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O U R L A DY O F M E R C Y C AT H O L I C C O L L E G E B U R R A N E E R
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“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.
All I know is what I have the words for”...
This quotation from Ludwig Wittgenstein (1922),
an Austrian Philosopher, sums up why we at OLMC
place such emphasis on skills of communication for
our girls. Their future success depends on these
skills, but more importantly language is essential to
thinking, to understanding who we are, and what
we believe. All thinking is dependent on having the
necessary metalanguage to explain it, define it and
ultimately to shape it.
All teachers at OLMC make shared responsibility
and accountability for student Literacy a priority.
The creation in 2015 of a whole school Literacy Plan
has given each subject
area explicit focus
that has supported
this
accountability,
with literacy focus
embedded into their
programming. Our
Learning
Support
team also continues
to work with subject
teachers to make sure
that research skills,
essay scaffolds and
skills, subject specific
vocabulary
(and
spelling!), and exam
terminology/technique
are clearly understood
by our girls through explicit teaching over time.
We are proud of this whole school approach, which
is reflected in ongoing outstanding NAPLAN results
in LIteracy. OLMC’s 2015 means were above state
in every aspect of literacy in year 7 and year 9; the
difference above State were statistically appreciable
(more than 20% higher than state) in all aspects for
year 9, and in year 7 results in writing and spelling.
This appreciable difference is a continuing trend
in the aspects of reading and writing, but marks
an improvement against state means for year 9 in
spelling and G&P. This does not, however, mean it’s
time to put our metaphorical feet up. In all KLAs at
OLMC we continue working to make sound literacy
standards great! In 2015 Staff from all KLAs engaged
in professional development in the teaching of reading
skills and will be focusing again on this in 2016 as well
as teaching greater sophistication in writing.
Mrs Kerrie Ramsay
Gifted/Literacy Learning Facilitator
LITERACY REPORT