How to prepare your child for NAPLAN
NAPLAN stands for National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy. It's a nationwide assessment for Australian school kids, and is all about identifying strengths and weaknesses so that teachers can tailor their teaching to improve learning.
What do I need to do before the NAPLAN tests?
NAPLAN is designed to only assess what children are learning through their school curriculum, so technically speaking they shouldn't need to learn or do anything on top of their school work.
The reality, however, is somewhat different. Admission to selective high schools and private schools, as well as eligibility for scholarships can sometimes depend on having solid NAPLAN scores. In addition, schools are under pressure to be seen to be achieving good NAPLAN results. This pressure filters down to the children taking the tests, and can end up causing children to be anxious about their performance.
Everyone wants their child to perform to the best of their ability, but we also don't want to put kids under undue pressure - striking the right balance is a tricky thing for parents!
Preparing for NAPLAN - a plan for parents
For children who want to do well but need some extra support, a little bit of focus can go a long way and the extra work will never go to waste. Here are some things parents can do to help strengthen the foundation skills that are required for the NAPLAN test.
Read - NAPLAN aside, fostering a love of reading in your child is one of the single best things you can do to improve their literacy skills and widen their vocabulary. If they're not already avid readers, here are some ideas to nurture this important activity.
Write - The Year 3 NAPLAN has a handwritten element, so the more you can practise fluent and clear handwriting the better. Some kids find writing really daunting and labour intensive, so make it as fun as you can; writing letters to each other or silly stories will also exercise those creative muscles that will come in useful for the writing prompt task at every level.
Number Bonds and Tables - Having number bonds and times tables really well learned can make doing the test easier for kids. Komodo offers free times tables and number bond practice so that you can brush up on these key skills.
Komodo's personalised learning plan helps build the numeracy and literacy foundations required for children in the run up to NAPLAN in years 3 and 5.
What is the NAPLAN test format?
The NAPLAN test consists of four papers over the course of two days. Kids sit all of the tests online with the exception of the Year 3 writing prompt test which is done on paper.
Writing paper - this is always the first test that children have to do. Kids have to write a response to a prompt, and will be asked for either an imaginative or persuasive response depending on the topic. Year 3 students will do this part on paper, while years 5, 7 and 9 complete this online.
A rich vocabulary and ability to use words in context is essential for this element of the NAPLAN test. Komodo English's state of the art AI spelling and vocabulary exercises help cement these skills.
Reading paper - The reading test uses multiple choice comprehensions to test children's ability to read and understand a variety of different types of texts.
The Komodo English learning program has a full range of factual and fictional comprehension questions, all multiple choice as per the NAPLAN papers.
Conventions of Language paper - In this test, kids are assessed on their spelling, grammar and punctuation skills.
Komodo's spelling, grammar and punctuation exercises ensure that they have a solid foundation in grammar skills and a keen eye for spotting errors.
Numeracy paper - The final NAPLAN paper tests your child's numeracy skills. It is mostly presented as word problems covering number, algebra, measurement, geometry and statistics and probability. The answers are almost all in multiple choice format.
Having solid number bonds and times tables are crucial for kids to be able to move quickly and confidently through the calculation elements of these questions. Komodo's "little and often" learning program is perfect for really cementing these number facts in the short term memory.
Before the NAPLAN test
A little bit of preparation in advance can help to increase your child's confidence in their abilities, but try to keep everything in perspective! Keep framing the NAPLAN as an assessment to find out what your child needs to be able to reach their potential, not as something to pass or fail.
Make sure your child gets a good sleep the night before the tests, and that they eat a filling and nutritious breakfast before they go to school. This will ensure they are able to focus and perform to the best of their ability on the day.
Find out more about NAPLAN including how to interpret the NAPLAN results here.
Good luck!
About Komodo - Komodo is a fun and effective way to boost primary maths and literacy skills. Designed for 4 to 11-year-olds to use at home, Komodo uses a 'little and often' approach to learning that fits into busy family life. Komodo helps users develop fluency and confidence in maths and English - without keeping them at the screen for long.
