Term 1 - Week Two
Welcome to 2015. As has been previous practice the Learning and Teaching Update will be available online every fortnight. We hope you find this information useful.
State and National SceneNAPLAN NEWS
This year’s NAPLAN writing assessment will have two writing prompts – one for Years 3 and 5, and a different prompt for Years 7 and 9 – instead of the previous single prompt for all year levels. “NAPLAN is an evolving assessment and ACARA continually works to identify improvements to the assessment model,” says Dr Stanley Rabinowitz, General Manager of Assessment and Reporting at ACARA. For several years ACARA has been looking at the success of setting one writing task for all students from Year 3 to Year 9 (from 8–9-year-olds to 14–15-year-olds). The change has been made following consultation with content and assessment experts, as well as with states and territory representatives and other educators and researchers. These experts looked at data from the last few years, including the 2014 data when we saw a downward trend in persuasive writing achievement, compared to 2011 and to 2013, and concluded that the NAPLAN writing assessment would be better served by two writing prompts, one for Years 3 and 5 and a different one for Years 7 and 9. “Having two prompts will enable better questions to be set. More age-appropriate writing prompts will better ensure all students have the opportunity to produce their best writing,” says Dr Rabinowitz. The move to two prompts should have no impact on how teachers prepare their students for the NAPLAN writing test, with students still required to write the same sorts of responses. Both writing prompts will be on the same type of text – either narrative or persuasive – students will not have a choice of genre. The genre will be revealed on the day of assessment. The curriculum requires students to learn about imaginative, informative and persuasive texts. Through these types of texts students learn to write to evoke feelings, convey information, form ideas, facilitate interaction with others, entertain, persuade and argue. This enhancement is complemented by the move to NAPLAN online from 2017, which will provide better assessment, more precise results and a faster turnaround of information. For more information, visit the National Assessment Program (NAP) website. Resources and ReferencesEarly Childhood Digital Business Kit
The Digital Business Kit is a free online resource to help early childhood services get up to speed with technology and make the most of the digital world. It explores existing and new technologies that can support children’s learning, professional development and business operations. The Kit is a series of modules with factsheets, tip sheets, profiles and mini video clips that can be viewed online or downloaded as PDFs. Accessing Scootle We now have an easier way to access Scootle. Go to www.scootle.edu.au. Click on the CENet image.
Type in your username and password. Select the correct Diocese and log in. |
PD, Conferences and EventsAustralian Early Development Census (AEDC)
The AEDC is due to be completed by all Prep teachers between May and July 2015. Free AEDC School Workshops will be held across Queensland. Have you registered for the Cairns course held on April 21? Find out more ... Byte Size Challenges Byte-Size Challenges are designed to be just that ... a small chunk of technology learning that you can undertake in your own time at your own pace. Take a byte . . . . Access here Letterland Workshops are being held in Brisbane on Monday February 23. Find out more . . PETAA - 2015 Queensland Conference Write Now! A focus on developing creative, confident and competent writers This conference will highlight the important place that the ability to write effectively and purposefully holds in all areas of the Australian Curriculum. It is through writing that students often express their ideas and thoughts, and develop their skills in language, literacy and content knowledge. Tuesday 19 May 2015 9am – 4pm Novotel Brisbane, QLD Further information and registration Play - Private Ginger Mick at Gallipoli The play “Private Ginger Mick at Gallipoli” has been written and produced by TheatreINQ in Townsville. The story follows Ginger from his beginnings, making a living selling rabbits and falling in love with Rose, to answering the call to arms in the Great War and being shipped off to Turkey. Private Ginger Mick is a heart-warming story of mateship and a sense of national identity formed amongst battlefields on foreign shores. This adaption of the much loved CJ Dennis Poems “The Moods of Ginger Mick”, Private Ginger Mick at Gallipoli brings to life all the colourful characters of the original poems including the loveable rogue, Ginger. Written in the Australian vernacular long lost, this collection of CJ Dennis’ poems was famously carried in the pockets of the Diggers on the battlefields of World War One. “Private Ginger Mick at Gallipoli will appeal to people of all ages, it is fun, touching at times and the Company’s commitment is impressive. You will thoroughly enjoy this production. Where: Cairns Civic Theatre When: Friday 17th April at 11am and at 7.30pm. Saturday 18th April at 7.30pm. Cost: Adults $35, Seniors $25, Students $18. Tickets available through TicketLink 1300 855 835 Motivating and Managing Students with Particular Needs - Dr Ian Lillico May 18th, 2015 Brisbane CBD Venue to be advised
This seminar will explore teaching, motivating and managing students with particular needs in schools. There will be an emphasis on Autism and ADHD but other needs including Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), grief and family dysfunction will be covered. Ian will discuss the role of mutiple techniques and strategies in the management of these children at school. Register now . . . |
For further information please contact:
Christine Masters, Senior Education Officer - Primary Curriculum
Phone 40509769 or email [email protected] |
Danielle Purdy, Senior Education Officer - Secondary Curriculum
Phone 40509707 or email [email protected] |
Information presented in this update is sourced from a variety of organisations including the QSA and QCEC