Research

This pilot project involves pre-test/post-test assessments of Year 4, 5 and 6 students’ literacy and numeracy achievement progress between March and September 2007.  Drawn from AISV member schools (n = 10), the participating year-level classes are divided into two groups: Intervention (33 classes) and Reference (36 classes).  A total of approximately 1500 students are expected to participate in the project.

At the outset of the project (February 2007) and during project, teachers of students in Intervention groups are provided with evidence-based training and support in Direct Instruction and Strategy Instruction techniques, as well as being provided with professional development and training in Auditory Processing Assessment. This training is supplemented by a comprehensive package of teacher and student support materials. For comparative purposes, teachers of students in Reference groups will not receive such training and support materials until the end of the project (November 2007).  However, students in both Intervention and Reference groups will complete appropriate assessments in PAT-Reading, PAT-Spelling; PAT-Maths, as well as an Ability measure using P-GAT.

Following analyses of the assessment data obtained in March and September, individual reports of students’ achievement progress (‘value-added’) will be provided, together with a relevant ‘system’ report to AISV.  Findings from these analyses will provide the basis for conducting several case-studies – reports from which will be provided to participating schools and AISV.