celebrating literacy and numeracy
National Literacy and Numeracy Week
in New South Wales 1-7 September 2008
Regional Initiatives
2005 Regional Activities
Throughout NSW, all ten regions celebrated and showcased literacy and numeracy achievements within their schools during National Literacy and Numeracy Week.
Activities included:
- GATS and environmental workshop for Year 7 students (Hunter and Central Coast)
- parent and teacher workshops on critical and visual literacy and the links with mathematics through consumerism (Illawarra and South Coast)
- publishing students' work (New England)
- Literature Spectacular (North Coast)
- creating written text on a mathematical theme (Northern Sydney)
- numeracy kit, Literacy Challenges and Starting Points conferences (Riverina)
- parent workshops and best practice showcases (South Western Sydney)
- kindergarten strategies book launch and literacy workshops (Sydney)
- anthologies of student writing (Western NSW); and Maths Fun Days (Western Sydney)
At the South Western Sydney region showcase, the well-known Aboriginal educator, Aunty Mae, welcomed all to the land and recognised the traditional owners. Her moving introduction was followed by ten primary schools presenting their innovations and achievements to small groups who circulated amongst the displays every ten minutes.
The dynamic staff at Marsden Road Public School have produced parent brochures on the language of mathematics, piloted a new model for ESL and developed an interagency program called STARRTS (Service for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors).
To meet the K-6 Mathematics syllabus outcome SGS 1:1, staff at Heckenberg Public School demonstrated how to use clever sticks to make 3D shapes, the importance of pre and post-assessment and their Robots: three dimensional space unit.
Oakdale Public School addressed the lack of structured levelled reading groups by successfully developing Cross-age guided reading as their latest approach. Resultant outcomes are: accelerated reading development; sustained progress of Reading Recovery students; increased self-esteem; development of independent learning skills and behaviour; and transfer of analytical reading to other KLAs.
Glen Patterson explains the Marsden Road Public School
approaches to numeracy
Heckenberg Public School staff, Kerry Hamlett and
Debbie Byfield,showcase teaching 3D
Pensive staff from Oakdale Public School, Sue Berger
and Shannon Jansen, answer searching questions
In the afternoon, nine high schools from the South Western Sydney region showcased their many achievements.
- Lurnea High School demonstrated their commitment to Peer Tutor Training, public speaking, primary school links, faculty mentoring, Quality Teaching and Premier's Reading Challenge.
- Moorebank High School discussed numeracy,
- Airds High School demonstrated their focus on oracy and literacy in action,
- and Liverpool Girls High School explained LEEP (Literacy Enhancement and Enrichment Program).
Vivacious Liverpool Girls High School staff Paul Zidinski
and Karen Bayer.
Lyn Ashendon and Julie Perkins (unseen) from Lurnea High School showcase their enrichment program
Greg Nibbs, Enrichment Program coordinator, and Deputy Principal, Stacey Quince from Merrylands High School present their exceptional linkages program
Merrylands High School featured Strengthening learning through literacy links, a linkages program with six of their feeder schools). They combine staff development days and professional learning days on effective programming, reading strategies and Quality Teaching ideas to collaboratively develop units of work that ensure continuity of content and consistency of strategies across Years 6 and 7. In turn, they evaluate their work through written evaluations, surveys, focus group discussions, analysis of student samples and team teaching debriefing.
... 2005 NSW National Literacy and Numeracy Awards
© DET 2007