Literacy and NCEA

Denise HitchcockNational Coordinator Secondary Literacy

Secondary Student AchievementTe Tapuae o Rehua

Literacy in the NZC For each (learning) area, students need specific help from their teachers as they learn:

• the specialist vocabulary associated with that area• how to read and understand its texts• how to communicate knowledge and ideas in

appropriate ways• how to listen and read critically, assessing the value of

what they hear and read

(NZC page 16)

Curriculum Levels and NCEA

National Curriculum Levels e –asTTle

Basic Proficient AdvancedLevel 3 3B 3P 3A Level 4 4B 4P 4ALevel 5 5B 5P 5A

By end of year:

Yr 9 5B Yr 10 5A

NCEA Level 1 = Curriculum Level 6Unless Y10 students have asTTle ‘high 5s’, likely to struggle with L2 requirements

NCEA Literacy Requirements at Level One

Minimum of 10 credits through either:

Specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects (minimum total of 10 credits), or

Unit standards - package of three literacy unit standards (total of 10 credits - all three required).

Literacy Unit Standards

Definition used:

Literacy is the written and oral language people use in their everyday life and work. It includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Standards will be used by tertiary providers, workplace environments and schools.

In schools – intended for those students who might struggle to achieve literacy through the level 6 achievement standards pathway.

The Literacy Unit Standards

Read texts with understanding (3 credits) Range – 3 texts of 2 different typesLocate information, describe ideas and/or purpose, evaluate in terms of purpose

Write to communicate ideas for a purpose and audience (4 credits)Range - 2 different purposes across 3 textsRecommended total 500 words, including one text of at least 200 wordsIdeas expressed are appropriate, organised, language appropriate, technical errors do not detract.

Actively participate in spoken interactions (3 credits) Range – at least a one-to-one and a small group situationParticipate, contribute to, sustain dialogue using verbal and non-verbal behavioursAppropriate for purpose in terms of language and tone.

What is required in the standards?

Using these standards in a teaching and learning programme should not require the development of new assessments specific to these standards. (Reinforces the strategy of embedding literacy within teaching and learning programmes across the curriculum)

‘Naturally Occurring Evidence’ – derived from a students learning programme or everyday life/workplace. Collected from a range of authentic contexts and obtained over a period of time. (Portfolio approach)

Reporting

The reports showing that students have achieved their literacy and their numeracy requirement will indicate how they were achieved, that is through achievement standards at level 6 of the curriculum or through the purpose built literacy and numeracy unit standards.

On the School Results Summary and the Results Notice a statement will say:Either 'Literacy requirement met by achievement standards' Or 'Literacy requirement met by unit standards'

University Entrance Literacy Requirements

Current requirements (2013):8 credits. The literacy requirement for university entrance can be fulfilled in either English or Te Reo Māori and Te Reo Rangatira, but not a combination of both:4 credits at Level 2 or higher are required in Reading4 credits at Level 2 or higher are required in Writing.

University Entrance from 201410 credits (five in reading and five in writing) at Level 2 and above from specific standards.

Students in Year 12 from 2013 may meet their UE literacy requirement through a range of Level 2 or above standards that have been identified. Level 2 and 3 Achievement Standards that Contributehttp://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/awards/university-entrance/literacy-requirements-for-university-entrance-from-2014/

Sources of information and support

NZQA Subject pages (links to Literacy and numeracy)http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/qualifications/ncea/subjects/

Literacy Unit Standards resources http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/qualifications/ncea/subjects/literacy-and-numeracy-level-1/

Secondary Literacy Online http://literacyonline.tki.org.nz/Literacy-Online/Secondary-Literacy