Sascha Rogers Head of Curriculum sroge95@eq.edu.au

Cassie Boin Acting Head of Curriculum ceboi0@eq.edu.au

Changes to Reading Expectations – What Parents Need to Know

With the implementation of the new Australian Curriculum, schools now have greater clarity around how Reading and Viewing is assessed in English. It is important for families to understand how this affects the way reading is approached in classrooms and during assessments.

When reporting on your child’s progress in English, teachers make on-balance judgements across all three strands: Speaking and listening, Reading and Viewing, and Writing and Creating. Each of these areas is equally important and carries the same weight when determining overall achievement.

A key change under the updated curriculum is that students are now expected to read independently during summative assessments related to the Reading and viewing element. This means that students must be able to both decode and comprehend age-appropriate texts provided in these assessment tasks.

It’s important to note that reading the text to a student changes the nature of the task. It alters the complexity, the level of thinking required, and shifts the focus from Reading and Viewing to Listening, which is a separate assessable element.

We understand that reading ability can vary widely among students. Some may experience ‘gaps’ in their phonological knowledge, while a small number may have persistent challenges or diagnosed reading disorders. Regardless of where a student is, it is vital that the information we gather reflects what they can do independently. This helps us design effective teaching approaches and provide the right support to ensure every student can achieve success in English.

We appreciate your support in helping your child become a confident, independent reader.