Letter of Support

From Mele Finauvala, the Senior Pastor of the “Siasi Talafekau oe Koosipeli Four Square Mission Aotearoa Incorporated” expresses his full support of the wonderful opportunity to help our rangatahi achieve their full potential in a structured and safe learning environment.

How much do you think you’ve changed as a reader since doing Piki Ake?

Piki Ake has changed me alot as I have more knowledge of things I’d never known before. I disliked the subject of reading but now drawn into literacy.
I have changed alot. Whenever I would read a book I would struggle to pronounce or understand the meaning behind the words, but now I can read a book knowing that I understand the meaning behind the words and can pronounce it well.
I now know the meaning of the word and how to spell it and putting it into a sentence and learning new words and how to pronounce it. I am getting the hang of it and it teaches me that it is ok to make a mistake.
It has changed me alot because before the programme I wasn’t as confident as other kids at reading but then when the church announced the programme and when I went the lady was showing us how the programme worked. I started coming every week and gained my confidence to read.
I’ve improved so much in my reading that now I can pronounce difficult words.
I like reading and drawing more. I think reading is hard but I’m okay.
I think that I have changed alot since doing Piki Ake as not only did it help me improve my reading, it also helped me in my writing and spelling skills. I say this because spelling has been my enemy. It was one of the things that I struggled with the most. Piki Ake has also helped me learn new words. As a result these words have helped my writing skills to improve.
I changed a little bit then before I think but I don’t really know if I have improved or not.
I think that I’ve changed alot. My reading has gotten better these few weeks all thanks to this programme.

What did you enjoy most about Piki Ake in regards to the actual reading and programmes?

I enjoyed the gathering of us students and also not we’d be competitive over finishing our weekly goals plus 10 and winning the prizes in addition to theat I overall enjoyed the time and opportunity to have these programs given to us.
What I enjoy most about the programme is that it helps me improve with my literacy skills.
The activities and how you have to spell the words and put them into a sentence and using our knowledge to do the hard parts of the activities.
For the last 2 terms was doing all the fun activities like spelling which showed me new words that I could use at school. Also the matching game which helped my memory.
Every level you do they always have fun new challenges. like doing my target over 10% . I enjoy the spelling, the pizza and spelling games.
I have enjoyed alot was the spelling activity, as I mentioned before, spelling was one of my enemies, but now the Piki Ake has helped me work on the difficult words and improve which I believe I did.
I enjoyed using the Steps Web website because it helped me with my spelling. I also liked the food.
Is getting to learn new words and learn new skills with my friends.

Do you have any suggestions of how it could be even better?

No , I strongly believe the Piki Ake programs and everything within it is spot on.
I do not have any suggestions because this programme is already good !
By supporting one another and encourage each other as a class and need to announce it to other kids and families to get more kids to come and join.
To have more games to make it more fun and interesting.
No because it is perfect just as it is.
No its already better.
Include class activities, do activities or games with the whole class during the session to help them get energized for the activities they have to complete.
Maybe change the time it starts to 6. Also do it twice a week so we can improve more.
No, I actually love how everything is and how things are turning out. I want us all to come together and do this as we grow into the bigger person that we are today. This programme has been my best preogramme of all time.Forever love this programmeand can’t wait to tell my friends all about this great Piki Ake is.

Project A

By the end of the programme in September, 9 of the 11 students (82%) attended the literacy sessions and completed their weekly set tasks consistently.

Below are the spelling results of the 11 students.

Students	Age	Initial Spelling Age / Level	Final Spelling Age / Level	Progress
Student 1	14	15yrs / L14	15yrs / L14	0
Student 2	13	12yrs4m / L13	14y3m / L14	+1yr11m
Student 3	12	11yrs / L11	11y6m / L12	+6m
Student 4	11.9	12yrs / L13	14.1yrs / L14	+2yrs1m
Student 5	13	12yrs 6m / L14	13yrs / L14	+6m
Student 6	13	10.6yrs / L10	11.8yrs / L12	+1yr.2m
Student 7	13	11yrs6m/L12	12yrs.2m / L13	+8m
Student 8	14	12y / L12	10ys	-2yrs
Student 9	14	10yrs1m / L9	15yrs / L14	+4yrs11 m
Student 10	13	14yr5m /L14	15yrs / L14	+7m
Student 11	13	10yr / L10	14yrs L14	+4yrs

Students who maintained steady attendance to sessions and completed their weekly tasks successfully made the greatest improvements, reinforcing the effectiveness of the Piki Ake programme in lifting literacy achievement.

Project B

A total of 9 students enrolled in Project B.

Four out of nine students were able to successfully complete the Piki Ake project.
Below are their results:

Students	Age	Initial Spelling Age	Completed Weekly Set Tasks	Final Spelling Age	Progress
Student 1	11	10yrs2m	50%	12yrs2m	+2yrs
Student 2	10	12yrs6m	55%	14yrs3m	+1yr9m
Student 3	8	7yrs7m	43%	7yrs10m	+3m
Student 4	13	11yrs6m	61%	14y8m	+3yrs2m

Summary of Results:

Average weekly task completion rate: 52%

Average spelling age gain: 21.5 months (almost 1 year and 10 months)

Students that completed at least 50% or more of their weekly tasks and literacy programme were able to make substantial literacy gains in their spelling.
Therefore Piki Ake Project B was highly effective in improving the literacy of these students.