Teaching and Learning Update
Athol Road Primary School
End-of-Year Assessments
As we approach the end of the school year, students are completing a range of end-of-year assessments to help us understand their learning progress and achievements throughout the year.
These benchmark assessments provide valuable information that, alongside the regular checks for understanding, observations and formative assessments teachers conduct throughout the year, help build a comprehensive picture of each student's learning. This information supports teachers in determining student progression points and identifying areas of strength, as well as areas where further support or extension may be needed.
Our benchmark assessments include:
- PAT Reading and Mathematics: Assessing students' knowledge and skills in reading and mathematics.
- DIBELS: Monitoring students' literacy development and reading skills.
- Sparkle Reading Assessment: Used with students who are primarily reading decodable texts, particularly in the junior years, to monitor their reading development.
- Fountas and Pinnell: Used with students who have mastered the foundational decoding skills to assess their reading comprehension and fluency.
- Essential Assessment Mathematics: Selected assessments are used to check students' understanding of key mathematical concepts and skills, helping teachers identify areas of strength and opportunities for further learning.
Tomorrow's Curriculum Day will provide teachers with valuable time to analyse student assessment data. Over the coming weeks, teams will also use Professional Learning Team (PLT) time to collaboratively moderate student progression points. This process helps ensure that teacher judgements are accurate, consistent and reflect the Victorian Curriculum expectations.
By bringing together a range of assessment information and professional conversations, we can celebrate students' growth, recognise their achievements and identify the next steps in their learning as we begin planning for the year ahead.
Tawny Harkness
Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning