Learning
NAPLAN testing
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an assessment program for all students in Australian schools in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 which tests knowledge and skills in Literacy and Numeracy. It has been held annually in Australian schools since 2008. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and school leaders about student achievement which can be used to support teaching and learning programs.
NAPLAN testing will be held between Wednesday 15 March and Monday 20 March, at these times:
| Year 3 | Year 5 | Year 7 | Year 9 |
Writing | Wed 15 March Period 1 | Wed 15 March Period 1 | Wed 15 March Period 3 | Wed 15 March Period 2 |
Reading | Thur 16 March Period 1 | Thur 16 March Period 3 | Thur 16 March Periods 1 & 2 | Thur 16 March Periods 3 & 4 |
Conventions of Language | Fri 17 March Period 3 | Fri 17 March Period 4 | Fri 17 March Period 1 | Fri 17 March Period 2 |
Numeracy | Mon 20 March Period 3 | Mon 20 March Period 4 | Mon 20 March Periods 1 & 2 | Mon 20 March Periods 1 & 2 |
Each student will be required to complete four tests: Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. Students who are absent for test sessions will undertake catch-up tests wherever possible, between Tuesday 21 March and Friday 24 March.
NAPLAN tests fundamental skills rather than specific content, and as such are not tests for which students can study or drill. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to let them know that NAPLAN is just one part of their school program, and to urge them to simply do the best they can on the day. The use of commercially available practice materials and/or services by coaching providers is not recommended.
Parent reports provide detailed information about the results of each student on the testing days in Literacy and Numeracy, showing how each student’s achievement level compares to others in Australia. The results are provided by government bodies, and this year are expected to be available by the end of Term 2. More information about the results will be provided in due course.
Information about the tests emailed to parents of students in Years 3, 5, 7 & 9 last week. Further information about the tests, prepared for parents by ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) is available at the following link: https://nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support/
Homework
After the excitement of new beginnings that each year brings, it’s now time for students to be settling into a regular routine at home to help them manage their learning. Aitken College has a Homework Policy which is available for parents to view in full on My Aitken at https://myaitken.fireflycloud.net.au/policy-statements/homework. It outlines the rationale for our homework, and how much time students should be spending on school tasks each evening. It also contains a few guidelines about how parents can support their children’s learning at home.
In summary, the expectations for how much homework should be done at each year level are:
| Year level | Recommended time (approximate) |
| Prep to Year 2 | 20-30 minutes, including reading |
| Years 3 and 4 | 15-20 minutes plus 20 minutes of reading |
| Years 5 and 6 | 25-30 minutes plus 30 minutes of reading |
| Year 7 | Up to 4 hours per week, plus at least 90 minutes of reading |
| Years 8 and 9 | Up to 7 hours per week |
| Year 10 | An average of around 90 minutes each night |
| Year 11 and 12 | An average of around 3 hours each night |
Tasks set for home are intended to be purposeful and to reinforce key concepts and skills. As students get older, their completion of tasks at home should become more independent. Information about specific tasks that need to be completed by due dates can be found on My Aitken in the profiles for each of your children.
At the beginning of the year, students are often very anxious to please their new teachers and to meet expectations – this is especially true of children who are new to the school or who have moved up into secondary school.
If your child is consistently spending more time on school tasks in the evening than what is recommended above, please get in touch with your child’s homeroom teacher or Assistant Head of School.
Anxious, tired children do not learn well at school, so we need to work together to help them to find a healthy balance between relaxing by pursuing their sports and hobbies, and completing homework. Often students who are putting in much longer hours have misunderstood the requirements of homework tasks and are completing work with unnecessary detail or length; these problems are often easily solved in a conversation between teachers and parents.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Detailed information about this term’s Parent Teacher Interviews will be emailed home in mid-March, but please make a note in your calendars to keep your evenings free on Thursday 30 March and/or Wednesday 5 April. Parent Teacher Interviews will be held via Zoom.
Ms Kerri Batch
Assistant Principal (Learning)