Are you a teacher who is looking for ways to help your students get ready for their Naplan Numeracy Test? If so, you have come to the right place! In this blog post, we will discuss some strategies that you can use to help your students get ready to do their best on the test.
Who’s job is it to get students ready for Naplan?
It is important to know that preparing your students for Naplan isn’t just the job of the current classroom teacher. Naplan tests skills, not content, therefore it should be a combination of the student’s learning to date. So when the results come back and they are below average, it isn’t the fault of the current teacher. The current teacher does have the responsibility of preparing the students for test day though.
Teaching how to do test conditions
For many students, especially at Grade 3 level, completing activities in test conditions may be foreign to them. So it is important to take them through what is expected of them.
- computer charged
- sharp pencil and paper for working out
- nothing else on tables
- no talking
- raise hand if you have a question
- try to avoid needing a bathroom break during the test
Make sure they Understand the Format of the Test
One of the best things you can do to help your students is to make sure they understand the format of the Naplan Numeracy Test. This includes understanding how long they will have for each section, what type of questions they will be asked, and what the scoring system is and how to answer the questions. By understanding the format of the test beforehand, you remove the unknown from testing day. The only thing students need to worry about is the actual content of the test on the day. By 2023, most, if not all, students will be completing Naplan online, so students need to be familiar with how to complete the online test.
The best way to make sure students are familiar with the Numeracy Test is to be exposed to either practise tests, or activities that are similar to how the test is set out. I have made this amazing set of Naplan style questions for Grade 3 and Grade 5. Students can practise NAPLAN in just 10 minutes a day!
How to Answer Questions
You should also spend some time going over how to answer the questions on the test. There are a lot of different types of questions, and many may require a different approach. By going over some sample questions with your students, you can help them understand how to approach each type of question.
I recommend two resources to prepare your learners for Naplan, both take LESS THAN 10 MINUTES A DAY!
Naplan style Maths Powerpoint Presentation
Naplan style Maths printable slips with 3 questions
Both resources expose students to the types of questions and vocabulary used in Naplan tests. And at 10 minutes a day over a few weeks, students will quickly get the hang of it, doesn’t max out your photocopy budget and it doesn’t interfer with your normal teaching.
Exposing students to Vocabulary used in the Test
Another important thing to focus on is the vocabulary used in the test. There are a lot of technical terms that are used in the test, and if your students don’t know what they mean, they will have a difficult time understanding the questions. Make sure you go over all of the key vocabulary terms with your students before testing day!
By following these tips, you can help your students get ready for their Naplan Numeracy Test. Just remember that it is important to focus on the skills, not the content. By helping your students develop their test-taking skills, you can give them the best chance of success.
Read more tips on getting your class ready for NAPLAN.
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