems support it?

CULTURE Do the values, practices and routines of the school support Student Voice?Is Student Voice central to teaching and learning?

SPACES Are there spaces where Student Voice occurs?

ACTION What actions are taken? Who is responsible? What happens if action doesn’t happen?

THE FUTURE What needs to happen for W.C.S to be ready for real Student Voice Adapted from Fielding

HOW ADULTS LISTEN TO AND LEARN WITH STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS

STUDENTS AS… Classroom Faculty or team School

Data sources Individual performance data such as attendance, -ve and +ve

Samples of student work

Student attitude surveys

Active respondents Lead learning – contracts , P.B.L

Team agenda & student perceptions

Students on staff appointment panels

Co-researchers Developing independent learning

History / Middle School project

SRC

Review of PBL

Knowledge creators

What makes a Good Lesson?

Reflection on How students learn project

Increased student engagement

With adults as co-authors in joint inquiry

Project Based Learning

Construction projects

Develop unit or research lesson

Staff & student Learning walks

Participatory democracy (working with adults in search of the common good)

Student voice project

Older students working with younger students

Sharing of information / reflective practice where ideas are implemented

Whole school forum

• With the person next to you discuss;

• “ How could you place student voice at the centre of teaching and learning in the classroom?”