Numeracy Update
NAPLAN just a word on it ..
This week our year 3 and 5 students will sit their NAPLAN assessments.
The tests are now completely online. This means they are adaptive and this suggests that the student results will be more accurate. Instead of all Year 3 students being presented the same items, the items are adapted according to the answers students give to different items. For example, if they answer some 'hard' items correctly in a 'testlet', they will be presented with more challenging questions to more accurately determine their level of understanding. In theory this should increase the accuracy of the NAPLAN results particularly for students at the higher and lower end of the scale.
I would not suggest you show your children their NAPLAN results. The bigger deal you make of NAPLAN the higher stakes it becomes in their minds (cue maths/test anxiety discussions). It is just another tool that schools and governments use to gather data which can be used to inform and make decisions around areas of need.
For me, the data that is most useful to parents and schools is where students fit in relation to the National average and the range of achievement of the middle 60% of students in their year level (the light shaded rectangle on the student report). This data tells you where the student is in relation to other students across Australia.
Helping Your Child with Homework and Everyday Maths
Parents play an important role in helping children build confidence with maths. In the Victorian Curriculum, mathematics focuses on helping students develop strong understanding, problem-solving skills and the ability to apply maths in everyday life. Simple activities at home can support what your child is learning at school.
Create a Positive Homework Routine
Set aside a regular, quiet time for homework. Encourage your child to explain how they worked something out rather than just giving the answer. Questions like “How did you solve that?” or “Can you think of another way?” help children develop reasoning skills, which are an important part of learning mathematics.
Use Maths in Everyday SituationsThe Victorian Curriculum encourages students to see maths as part of daily life. You can help by involving your child in simple tasks such as:
- Shopping: Estimating costs, adding totals, or working out change.
- Cooking: Measuring ingredients and talking about fractions and quantities.
- Time: Reading clocks, planning schedules, or calculating how long activities take.
Around the home: Sharing food equally, comparing prices, or measuring lengths and distances.
Support Understanding
Students learn mathematics best when they understand concepts, not just memorise facts. Encourage your child to draw pictures, use objects, or explain their thinking. Mistakes are a normal and valuable part of learning.
Build Confidence with Maths
A positive attitude towards maths helps children feel more confident. Celebrate effort, persistence and improvement. Showing interest in your child’s thinking helps them see that maths is useful, interesting and achievable.
Working together at home and school helps children develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in mathematics.
Call me old-fashioned, but I strongly believe there is enormous value in encouraging parents and their children to spend time interacting and playing simple games together. I prefer this to having them sit on a device. There are so many other skills students learn through sitting and playing (turn taking, impulse control, empathy to name a few). You could play a game in the car before drop off, or while you are having breakfast... It is ten minutes but well worth it! Clearly not every parent will play the game every night but I think it is worthwhile allowing it to happen.
Leader | Colleen Monaghan