Grade 3 Catholic students’ reading levels are nearly eight percentage points better this year than last year, although pupils in grades 1 and 2 are doing slightly worse year-over-year, a new report shows.
Holy Trinity Catholic School Division assesses students’ reading abilities three times a year, with the September assessments helping classroom teachers determine how they should instruct their pupils. Teachers then complete two more assessments in February and June.
The mid-year data allows the division to provide targeted support to students through the in-school levelled literacy intervention (LLI) program and the reading intervention program, according to a report presented during the recent board meeting.
The division introduced the reading interventionist position last year, with that person continuing to provide extra support as the organization bridges the learning gaps that the pandemic caused, the report continued.
This year the reading interventionist has supported 69 extra students besides the usual pupils in school-based LLI programs. The data shows these students grew their skills an average of 5.2 months after two months of support.
This position has also supported eight students in the tier 3 —lowest level — category.
Reading
The mid-year March data shows that 64.8 per cent of Grade 1 students were reading at or above grade level, compared to 72.4 per cent last year and 64.3 per cent two years ago.
Meanwhile, 35.2 per cent of pupils are below reading level, compared to 27.6 per cent last year and 35.7 per cent two years ago.
Mid-year data shows that 72.5 per cent of Grade 2s were at or above grade level, compared to 76 per cent last year and 64.6 per cent two years ago.
Meanwhile, 27.5 per cent are below reading level, versus 24 per cent last year and 35.4 per cent two years ago.
In Grade 3, 81.7 per cent of pupils were at or above grade level, versus 74.1 per cent last year and 79.8 per cent two years ago. Meanwhile, 18.3 per cent are below grade level compared to 25.9 per cent last year and 20.2 per cent two years ago.
Writing
Teachers in grades 4, 7 and 9 complete holistic provincial writing assessments three times yearly, with Holy Trinity collecting the final results in June.
Mid-year writing data shows 41.8 per cent of Grade 4s were writing at grade level, compared to 57.6 per cent of pupils last June. In Grade 7, 55.3 per cent of youths were writing at grade level in February, compared to 61 per cent last June.
No data was presented for Grade 9s.
Math
Teachers conduct math assessments three times a year, with the fall tests guiding initial classroom instruction. The mid-year data collection allows the division to provide targeted support using the math interventionist position.
So far this year, that position has helped 56 pupils in grades 7 and 8, with students receiving a half-hour session at least four times per week.
Mid-year writing data shows 93.8 per cent of Grade 2s, 85.8 per cent of Grade 3s, 75.5 per cent of Grade 4s, 65.9 per cent of Grade 5s, 60.8 per cent of Grade 6s, 46.9 per cent of Grade 7s and 48.9 per cent of Grade 8s were at or above grade level.
In comparison, 6.2 per cent of Grade 2s, 14.2 per cent of Grade 3s, 24.5 per cent of Grade 4s, 34.1 per cent of Grade 5s, 39.2 per cent of Grade 6s, 53.1 per cent of Grade 7s and 51.1 per cent of Grade 8s were below level.
The division will continue increasing awareness about the use of a provincial numeracy outcomes document as teachers help students overcome pandemic-caused learning gaps, the report added.
The next Holy Trinity board meeting is Monday, May 15.
