Literacy and numeracy improvement: a whole-school approach

Educational value

• This is a valuable resource for schools intent on improving students' National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) literacy and numeracy results in years 3, 5 and 7. The strategy targeted schools where large numbers of students were at or below the National Minimum Standard in reading and numeracy. It included Aboriginal students and students speaking English as an additional language or dialect. Data provided in the resource shows its success - the schools' average was above the WA average on every measure, with approximately 70 per cent closing the gap between their performance and the state performance in both reading and numeracy.
• The resource is useful in helping schools choose sustainable literacy and numeracy intervention strategies. The strategy aimed to build the capacity of school communities, rather than creating dependence on external support requiring ongoing funding. The resource can help schools locate the strategies within their school improvement cycle. It indicates that interventions need to be evidence-based, data-driven, individually targeted, systematic and intensive. They should also fit within school improvement activities of assessing data and other evidence related to student achievement. The advice includes planning to improve the standards of student achievement, and acting to implement the planned strategies.

Year level

F; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7

Topics Calculators Educational research Teaching methods Number operations Addition Reading Reading comprehension Proportions Financial transactions Learning strategies Subtraction English (Second language) Mental arithmetic Aboriginal students Written calculations Mathematical expressions Justification (Reasoning)