Head of Faculty

English, Literacy and Languages - Sarah Porchak

Literacy in a Changing World

Recent national conversations about literacy have highlighted growing concerns among educators, researchers and parents about students’ reading and writing skills. While our College continues to achieve excellent results and strong academic outcomes, these broader trends encourage us to reflect on an important question: what does the future of literacy look like?

At Mount Alvernia, we take these concerns seriously and remain informed by the latest educational research. While we recognise the importance of developing students who are technologically literate and prepared for future careers, we also understand that some of the most powerful learning still occurs within the classroom through reading, writing, discussion and critical thinking.

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we have already started implementing strategic practices to strengthen literacy across the College. This includes providing more opportunities for students to engage in “pen-to-paper” writing, and dedicating increased class time for students to complete assessment tasks within their learning environment, where they can access immediate support and feedback from their teachers. We also continue to challenge students to read widely, write creatively and analytically, and expand their vocabulary so they can communicate their ideas with precision and confidence.

The foundational skills of literacy underpin every aspect of learning. As we navigate an increasingly digital world, we remain committed to ensuring our students develop into confident readers, thoughtful communicators and capable writers who are well equipped for success both at school and beyond.

How You Can Support Literacy Development at Home

Parents play an important role in fostering strong literacy skills. Here are some simple but effective ways to support your child's literacy development:

Encourage regular reading. Set aside time for your child to read each day and discuss what they are reading. Also, model a love of reading. When children see adults reading books, newspapers or articles, they are more likely to value reading themselves.
Promote writing for real purposes. Encourage your child to write emails, journal entries, stories, reviews or plans. Regular writing helps build confidence and fluency.
Support vocabulary growth. Encourage your child to notice, learn and use new words in everyday conversations. A strong vocabulary is closely linked to reading comprehension and writing success.
Talk together often. Engage in meaningful conversations about current events, books, family experiences and topics of interest. Rich discussion helps develop vocabulary and communication skills.

Together, these small, consistent habits can have a significant impact on your child's literacy development and academic success.