NCEA Level 1 Literacy & Numeracy Must-Knows

Learning Objectives

By engaging with this resource, ākonga (students) will:

Understand the key requirements for NCEA Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy standards
Develop strategies for culturally responsive assessment preparation
Apply literacy and numeracy skills across different learning contexts
Recognise how tikanga Māori (Māori customs) can support learning success
Create a personalized study plan that honours their cultural identity

Cultural Context: Te Ao Māori Perspectives

Success in NCEA assessments can be supported by understanding and applying Māori cultural concepts:

Whanaungatanga - Build study groups with peers to support each other
Manaakitanga - Show respect for yourself and others in your preparation
Ako - Recognise that learning is reciprocal; teach others to strengthen your own understanding
Tuakana-teina - Older/more experienced students can guide younger ones

Tikanga Considerations: When preparing for assessments, consider how you can bring your whole self to the process. This might include:

Starting with a karakia (prayer) to focus your mind
Creating study spaces that reflect your cultural identity
Using Māori metaphors for learning (e.g., viewing knowledge as a kete - basket to be filled)

Literacy Must-Knows

Key Skills Checklist

I can identify the main ideas and supporting details in texts
I can write clear, structured responses to questions
I can use appropriate vocabulary for different subjects
I can proofread my work for spelling, grammar, and clarity
I can interpret visual information (graphs, diagrams, etc.)

Tip: Click the boxes above as you master each skill!

Literacy Across Subjects

Subject	Literacy Focus	Example
English	Analysing texts, writing essays	Comparing themes across novels
Science	Writing lab reports, reading scientific articles	Describing an experiment's methodology
Social Studies	Interpreting historical sources, constructing arguments	Evaluating perspectives on a current issue
Mathematics	Understanding word problems, explaining reasoning	Justifying your solution to a problem

Numeracy Must-Knows

Key Skills Checklist

I can solve problems using basic operations (+, -, ×, ÷)
I can work with fractions, decimals, and percentages
I can interpret graphs, tables, and charts
I can measure and calculate using appropriate units
I can apply mathematical reasoning to real-world situations

Numeracy in Real Life

Numeracy isn't just for math class! Here's where you use these skills:

Science: Calculating concentrations, analysing data
Social Studies: Interpreting population statistics
PE/Health: Calculating heart rates, nutrition percentages
Technology: Measuring materials, scaling designs
Everyday Life: Budgeting, measuring ingredients, comparing prices

Assessment Preparation Toolkit

Create Your Study Plan

Use this template to organise your preparation:

Week	Focus Area	Study Method	Resources
1
2
3

Assessment Rubric: Literacy & Numeracy Skills

Criteria	Achieved	Merit	Excellence
Understanding	Basic comprehension of texts/problems	Clear understanding with some connections made	Insightful understanding with sophisticated connections
Application	Basic application of skills	Effective application in familiar contexts	Skilled application in new contexts
Communication	Simple, mostly clear communication	Clear, structured communication	Precise, well-crafted communication
Ako (Learning)	Shows basic reflection on learning	Demonstrates thoughtful learning strategies	Shows sophisticated, independent learning approaches

Extension Activities

Choose Your Challenge

Literacy: Create a pūrākau (story) that explains a math concept using Māori cultural references
Numeracy: Analyse statistical data about Māori achievement in NCEA and present your findings
Integrated: Design a wharenui (meeting house) using scale drawings and write instructions for its construction
Community: Interview a kaumātua (elder) about traditional Māori measurement systems and compare to modern methods

Teacher Implementation Notes

Curriculum Links: This resource supports achievement of NCEA Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy standards across all learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum.

Suggested Use:

Print as a workbook for students to complete over several weeks
Use sections as starter activities in different subject classes
Assign the extension activities as group projects
Incorporate the cultural elements into existing assessment preparation

Differentiation Strategies:

Provide Māori-English dictionaries for vocabulary support
Allow students to complete some tasks in te reo Māori
Offer multiple ways to demonstrate understanding (oral, visual, written)
Pair students using tuakana-teina (mentoring) approach

Resources & References

NZQA Literacy and Numeracy Requirements: www.nzqa.govt.nz
Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) Literacy Resources: literacyonline.tki.org.nz
Numeracy Project Resources: nzmaths.co.nz
Te Whanake Māori Language Resources: www.tewhanake.maori.nz
Māori Dictionary: maoridictionary.co.nz