Literacy
The research is unequivocal: higher literacy is a powerful driver of improved outcomes in education, employment, health, and overall wellbeing. Indeed, literacy - reading, writing and oral language - is essential, because it underpins almost every aspect of learning and life. Without it, participation in school, work, and everyday tasks becomes significantly more difficult.
Importance of Literacy
Given the fundamental importance of literacy, at Sandringham College, we do not leave literacy skills to chance. We strive to ensure that all students develop strong reading, writing and oral language skills across their time at the college.
Year 7 students undertake a DIBELS reading screener and further progress monitoring throughout Years 7 and 8. Where students are flagged as requiring additional supports, further diagnostic testing is undertaken. Students who arrive in Year 7 behind the expected age-related level of reading skills will be eligible for MacqLit, or other appropriate supports to develop reading ability.
In Year 7 & 8 English classes, students undertake Spelling Through Morphographs as well as explicit instruction in writing skills, beginning at a sentence level.
Subject descriptions and further details can be found in the 7-9 & 10-12 Curriculum Guides, published in Term 2 each year.