There are many children taking part in the NAPLAN TESTING, in May this year. Last term I was inundated with worried parents. Their worries, was not about the test, but how this test was affecting their children.  Some children were so stressed that they couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat and was physically sick at school.The first thing that I would like to stress is that it is not a compulsory test, even though parents are led to believe that it is. The following statement is taken directly from the NAPLAN website “All students are encouraged to participate in the national tests and special provisions are made to meet the needs of individual students with special needs.”

1. The students in these years are not being taught the necessary skills to complete these tests, but rather taught the test. Below is an excerpt of a Leaked document to The Sydney Morning Herald February 5th 2010 A Victorian government memo advising teachers to teach explicitly for the national numeracy

  and literacy tests will result in a narrowing of the education curriculum, the Australian Education Union (AEU) says.A leaked memo from the Victorian Education Department to principals in Victoria's Loddon Mallee region directs principals to "privilege the testing as an event of significance",  and asks teachers to "explicitly teach for NAPLAN" every day. It says continued funding in the Literacy/Numeracy National Partnership program is dependent on improvement in results and highlights that the top 20 per cent of schools will be rewarded for improvementsThe memo has added fuel to the AEU's concerns that too much focus is being put on the tests, which are a key element of the federal government's controversial My School website. To read full article please go the below website.

2. From the commencement of each school year, children in these classes do not continue their learning from the previous year, but are focused on learning what is in the TESTS. 

For those children who find learning difficult,  this only reinforces how they feel about themselves. Which, in-turn, does very little to help boost their poor self esteem.  They already have difficulty understanding the work,  so why are the authorities putting them under more unnecessary stress. Is it any wonder,  that there are behavioural issues in the classroom? 3. I have witnessed first-hand how these Tests affect children.  There are children as young as 8,  who are now having difficulties with sleeping, due to them stressing about the tests.  I have also seen children in year 5, who cannot eat,  because they are so worried that they are going to fail these tests.  These children are too young to have this type of pressure on their shoulders.   As a mother I am furious that children are put through this stress,  only for the sake of Funding. As an educator I am ashamed that the authorities are not concerned with the welfare of children but rather on their hidden agendas. When are the powers that be, going to realise that kids are kids and learning should be fun,  not a form of punishment and stress.

Boys and Reading - Home Readers and World War Three Schools send Home Readers home with children to read,  and for many parents this is a battle of the wits,  which usually ends in World War Three.   Girls,  tend to want to read their home readers, but there are the odd few who don’t.  However, when it comes to boys,  I have found that there are fewer boys wanting to read their home readers then girls.  They then get labeled ‘Lazy’ (a pet hate of mine). To me, when you get so some many boys showing reluctance to read this type of book,  it is saying something. THESE BOOKS DON’T INTEREST THEM.  I must say, I agree with them.  The other day a parent showed me a Home Reader which I can remember reading when I was in year one (which wasn’t that long ago). These books are

as interesting as weeding the garden in the hot sun. Boys and men need visual Stimuli, it’s that easy. If it doesn’t look good they won’t or can’t be bothered, no matter what it is, and no amount of arguing is going to change this. Mums put themselves under so much stress about getting their boys to read, when in fact, they are only pushing their son’s to dislike reading. Sorry mum’s, but there is a solution. Now boys are not unlike men, with their ability to switch off the moment you start reminding them of things that they have to do. Boys will switch off the moment they hear you utter the words “Have you read your home reader?” Unfortunately mum’s, they consider this nagging, and tend not listen to you. If you are sick of trying to get your son to read, STOP what you are doing and try something else. What I suggest is that you

find out what your son is interested in, and then find books, comics or magazines that he can relate to. They are all still text. Yes, the text maybe a little too hard, but find little activities to do with them eg what words do you know? Can you find words that are compound words? Can you find any contractions? Your main goal is to show your sons that reading can be fun, and that it doesn’t have to be a painful experience. There is too much emphasis placed on kids to read words correctly and fluently, that any form of enjoyment has been lost. When I was growing up, I can never remember being under pressure to read, unlike the kids of today. In the next newsletter, I will be covering ‘It’s not about reading words correctly; it’s all about the meaning of these words.

want to change. By changing the way you view yourself, can make a huge impact not only on your life but your children’s lives. The hardest part is to start, but I encourage you to stick with it as you are the role model for your children. The rules though: 1. this is your personal time and no-one is allowed to encroach on your time. 2. it’s all about you, as a person not the roles you undertake. 3. You are not allowed to write anything negative about yourself. Here are some examples