NAPLAN Results Show Writing Standards Are Declining
The 2019 NAPLAN results have revealed that more than 17 per cent of Australian Year 9 students have failed to meet national minimum writing achievement standards. Approximately 10 per cent of year 7 students, 7 per cent of year 5 students and 3 per cent of year 3 students are also not achieving the writing minimum standard in NAPLAN, which experts claim is setting these students up for a “massive handicap in life”.
Peter Goss, school education expert from the Grattan Institute acknowledges that once students fall behind in writing, it is very difficult for them to catch up unless they put in a lot of effort themselves and get the right support. Students achieving results on the cusp in year 7 for example are at greater risk of falling behind, and not meeting minimum standards in year 9.
Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly common for today’s students to dislike or avoid the writing process. Many students feel writing takes too long and consider writing to be a boring and laborious task. Some teachers wonder if this attitude has developed in response to students spending more time interacting with faster-paced visual modality on computers, and other devices.
Recent research has revealed that there are many reasons students avoid writing including:
- feeling overwhelmed by the size of the writing task
- struggling to organise and use the mechanics of writing
- difficulty in developing and sequencing their ideas
- struggling to keep track of their thoughts whilst spelling words, focussing on letter formation and correct punctuation.
Many parents have shared their concerns with us in regard to their child’s negative attitude towards writing, and their lack of interest in writing. Parents have also asked if we could help. In response to our parent’s requests we have developed a range of specialised writing programs that are designed to explicitly teach students from year 2 onwards, strategies to improve their writing, whilst being enjoyable and fun. Our programs also help students to feel successful, which assists their confidence and motivation levels to increase.
For a weekly investment of just $14.95 plus GST, students can join our small group online ‘Writing In Focus’ classes, and receive the explicit teaching they need to improve their writing skills and understandings. All programs are facilitated by a qualified and experienced teacher, and students work in small groups with up to seven other students in a non-threatening and non-competitive virtual learning environment.
Optional homework tasks are provided following each lesson, enabling students to revise, practise and consolidate the skills that were focused on during the previous lesson. This optional homework is available for a small extra cost.
Our online ‘Writing In Focus’ programs consist of 5 X 45 minute lessons that are scheduled over a 5 week period. ‘Writing In Focus’ programs are timetabled regularly throughout the year.
Email us today at info@optimiselearning.com to find out more about our ‘Writing In Focus’ programs!
Tracey Hand
Optimise Learning Co-Founder
