Improving year 7 literacy performance

Abstract

In 2011, Seymour P–12 College trialled a new strategy to increase year 7 English students' reading and writing levels beyond the expected maturational increase. This was to be achieved through changes in timetabling; allocating students to classes based on current reading levels; and reducing the teacher/student ratio for students with the greatest need.

While the majority of these students were still reading below their expected level seven months after the strategy began, 94 per cent of them had increased their VELS reading level more than the seven-month expectation of 0.25. There was a corresponding improvement in students' self-esteem, work effort and level of engagement.

Strategy

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