Literacy and Numeracy
Literacy and Numeracy assessments occur at St. Edmund's for each student on a yearly basis. This information serves as a tracking device for each student. The teacher gathers data determining where each student is in each strand of subject taught and then reflects on what needs to be taught (via the ITP process) for the student so they are ready to enter the workplace after leaving St Edmund's. The teacher also reflects on how best to teach this information for each student and determines how the teacher knows when the student gets there.
The school focuses on the literacy and numeracy needs and priorities of students to ensure that all students ultimately reach a high standard of literacy and numeracy before leaving school.
Literacy Assessments at St. Edmund's
Literacy assessments at St. Edmund's follow the categories set out in the NAPLAN assessments which began in 2008.
Writing: achievement of criteria that demonstrate the writing skills needed for each student. Our students complete a writing sample twice a year. This writing sample is assessed using the outcomes teachers deemed important for our school.
- Capital letters
- Full stops
- Words per minute
- Does the sentence make sense?
Reading: ability to understand texts and diagrams that are commonly used in each subject. Our students complete the Neale Analysis which measures reading age and comprehension. Our students follow the Fitzroy reading scheme encouraging phonemic awareness and comprehension. Our school uses the MULTILIT program, encouraging word attack skills and sight word awareness.
Language: knowledge and use of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Our students use the MULTILIT program for spelling. Direct instruction teaching strategies for punctuation and grammar.
Anecdotal information: teachers on a yearly basis can add comments to student profiles indicating best strategies for the student. Using the student profiles, information about each student can be analaysed to provide the best teaching practices and the most effective learning strategies for each student.
Numeracy Assessments at St Edmund's
Numeracy assessments at St. Edmund's follow the categories set out in the NAPLAN assessments begun in 2008. Unfortunately there are no standardised assessments in mathematics which cover our school population.
Number - using numbers and calculations in a variety of situations. Our students will be assessed yearly on a school based number test. A pre and post test is used to assess students. Our students will be assessed yearly on a school based calculator test. Our students must also be observed in practical situations and to assess generalization of number skills.
Measurement - making and comparing measurements involving length, area, volume, mass, time and temperature. Our students will be assessed yearly on a school based time and money test. A pre and post test is used to assess students. Our students must also be observed in practical situations to assess generalisation of time and money skills.
Space - drawing shapes, working with patterns, representing 3D space and describing positions. Our students will be assessed yearly on a school based space test. A pre and post test is used to assess students. Our students must also be observed in practical situations to assess generalisation of space skills.
Data - identifying, organizing and interpreting data in tables and graphs. Our students will be assessed yearly on a school based data test. A pre and post test is used to assess each student. Our students must also be observed in practical situations to assess generalisation of data skills.