Talking wombats all in a day's work
by Anne Tannock
April 2009
When Year 3 students at Mabel Park State School told their parents they'd been talking to the new Education Minister about wombats, some might have thought they were the target of an April Fool's Day prank.
First day... Education Minister Geoff Wilson talks about wombats with Mabel Park State School Year 3 students.
Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson did visit the school on April 1 to get a first-hand look at how the school was preparing students for this year's National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests.
After observing a literacy lesson, Mr Wilson drew on his childhood experiences in the southern Riverina to join a class discussion on wombats.
School principal Harvey Martin said Mr Wilson's decision to visit a school in Logan on his first day in the job created goodwill among the school community.
'There are lot of other schools the Minister could have visited and we really appreciate that he elected to come to our school and to recognise our efforts to boost student performance," Mr Martin said.
'As well as visiting two classes Mr Wilson held an impromptu forum with teachers.
'Last year's NAPLAN results have led to the introduction of a whole-school approach to lift the students' literacy and numeracy skills.
'All our Year 3, 5 and 7 students have sat practice writing tests and NAPLAN test questions have been incorporated throughout the curriculum.
'Learning support teachers have assessed all students and individual students who need assistance in particular areas have been identified.
'Staff have attended professional development to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN protocols and marking criteria, and students have been made aware of the marking grid.
'Sample NAPLAN questions are used in homework, reading groups and maths lessons and two afternoons a week two teachers take classes on 'Ways of Working'.
'We believe our efforts will lead to an improved performance in this year's tests which will be held from May 12 to 14.'
All state schools are implementing the preliminary Queensland Education Performance Review recommendations of Professor Geoff Masters, who Premier Anna Bligh last year charged with reviewing Queensland's education system.
Professor Masters recommended all Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students sit practice tests to build their confidence for the exams and to enable teachers to identify gaps in learning and teaching.
The State Government has set a goal to put Queensland up there with the best in the nation in literacy, numeracy and science within the next three years.
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