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EDUCATION BUREAU CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM NO. 42/2015
From : Secretary for Education
Ref
: EDB(EPSNTE)/PGM/2/2(1)
Date
: 23 March 2015
To : Heads of all aided (excluding special
schools), government primary schools and
primary schools under the Direct Subsidy
Scheme (DSS)
Project on Enhanced Support for Students with
Specific Learning Difficulties in Reading and Writing
“Tiered Intervention Model on the Learning and Teaching
of Chinese Language in Primary Schools”
Summary
The purpose of this circular memorandum is to invite primary schools to
participate in the project on enhanced support for students with specific learning difficulties
in reading and writing (SpLD) in the 2015/16 school year. By adopting the “Tiered
Intervention Model on the Learning and Teaching of Chinese Language in Primary Schools”
(the Model), schools could not only enhance the learning effectiveness of students with SpLD,
but also effectively cater for the needs of students with diverse abilities.
Details
Tiered Intervention Model
2.
The tiered intervention model is widely recognized as one of the most effective
approaches to cater for students with learning differences. Under this model, teachers
provide Tier 1 quality teaching to all students, and through continuous monitoring of the
students’ response to intervention, provide Tier 2 small group supplemental teaching or more
intensive Tier 3 individualize support for students with greater learning difficulties.
3.
Under the “READ & WRITE: A Jockey Club Learning Support Network”
conducted between the 2006/07 and 2010/11 school years, the research team led by the
Psychology Department of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) made reference to relevant
research findings and applied the tiered intervention model in the teaching of Chinese
Language in pilot schools. Evidence-based teaching resources (《悅讀‧悅寫意》, Chinese
version only) and computerized assessment tools, together with teacher training and support
to parents, have become the systematic “Tiered Intervention Model on the Learning and
Teaching of Chinese Language in Primary Schools”. The improvement in the literacy
performance of students in the pilot schools has demonstrated the efficacy of the Model to
enhance the language proficiency of junior primary students, including those with poor
literacy skills of SpLD.
The relevant teaching resources and assessment tools were
distributed to all primary schools in 2011. A guide on the implementation of the Model for
educational psychologists and the second edition of the computerized assessment tools were
issued and distributed in 2013.
4.
To build on the “READ & WRITE: A Jockey Club Learning Support Network”
project and to sustain the development of the Model in primary schools, the Education
Bureau (EDB) has launched a 5-year project since the 2011/12 school year. About 40 new
primary schools are invited to implement the Model every year. The participating schools
receive professional support from EDB for three consecutive school years to implement the
Model. The mode of professional support includes participation in school-based preparatory
meetings, collaborative lesson planning meetings and review meetings with the school
personnel, as well as regular professional development workshops for the teachers. The
ultimate goal is to support teachers to integrate the resources developed for the Model with
the school-based Chinese language curriculum, with a view to optimizing the Chinese
language curriculum for junior primary students. The progress of the students in the Project
is monitored through formative and summative assessment. Students who need small group
supplemental teaching or individualized support will be identified at the end of every school
term.
5.
To ensure that students of different abilities gain improvement through effective
implementation of tiered intervention, experience of the pilot schools told us that
participating schools had to make relevant adjustment in teaching and learning arrangements
and manpower deployment. These include reserving two lessons per week to deliver the
《悅讀‧悅寫意》curriculum so as to optimize Tier 1 teaching to P.1 students in the first year,
providing additional small group teaching support of about 100-150 minutes per week for P.2
or P.3 students who show persistent learning difficulties in the second and the third years, and
arranging teachers and Educational Psychologists to join the related meetings, etc. In
integrating the 《悅讀‧悅寫意》into the school-based curriculum, corresponding enrichment,
abridgement and reorganization of the school-based curriculum and assessment are needed to
achieve the best outcomes.
Application
6.
We would like to invite primary schools to join the Project in the 2015/16 school
year, which is the last year of recruitment. Moreover, we would also provide teacher
training to the schools which are not yet able to join the Project or have not fully
implemented the Model. Schools are requested to bring this circular memorandum to all
teachers and supporting professionals (e.g. educational psychologist) for perusal. Schools
interested in joining please complete and return the application form (Appendix I) by fax
(2639 4897) to Educational Psychology Service (New Territories East) Section on or before 4
May 2015. The results of the application for the Project will be released in early June 2015.
Briefing Session
7.
The EDB will organize a briefing session (see Appendix II for details) on 15 April
2015 (Wednesday) to facilitate schools to have a better understanding of the Model. For
enrolment and further details, please refer to the Training Calendar System of the EDB
(Course ID: SEKG20150079).
Enquiries
8.
For enquiries, please contact Ms Shirley TUNG, Project Officer of the Educational
Psychology Service (NTE) Section, at telephone number 2639 4891.
Miss Hera CHUM
for Secretary for Education
c.c: Heads of Sections - for information
Appendix I
Project on Enhanced Support for Students with
Specific Learning Difficulties in Reading and Writing
“Tiered Intervention Model on the Learning and Teaching
of Chinese Language in Primary Schools”
Application Form
Please complete the application form and return by fax (2639 4897) to Ms Shirley TUNG of the
Educational Psychology Service (New Territories East) Section on or before 4 May 2015.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please tick one of the boxes:
 Our school has consulted the teachers and supporting professional* and we are ready to
join the Project. We will make the corresponding adjustment in the teaching and learning
arrangements and manpower deployment if we are selected.
 Our school has consulted the teachers and supporting professional* and we are ready to
join the Project. However, we expect that we may have restriction in adjusting our
teaching and learning arrangements and manpower deployment (please specify:
__________________________________________________________________). Please
consider our application and give us advice, so that we can follow up and join the Project.
 Our school is unable to join the project / has not fully implemented the Tiered Intervention
Model but we would like to send our teachers for the relevant training (about four
workshops each year) to be provided by the EDB in order to enhance our understanding of
the Model. Please send the information about the workshops to _________________
(post: ____________ ).
School information:
*Name of the school-based educational psychologist, if applicable: __________________
Number of classes in junior primary (2014/15): P.1 (
Chinese Language Textbook:
)
P.2 (
)
P.3 (
)
(publisher) / School-based curriculum
The Junior Primary Chinese Language Panel of our school is participating/ plans to
participate in other support project(s) in the 2015/16 school year: (May choose more than
one.)
□
□
EDB: “Mainland-Hong Kong Teachers Exchange and Collaboration Programme”
(Chinese Language), Class level : _______________
Other related projects (Please specify the name of the supporting organization,
scheme and class level)：
Contact Person:
(Name)__________________
Signature of School Head
Name of School Head
Name of school
Telephone No.
Fax No.
E-mail address
Date
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
(Post) __________________
School Chop
Appendix II
Project on Enhanced Support for Students with
Specific Learning Difficulties in Reading and Writing
“Tiered Intervention Model on the Learning and Teaching
of Chinese Language in Primary Schools”
Briefing Session
Date:
15 April 2015 (Wednesday)
Time: 9: 00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Venue: Lecture Theatre, 4/F, West Block, EDB Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre,
19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon.
Programme
Time
Topic
Speaker(s)
9:00 – 9:15
Registration
9:15 – 9:35
The Rationale and Efficacy of the “Tiered
Officer of the Educational
Intervention Model on the Learning and
Psychology Service (NTE) Section,
Teaching of Chinese Language in Primary
EDB
Schools”
S.K.H. Chu Yan Primary School
9:35 – 10:00
Experience Sharing by School I
10:00 – 10:20
Support rendered by EDB
10:20 – 10:35
Ms. LEUNG Wai Hing
Mr. WONG Wai Nam
Officer of the Educational
Psychology Service (NTE) Section,
EDB
Break
Christian Alliance Toi Shan
H C Chan Primary School
10:35 – 11:15
Experience Sharing by School II
11:15 – 11:30
Questions & Answers
Ms. CHAN Chui Yuk
Ms. LAW Kam Fung
Ms. LEE Pui Sze
Ms. SZE King Ling
All Speakers