How To Prepare Students For NAPLAN

Let us agree on the fact that preparing your children for tests is complicated with public tests and assessments like NAPLAN. When it comes to important tests like NAPLAN, we all know it gets us out of place, especially with years 3, 5, and 7. The one-time test might intimidate children in different aspects with its multi-disciplinary approach but a well-planned preparation will leverage good results.

NAPLAN is the most important exam that the government holds to check children’s literacy and numeracy. But, the assessment is taken seriously a lot more as it generates a sense of a child’s ability to succeed outside school. 

How can you utilise the data from the NAPLAN scores to your child’s advantage? Knowing where students’ fundamental skill knowledge is accelerating and where they still need to improve is something you may find beneficial in the result reports. Combining these findings with those from other types of assessment will help you analyze your child’s ability to perform. 

 The NAPLAN assessment will reveal a child’s areas of strengths and weaknesses. Hence, it is your responsibility as a parent and the teacher’sresponsibility to spot these areas and collaborate so that the kids are given what they need to advance. There are seven widely accepted learning styles, however, students learn in a variety of ways that affect the outcomes. 

1. Visual – Include images, visual representations, and videos.
2. Verbal – include words in both writing and spoken language.
3. Aural – include sounds of music and music to learn
4. Physical – includes a sense of touch
5. Logical – analytical thinking and logical reasoning
6. Social – likes to be a part of group studies
7. Solitary – includes working alone and self-study

NAPLAN is a single test on a single day, and we need to remind our students of that fact. It is important to take it in a positive light if your children don’t achieve the results they wanted or that we thought they would. The goal of NAPLAN is to evaluate student’s proficiency in practical life skills, including obtaining employment, completing paperwork, and mathematical comprehension. Because of this, the exams include abilities in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. NAPLAN data may be used by teachers to identify and help kids who are underperforming compared to the average student their age, as well as to recognise and challenge higher-performing pupils. The areas where NAPLAN touches upon and adds benefits to your child’s cognitive and logical development:  

1. NAPLAN is one of many tools you may use to determine your kid’sstrengths and potential and then improve on those areas. 
2. However, it doesn’t function well for students who don’t learnverbally, and there are many students who learn in those other learning styles. 
3. NAPLAN style questions the conventional styles!
4. Good amount of practice can help students prepare well inadvance. Prioritizing and planning skills will be enhanced. 
5. Stress-free students will be in their best mindset for the exams.If you are planning to start your child’s preparation well in advance, practice papers are helpful, but it is recommended not to rely on practice test papers entirely. Prepare your children for NAPLAN adequately, stop giving them practice exams and begin instructing them effectively right away. Give every test your complete attention. Use the sample papers solely to get a sense of the layout. Create distinct test-specific techniques as described below: 

Preparation for Writing  

Writing examinations call for stamina and a solid command of the language. Your children need to learn how to construct sentences and properly format writing. By assigning kids writing activities based on example papers that can be acquired from the internet, you may increase their endurance. 

Preparation for Numeracy 

It is a no-brainer that numeracy preparation is incomplete without a lot of practice. Give your children a variety of arithmetic questions to do, some from the practice exams and others from the textbooks. Children will receive extensive practice to hone their arithmetic abilities and get ready to take the numeracy test. 

Preparation for Language 

If your child struggles with reading, you should work with them. This is due to the fact that practically all exams and the child’s reading proficiency positively correlate. The probability of your child’s understanding the question more clearly increases if they are skilled readers. Reading is also beneficial when students are expected to follow the comprehension instructions before composing their responses on writing assessments.  

Make it a point to have your child read a variety of novels and fables of different genres to sharpen their perception and comprehension. Additionally, give them some practice using the prior reading sample exams so they may have a sense of the sort of examination to come. For the language convention test, teach your children the proper usage of tenses and punctuation.

The primary goal should emphasise on improving their grammar. Allow them to write tales and articles on any topic they’re interested in. Once they have finished practicing, review their work and engage in constructive criticism. A child can be driven to achieve and encouraged by positive comments. This piques their interest and drives their commitment in a positive direction. 

As much practice and preparation are important, it is equally important to not stress your child out. Letting them be and giving them space to go at their own pace is essential as no single child works and functions the same way. So, parents are recommended to: 

• Encourage and be supportive of their preparation journey and understand their pace. 
• Restrain from excessive cramming and pressurizing your child.
• Communicate with your child’s tutor to have a tab on your child’s progress. 

However, the NAPLAN assessment test is an important milestone and your child’s physical and mental health is equally important. Considering everything that has been discussed, we would want you to know that children will always figure it out, and unnecessary whining and stress are not advisable.

The preparation phase might take a toll on you and your child as well, but a sensible and planned approach will help immensely in stress management. We hope that your child gives their best for the test and does wonders that they are capable of. Wishing you and your child all the very best for the upcoming assessment test.