NAPLAN
NAPLAN Writing Practice Program
We are very excited to be able to provide Year 7 & 9 students with an opportunity to practice their persuasive and Narrative writing skills in preparation for the NAPLAN writing test, using a powerful new writing assessment program we are trialling and the College called Literatu.
Students have been introduced to the Literatu - Scribo program at assemblies this week and shown how to log into Literatu through Compass.
The program has two practice NAPLAN writing tasks to select from - one persuasive and one narrative, because we do not know which style of writing the students will be asked to demonstrate this year.
Students should use the planning suggestion to plan their essay and then complete their written piece within 42 mins (this is the time allocated in NAPLAN to their essay). Once complete, students can submit their piece for immediate feedback in the form of a score and a range of explicit feedback on their writing in a number of fundamental areas - spelling, grammar, vocabulary, cohesion and sentence structure.
To improve their performance and writing skills they should read and act on the feedback to improve their scores. It is through careful engagement with the A.I generated feedback that students can learn to be better writers. If they just action the feedback without reading and understanding it, they will not improve.
NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years 7 and 9 students are held in March this year. In 2024, the NAPLAN Online test window is between Wednesday 12 and Monday 24 March. At present Wantirna College’s test schedule is indicated below:
NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals and can be used to improve student achievement. NAPLAN Online delivers numerous benefits including:
a ‘tailored test’ design that adapts to correct and incorrect student responses providing a more precise understanding of student achievement;
innovative use of technology, including a more engaging test design and a wider range of item types;
the extension of the ‘test window’ to two weeks, allowing schools greater opportunity to schedule the tests at times that suit them best and increasing student participation.
Preparation for NAPLAN Online
Students will have the opportunity to challenge and improve their writing skills through an online platform available to them this week.
For each NAPLAN test, students will need to bring to school:
a fully charged laptop*
a set of headphones for audio prompts.(Please do not bring Bluetooth headphones as they tend not to work with the NAPLAN online platform).
(*Students are required to provide their own laptop for the purpose of sitting these tests. The College unfortunately has insufficient loan devices available for more than a few students should the need arise.)
Catch Up Tests
All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN Online tests. Where possible, catch-up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days up to and including Monday 24th March. If your child is absent for one of the NAPLAN tests, please email me to discuss catch up test arrangements.
James Doble
Assistant Principal - Senior School
dob@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au