Teaching and Learning
COVID-19 has brought many challenges to our teaching and learning in 2020. But these constraints have allowed us to learn so much more about our students, the way they learn and develop key skills and competencies that will ensure they are prepared for the future world of work or study. Term 4 will be a busy time of reconnecting with our school community face to face and learning how to be together in the classroom again. We will focus on completing our curriculum for 2020 and finishing the term strong with end of year examinations.
At The Hamilton and Alexandra College we make the most of every opportunity and this year our students across the Junior and Senior Campus have been invited to take part in the UNSW REACH Online tests for English, Mathematics and Science. We believe this is a very important opportunity to ascertain where our students are positioned in these three key areas of the curriculum, particularly after a period of continuous remote learning.
REACH Assessments provide knowledge to educators and are a powerful diagnostic tool for future planning. The assessments are based on the curricula for the relevant year. Items range from recall and routine application, through to more demanding questions. The REACH tests support the implementation of Australian and International English, Mathematics and Science curricula; it is a low-stakes, low-stress, learner focused assessment.
This term students in Years 7-10 will take the tests over three days in Week 2 and 3, during period 1.
Friday 16th October: English
Monday 19th October: Mathematics
Monday 26th October: Science - TBC
Students will sit the examination that aligns with their year level. For example, Year 7 – Paper E to Year 10 Paper H. Students will use their school laptop to complete the test. Please ensure that your child attends school with a fully charged laptop.
If you would like to find out more or are interested in working through a sample paper with your child, you can follow the links below.
English assesses reading and language skills in a range of contexts. The questions require students to locate, identify, sequence, explain, interpret, analyse and infer information in and about texts.
Mathematics assesses students’ skills in these key scientific areas:
- Algebra and Patterns
- Chance and Data
- Measures and Units
- Number and Arithmetic
- Space and Geometry
MATHEMATICS REACH SAMPLE PAPER
Science assesses students’ skills in these key scientific areas:
- Observing and measuring
- Interpreting data
- Applying data
- Investigating
- Higher-order skills
We are looking forward to this opportunity to gain valuable data about our students’ core skills. I trust that you and your child enjoy Term 4, one that is face to face, focused and productive. As the writer Mark Twain said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Let us get Term 4 started together.
Susan Bradbeer
Deputy Teaching and Learning