title: By rule or by rote? To what extent does children’s spelling improve as a result of learning words with the LOOK, SAY, COVER, WRITE, CHECK, FIX strategy, compared with phonological spelling strategies?

authors: Dymock, Susan

abstract: The present study was a randomised controlled trial designed to compare the effects of two spelling interventions on spelling of taught words and transfer words. The sample consisted of 55 seven-year-olds, including proficient and less proficient spellers, in two Year 3 classrooms. The spelling interventions were for three lessons per week, 20-minutes per lesson, over 10 weeks. In the first intervention we taught eight spelling strategies that showed children how to stretch out the sounds in words and how to use different phonological spelling strategies, including how to spell short and long vowel sounds and phonics strategies, such as use of the silent e marker, how to break long words into syllables, and the doubling rule. In the second intervention students learned the LOOK, SAY, COVER, WRITE, CHECK, FIX strategy along with putting words to be learned into alphabetical order and writing each word in a sentence. They were not taught any strategies or rules. The control group completed comprehension, vocabulary, and punctuation activities. In order to see if the control group might implicitly learn the words, all groups in all lessons were exposed to the same words by reading a story to them that contained the words. Results for taught words showed that both intervention conditions increased participants’ spelling at an equivalent rate, greater than that of the control condition. For transfer words not taught but that followed similar patterns to the taught words, the strategy intervention showed greater transfer to spelling new words with similar patterns compared with the LOOK, SAY, COVER, WRITE, CHECK, FIX condition and the control condition. For this reason we conclude that although both intervention approaches had strong local effects in terms of learning to spell specific words, teaching rule-based spelling strategies had more global effects in terms of transfer to new words than the LOOK, SAY, COVER, WRITE, CHECK, FIX for both proficient and less proficient spellers.

text: By rule or by rote? To what extent does children’s spelling improve as a result of learning words with the LOOK, SAY, COVER, WRITE, CHECK, FIX strategy, compared with phonological spelling strategies? The present study was a randomised controlled trial designed to compare the effects of two spelling interventions on spelling of taught words and transfer words. The sample consisted of 55 seven-year-olds, including proficient and less proficient spellers, in two Year 3 classrooms. The spelling interventions were for three lessons per week, 20-minutes per lesson, over 10 weeks. In the first intervention we taught eight spelling strategies that showed children how to stretch out the sounds in words and how to use different phonological spelling strategies, including how to spell short and long vowel sounds and phonics strategies, such as use of the silent e marker, how to break long words into syllables, and the doubling rule. In the second intervention students learned the LOOK, SAY, COVER, WRITE, CHECK, FIX strategy along with putting words to be learned into alphabetical order and writing each word in a sentence. They were not taught any strategies or rules. The control group completed comprehension, vocabulary, and punctuation activities. In order to see if the control group might implicitly learn the words, all groups in all lessons were exposed to the same words by reading a story to them that contained the words. Results for taught words showed that both intervention conditions increased participants’ spelling at an equivalent rate, greater than that of the control condition. For transfer words not taught but that followed similar patterns to the taught words, the strategy intervention showed greater transfer to spelling new words with similar patterns compared with the LOOK, SAY, COVER, WRITE, CHECK, FIX condition and the control condition. For this reason we conclude that although both intervention approaches had strong local effects in terms of learning to spell specific words, teaching rule-based spelling strategies had more global effects in terms of transfer to new words than the LOOK, SAY, COVER, WRITE, CHECK, FIX for both proficient and less proficient spellers.

year: 2017

title: The status of fish in Hamilton Lake (Lake Rotoroa)

authors: Kane, Daryl Steven

abstract: The size, population structure, relative fish abundance, diet and heavy metal concentrations of fish in Hamilton Lake (Lake Rotoroa) were examined. A combination of gill nets, fyke nets and minnow traps were used at each of 11 sampling sites located primarily at stormwater inflows around the lake. Sampling was undertaken between 9 December 1993 and 2 March 1994, with one overnight sampling occurring at each site.
A total of 1073 fish were captured, comprising nine different species: catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus), common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), goldfish (Carassius auratus), longfinned eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii), perch (Perca fluviatilis), mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), rudd (Scardinius erythropthalmus), shortfinned eel (Anguilla australis), and tench (Tinca tinca).
Abundance of rudd has declined since 1990, with a decline in catch rates of 67%. Conversely, perch abundance has increased since 1990, with catch rates increasing by 300%. During this period perch have surpassed rudd as the most abundant fish species. The declines in rudd abundance are probably associated with the disappearance of submerged aquatic macrophytes, largely Egeria densa, from Hamilton Lake during 1990.
Ages of rudd were determined using scales, while perch were aged using opercular bones. Back-calculation of fish length involved the use of both scale proportional (SPH), and body proportional hypotheses (BPH). Results from the SPH appeared more accurate, due to better compatibility with actual observed fish lengths. Sizes of one and two year old rudd appear to have declined over the past six years in Hamilton Lake. In 1987, the mean lengths of one and two year old rudd were 87 mm and 207 mm respectively, while in 1991 the same aged fish were 69 mm and 127 mm in length. Perch growth rates, however, do not appear to have changed. Poorly formed growth rings on both scales and operculum prevented tench from being aged.
Despite the total collapse of submerged aquatic macrophytes, which formed the bulk of the rudd diet (84% by volume), aquatic vegetation still remained the most important food item of adult rudd in the present study, although this now comprised entirely of emergent marginal vegetation. This suggests that rudd >200 mm in length are obligate herbivores. Perch fed largely on invertebrates, before a transition to a largely piscivorous diet at approximately 200 mm in length. Tench appeared to be specialist feeders on molluscs.
Concentrations of four heavy metals (arsenic, lead, copper, and zinc) in the white muscle of fish were examined. Concentrations of the majority of heavy metals analysed were well below maximum permitted levels. Arsenic concentrations were highest in bottom feeding fish, particularly catfish (mean=0.778 mg kg⁻¹ wet weight, compared to the maximum permitted level of 2 mg kg⁻¹ wet weight) due to high arsenic concentrations in the lake sediment resulting from sodium arsenate application for weed control in 1959. Arsenic in the present study was analysed using a dry ashing technique. Arsenic concentrations were higher than those of previous studies in the lake undertaken using a wet ashing technique, which fails to liberate all arsenic from the fish flesh.

text: The status of fish in Hamilton Lake (Lake Rotoroa) The size, population structure, relative fish abundance, diet and heavy metal concentrations of fish in Hamilton Lake (Lake Rotoroa) were examined. A combination of gill nets, fyke nets and minnow traps were used at each of 11 sampling sites located primarily at stormwater inflows around the lake. Sampling was undertaken between 9 December 1993 and 2 March 1994, with one overnight sampling occurring at each site.
A total of 1073 fish were captured, comprising nine different species: catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus), common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), goldfish (Carassius auratus), longfinned eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii), perch (Perca fluviatilis), mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), rudd (Scardinius erythropthalmus), shortfinned eel (Anguilla australis), and tench (Tinca tinca).
Abundance of rudd has declined since 1990, with a decline in catch rates of 67%. Conversely, perch abundance has increased since 1990, with catch rates increasing by 300%. During this period perch have surpassed rudd as the most abundant fish species. The declines in rudd abundance are probably associated with the disappearance of submerged aquatic macrophytes, largely Egeria densa, from Hamilton Lake during 1990.
Ages of rudd were determined using scales, while perch were aged using opercular bones. Back-calculation of fish length involved the use of both scale proportional (SPH), and body proportional hypotheses (BPH). Results from the SPH appeared more accurate, due to better compatibility with actual observed fish lengths. Sizes of one and two year old rudd appear to have declined over the past six years in Hamilton Lake. In 1987, the mean lengths of one and two year old rudd were 87 mm and 207 mm respectively, while in 1991 the same aged fish were 69 mm and 127 mm in length. Perch growth rates, however, do not appear to have changed. Poorly formed growth rings on both scales and operculum prevented tench from being aged.
Despite the total collapse of submerged aquatic macrophytes, which formed the bulk of the rudd diet (84% by volume), aquatic vegetation still remained the most important food item of adult rudd in the present study, although this now comprised entirely of emergent marginal vegetation. This suggests that rudd >200 mm in length are obligate herbivores. Perch fed largely on invertebrates, before a transition to a largely piscivorous diet at approximately 200 mm in length. Tench appeared to be specialist feeders on molluscs.
Concentrations of four heavy metals (arsenic, lead, copper, and zinc) in the white muscle of fish were examined. Concentrations of the majority of heavy metals analysed were well below maximum permitted levels. Arsenic concentrations were highest in bottom feeding fish, particularly catfish (mean=0.778 mg kg⁻¹ wet weight, compared to the maximum permitted level of 2 mg kg⁻¹ wet weight) due to high arsenic concentrations in the lake sediment resulting from sodium arsenate application for weed control in 1959. Arsenic in the present study was analysed using a dry ashing technique. Arsenic concentrations were higher than those of previous studies in the lake undertaken using a wet ashing technique, which fails to liberate all arsenic from the fish flesh.

year: 1995

title: Te Arawa– Kaitaki of Te Arawa Lakes

authors: Curtis, Sir Toby

abstract: The Te Arawa Lakes Trust has embarked on a project to develop a Te Arawa Cultural Values Framework, in regard to the 14 lakes located in our tribal region. There are a host of positives that we believe can accrue as an outcome of this exercise. Already the calibre of people acknowledged for their cultural expertise have added a lot by their attendance. Their presence and contribution injected a level of enthusiasm and confidence in the compilation of the final draft. It is hoped that distribution among the wider community will elicit constructive feedback.

text: Te Arawa– Kaitaki of Te Arawa Lakes The Te Arawa Lakes Trust has embarked on a project to develop a Te Arawa Cultural Values Framework, in regard to the 14 lakes located in our tribal region. There are a host of positives that we believe can accrue as an outcome of this exercise. Already the calibre of people acknowledged for their cultural expertise have added a lot by their attendance. Their presence and contribution injected a level of enthusiasm and confidence in the compilation of the final draft. It is hoped that distribution among the wider community will elicit constructive feedback.

year: 2015