Learning and Teaching

Targeting Learning Needs through Data

At St Mary’s, teachers engage in an ongoing cycle of learning and teaching. This cycle is driven by the evidence and data that teachers collect about each student. To ensure teachers are engaging all students at their appropriate level, they collect evidence and data from a number of sources, including:

• Work samples
• One to one conferences
• Open ended tasks
• Observations
• Evidence tables
• Standardised testing for Mathematics and Literacy
• Tracking on continuums of learning
• And many more

This data helps teachers understand the knowledge and skills each student has in a particular area and how they can support them to continue to grow in their skills and knowledge. It also helps identify students who need more support or intervention, as well as those students who are ready to be challenged and extended in their learning. 

Interventions differ based on the needs of the students. They can happen at a Tier 1 level, in the classroom, with teachers creating goals and adding extra scaffolds to support or challenge students' learning. Some students receive interventions at a Tier 2 level and are identified through classroom and other Tier 2 assessments. Tier 2 interventions are delivered by teachers or support officers in a small group or one on one setting. At St Mary's, our Tier 2 learning interventions include Minilit and Macqlit for Literacy and Bond Blocks for Mathematics. 

NAPLAN - One point in time Data

Another form of assessment schools collect is NAPLAN (The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy). NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. This is another form of data that is collected by schools at a point-in-time to check students' progression in literacy and numeracy. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance. As with all learning assessments, teachers identify students who need an adjustment, how this is delivered and if this assessment is appropriate for their learning abilities or wellbeing. These adjustments are currently being explored by teachers and our learning team. If you are concerned about your child sitting NAPLAN, please email Naomi at: ncorfield@smhastings.catholic.edu.au