QuickSmart Numeracy and Literacy are responsive, small-group intervention programs that aim to develop fluent (Quick) and efficient (Smart) strategy use. The programs are aimed at students whose numeracy or literacy outcomes are below minimum standards. QuickSmart is designed to enhance a student's fluency in either numeracy or literacy (reading and comprehension) by improving their information retrieval times.
QuickSmart uses research-based instructional strategies to support the learning of persistently low-achieving middle school students so that they are more actively and successfully engaged in inclusive classroom settings. Independent analysis of independent, norm-referenced test results for over 63,000 QuickSmart students show that they consistently achieve up to three years' academic growth over a recommended 90-lesson period.
Teachers report student improvements in behaviour, higher levels of confidence and self-esteem, and increased classroom involvement.
QuickSmart aims to improve the numeracy and literacy development of students who are experiencing learning problems or delays and, hence, not achieving their academic potential. Participating students may have varying levels of learning difficulties because of knowledge gaps, lack of practice, mild intellectual disability, anxiety, low confidence, or associated behaviour problems.
Specifically, QuickSmart aims to provide an intense intervention focused on basic knowledge and understandings that can equip students with the skills necessary to engage more successfully with classroom instruction. QuickSmart is designed as a relatively long-term, yet cost-effective, program for students in middle-school who need to improve their basic mathematics, and/or reading, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.
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https://simerr.une.edu.au/quicksmart/program-description/
At Boonah SHS QuickSmart is delivered by four Educational Support Officers (teacher aides) (two numeracy, two literacy). Students participate in three, 30 minute sessions across the week and they do not miss out on any more than one session in the one subject. Students are provided with a timetable to help them remember their QuickSmart times. While missing part of a subject/subjects over a 12 month period can be challenging, the benefits of improved literacy or numeracy and the success and self-confidence student students develop, generally far outweighs this challenge. Most students work in pairs as this provides a place for competition. Students are initially tested and selected for the QuickSmart program using their NAPLAN and PAT R/PATM data (two tests that are commonly done at primary school and in high school).