LITERACY AT PARADE

Literacy Improvement

Parade takes the issue of literacy improvement seriously within all our year levels and has a two-pronged approach to the improvement of our students’ literacy outcomes with two teams of dedicated teachers: the Literacy Improvement Team (LIT) and the Secondary Literacy Improvement Project (SLIP). Together, these teams are dedicated to strengthening the rising trend of our students’ examination results, both internal and external, by having a sharp focus on literacy.

The Literacy Improvement Team has introduced a number of initiatives engaging staff and students. Their aim is to create an environment where a literacy focus is obvious. The Secondary Literacy Improvement Project is an initiative of the Catholic Education Office Melbourne. Its goals are to create a whole school approach towards literacy and raise standards. This strategy involves providing our teachers with specific literacy expertise and creating literacy leaders in all our classrooms. External expert consultants will help our team shape the project to meet the needs of our students. The three-year commitment started in 2012 with a group of Year 7 teacher advocates.

Today literacy means not only understanding the texts that are read in English classes but it also involves understanding the many forms of messages our society presents to us. Every time we decipher a message, we are engaging in literacy regardless of whether it is a simple road sign or a prescription for medication. It is clear then that we all need to see ourselves as life-long literacy learners.

Our two literacy teams aim to foster the development of our students within a community that champions the best literacy practices. Building a culture of participation for all members - so that there is a common language and understanding about literacy – is the core of establishing a community of collaboration and shared expertise.