Dear Parents/Carers,
I would like to congratulate all of the staff and students in their conduct and participation in the NAPLAN testing over the past two weeks. For some this is an anxious time where feelings of anxiety can heighten, but in our improvement cycle, this is also an important process for us in our goal of improved learning outcomes for all students.
This week I have been out of the school for two days continuing my learning on Instructional Leadership. In this course I will be reporting on student improvement in the area of reading comprehension for all of our students. Intervention programs, Reading Doctor, MiniLit and MacqLit where identified students are supported 4 days a week either individually or in small groups by our School Improvement, engagement and interventions Coordinator, Aaron Sharp provides targeted support to these students.
Literacy Pro is a program used in the classroom for year 4, 5, 6 and 7 students who have reached Reading level 28 or above. This program enables students to identify their Lexile level and directs them to books of interest both online and in the library within their reading ability level. Once the book is read the student completes a quiz to test their comprehension and provides them with feedback. The students are being awarded certificates when they reach different levels. At this stage we have some students who have reached Bronze and some students who have read over 500,000 words since the beginning of the year.
Research tells us that quality teaching, explicit, direct instruction, feedback and setting goals along with engagement, persistence, practice and a growth mindset are key factors to success and improved learning outcomes. Our staff have been working on these strategies and we are continuing our monitoring of these practices through observation, feedback, professional development, collaboration with peers, monitoring and tracking student growth using data collected through NAPLAN, PAT R, PAT M, Phonic Screening, reading levels, formative and summative assessments. You will receive your child’s semester one report at the end of this term to provide you with feedback on how your child is progressing as teachers are currently writing these reports.
As always, keep in touch with your child’s classroom teacher, myself, Aaron, Lisa/Amanda if you have any concerns or questions.
Kind Regards,
Sharon Willoughby
Principal
