As many parents are aware the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test is one of the current ministry requirements for graduation. Often, there is some concern that students will struggle with the test.

    At St.F.X we have developed a new Literacy Support system for grade ten students. After we administer a "mock" literacy test to assess our students' needs and identify those students who need extra help, support groups are formed. These groups meet during the week at lunch for half and hour to practice literacy activities.

    After another "mock" literacy test, student needs will be re-evaluated and groupings may be reorganized.

Helpful Tips for Students Writing the Literacy Test:

Read Instructions Carefully - If you are asked to write a news article and instead you write a narrative you will be marked "off topic."

Support! Support! Support! - You must give reasons for opinions. In many cases this support should come directly from the given text.

Check your Answer Carefully - Reread your work to check for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. Try reading your answer backwards to check for spelling errors.

Answer Every Question - If you don't even try to answer a question, no marks can be given.

Fill the Space, But Don't Go Over - The test gives you the amount of space that the ministry feels it will take to answer. Use as much of the space as you can, but don't write below the lines given.

Links:

http://www.what2learn.com/games/literacy/  - promotes, spelling and word identification.