The MathsHub Approach to Teaching English

At MathsHub, our English program is built around strong reading skills that support success in NAPLAN, ICAS, scholarship exams, and selective entry tests. We focus on comprehension, writing, vocabulary, and language conventions so students gain confidence across all areas of literacy.

Reading: The Foundation for NAPLAN, ICAS and Scholarship Exams

NAPLAN assesses key areas of literacy, including reading, writing, spelling, and grammar. The same core skills are also tested in ICAS, scholarship exams, selective entry tests, and school-based assessments.

At MathsHub, we recognise that reading is the skill that underpins all of these areas. That’s why it sits at the heart of our English curriculum.

The reading section of NAPLAN assesses comprehension, inference, and the ability to analyse different types of texts. ICAS and scholarship exams extend this further with more complex passages and higher-order questions.

At MathsHub, students:

• Read a wide range of texts – narratives, persuasive pieces, and informative articles
• Practise identifying key ideas – main points, key details, and subtle meanings
• Learn strategies for tackling unfamiliar passages with confidence

These skills directly support success in NAPLAN, ICAS, scholarship exams, selective entry tests, and school assessments.

How Reading Improves Writing

Strong readers make strong writers. We use reading to model what effective writing looks like.

In our program, students:

• Study text types: They read and unpack example narratives and persuasive texts, then use these as models for their own writing. This prepares them for NAPLAN writing tasks as well as scholarship and selective school exams.
• Build vocabulary: Targeted vocabulary work is drawn from the texts we read, helping students use more precise and powerful language in their writing.
• Develop sentence and paragraph skills: By seeing well-constructed sentences and paragraphs in context, students learn how to organise and express their ideas clearly.

Reinforcing Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation

Language conventions are best learned in context, not isolation.

Through reading and follow-up activities, students:

• See correct spelling used repeatedly in meaningful texts
• Analyse how authors use grammar and punctuation to shape meaning
• Practise applying these patterns in their own writing

This supports strong performance in the NAPLAN language conventions section, as well as ICAS and scholarship-style language tasks.

Building Critical Thinking

Modern assessments don’t just test basic comprehension — they test how well students can think about what they read.

At MathsHub, we:

• Ask students to explain, justify, and compare ideas from texts
• Encourage them to question, infer, and read between the lines
• Help them construct logical arguments and reasoned responses

These critical thinking skills are essential for NAPLAN, ICAS, scholarship exams, and selective entry tests, and they are equally important for success at school.

How Reading Is Built into the MathsHub Curriculum

Reading is not a separate “add-on” at MathsHub. It is woven through everything we do in English:

• Regular reading practice using a variety of engaging texts
• Model texts to introduce and support each new writing task
• Vocabulary and grammar activities linked directly to reading passages
• Guided discussions to deepen understanding and encourage critical thinking

This holistic approach helps students develop strong, flexible literacy skills that serve them well in exams and in everyday learning.

In Summary

Reading is the foundation of success in NAPLAN, ICAS, scholarship exams, and selective entry tests. It strengthens writing, supports language conventions, and builds critical thinking and confidence.

At MathsHub, our English program is built around high-quality reading experiences and explicit teaching. By developing strong reading habits, we help students feel prepared for key assessments — and equip them with skills for long-term academic success.