Closing literacy gaps key to unlocking student potential
With over 60% of its students identifying as First Nations and with English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D), Our Lady of the Sacred Heart joined MultiLit’s Closing the Gap Initiative in 2021. After implementing multiple MultiLitprograms students are showing significant progress.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is located off the tip of Cape York on Kaurareg country in the islands of Zenedth Kes (Torres Strait).
One of the oldest schools in the Catholic Diocese of Cairns, Sacred Heart has a diverse enrolment of approximately 150 students. Of those, over 60% identify as First Nations and count English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D).
The school employs a diversity team to support students with additional learning needs, while visiting specialists include a guidance counsellor, speech pathologist, occupational therapist and psychologist.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart joined the MultiLit Closing the Gap Initiative in 2021, which seeks to boost English literacy achievement in schools with a majority Indigenous enrolment.
The multi-year initiative aims to have all students in participating schools reading at a minimum level within the average range for their age and year cohort.
Prior to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart joining the program in 2021, the school had identified a significant proportion of students with gaps in their foundational literacy skills, which was negatively impacting their learning.
Since joining the initiative, the school has implemented various MultiLit programs, paired with various writing and EALD teaching strategies and strong teacher–student relationships which are producing incredible results. Improvements are notrestricted to their literacy results and can be seen in other subject areas as some students re-engage with learning in the classroom.
“The skills and knowledge they are gaining through these programs are not only accelerating their literacy development but also empowering them with confidence and a love for learning across other subject areas too,” said Curriculum Co-ordinator, Karen Zabel.
Read the full case study here.