Literacy

At University High School, our goal is to support all students to get the best out of their learning while at school. Given the diversity in our students and their experiences, we plan our teaching and learning to respond to each individual’s learning needs.

Most of these needs can be accommodated in regular classroom teaching, however our experience has indicated that some learning needs are best addressed with additional learning support. This type of intervention can ensure that a student is able to progress in their learning in all of their classes. 

In order to identify any student in need of additional literacy support, University High School conducts a range of assessments. The primary source of information used to identify students for literacy support is PAT data (Progressive Achievement Tests). We also consult classroom teachers, sub-school, and other available data such as NAPLAN. In years 7 and 8, further assessments are also undertaken to determine if students are able to read with fluency. 

Reading Program

Students in years 7 and 8 who are identified as requiring additional support with their reading fluency and decoding skills (ability to accurately lift the words from the page) are enrolled in our Reading Program. This is a direct instruction remedial reading series of lessons to target decoding skills such as letter-sound correspondence and blending. As they progress through this program, students read increasingly more difficult material with accuracy and fluency. Selected students attend this program for three sessions a week. 

Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support (MYLNS)

In addition to our reading program for year 7 and 8 students, some year 9 and 10 students receive further in-class support for English as part of MYLNS (Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support). MYLNS is a DET initiative to support and build on the work University High School is already doing to improve literacy outcomes for all students, by providing additional teaching support to prioritised students as part of a whole school approach. Students are selected by DET from their NAPLAN results in year 7 and 9. The MYLNS initiative is also focused on building the capability of teachers to address the diverse learning needs in their classrooms through professional learning and support.