Level Lingo (F-2 Victorian Curriculum)

"But what level is a child if they are 'at level' at the end of Prep? Why is the end of Prep, 'F', and the middle of Prep '0.5'? Hang on . . . what if a student is working 12 months ahead half way through Prep? Urgh, I'm so confused! Karen, would you slow down please, I'm not across the lingo!"

So many assessment moderation meetings have sounded like this, and I've been both the 'confused one' and the 'Karen' and I even still switch between the two. It takes a bit to get your head around, and when you think you've got it, you'll second guess yourself again! It's kind of like when you say a word over and over again until it doesn't sound like a word anymore. Eventually, like anything, you get it and it's no longer confusing for you. However, as we know from working in collaborative teams, there is usually someone who is learning the lingo.

Why does it get so confusing? Well, I think it's because of a few things. We (public schools) report to parents twice a year: 'Semester 1' = 'end of Term 2' = 'mid year' and 'Semester 2' = 'end of Term 4' = 'end of year'. 'At level' for these two different reporting periods are different. For example, a Grade 1 student working 'at level' mid year would be marked F.5. If the Grade 1 student continued to work 'at level' at the end of the year they would be marked at Level 1. That seems reasonably straight forward doesn't it? Here's where it gets complicated - when your twenty something students are working 'at level', '6 months above', '6 months below', '12 months above' and '12 months below' expected level. You have to hold F, F.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 in your head for this discussion and align the correct level with the lingo.

I decided to create the Victorian Curriculum Levels Unpacked Key which is part of my Mathematics Planning & Assessment Organisation for F-2 (Victorian Curriculum) resource. It displays the levels F, 1 & 2 and explains what they mean.

Another initial confusing thing . . . Teachers mark a student's level against the ACHIEVEMENT STANDARD, not against every single content descriptor or the level description. That's why I included the achievement standard statement with the levels key. The content descriptors are there to guide our planning and teaching to help the children achieve the achievement standard. That's why I created learning intentions and success criteria for each mathematics strand for levels F, 1 & 2. Both are features of the Mathematics Planning & Assessment Organisation for F-2 (Victorian Curriculum) product.

No matter where you are in your career, I hope you could relate to the level lingo confusion and have found a way to overcome it. If not, I hope my resource can help you master it once and for all! If you come to moderation meetings armed with the Victorian Curriculum Level Key for levels F, 1 & 2, you'll have the whole team looking to you at some point or another.

Happy planning and assessing! There's no need to be stressing over progression points and levels at home, like I did. It's all here. Remember, work smarter to save time and spend it with your other great loves in life.

Jackie <3

@bestassess.ment