ENGLISH NEWS
The English Faculty offers a range of opportunities to support students achieve to their full potential. In this edition of the newsletter, we will outline both the innovative and tried and true ways we support our students' creative and critical development in the classroom. We offer many exciting opportunities for our students to engage with the English language in its various textual forms. These encompass spoken, written, and visual texts through which meaning is shaped, conveyed, interpreted, and reflected. Complexity increases as students progress through their schooling.
The year in English, began with students engaging in a variety of experiences. However, we did realise that due to the learning loss our studenbts incurred in 2021, we made a very conscious decision to begin the year for all classes 7-10 with an Intensive Literacy Intervention program. for the first five weeks of Term 1. This was followed by the introduction to the other units planned for the Year.
Year 7 begin their English lessons in High School with the introduction to the unit My World, Your World This unit encourages students to explore the ways in which perspective and context shape both fictional and real worlds within themselves and others. Please see the link below to view some of the work done in our classes.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AEZKvJSPio6PaLT2ueA_kInyKzZNmxWn
Year 8 had fun with the unit, Life Writing. This unit encourages students to explore the ways that reading influences an individual’s writing process. Students review different forms of writing focusing particularly on diaries, autobiographies and life writing. They learn about their own and the life stories of others, within the context of language, literature and literacy. The purpose is to develop their skills at responding to and composing texts for different purposes, with a view to understanding how their experiences influence their appreciation of the stories of others. The specific focus of this unit is to prepare students for the senior unit of ‘Reading to Write’.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1egWiru-IEbBQ2KKWw0Y42VhuaxPvqNWv
Year 9 began the year with a Reading to Write- Australian Identity program. In this module, students undergo intensive and close reading of a variety of texts that focus on the nuances of the Australian identity. They develop skills that are necessary to understand, analyse and evaluate how texts convey important ideas about culture. They also build their capacity to respond perceptively to a variety of texts through their own writing and in particular, a focus on reflecting on their skills and knowledge as writers. Through the study of these texts, students will develop their own insights into the Australian identity allowing them to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Students are encouraged to read widely in order to understand the breadth of the Australian identity.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pGmUlEuyhIsiPw8APL9vdI2n2DXSNFBU
In Term 2 they are working on Close Study of Poetry: Perspectives of War. In this unit, the collection of texts will engender to appreciate different perspectives on the subject of war and conflict. Students will gain a greater awareness of the context of war and its relevant issues: patriotism, nationalism, love, honour, sacrifice, destruction, pity and despair. This unit of work will explore issues of war as they capture the intensity of emotion that war evokes and demonstrate the ways in which language can be used to communicate powerful ideas and shape audience responses. Students will engage with poetic and linguistic features like language, form and structure.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pGmUlEuyhIsiPw8APL9vdI2n2DXSNFBU
Year 10 focused on the skills of speech writing and public speaking in the unit RIOTS AND REVOLUTIONS. In this unit students explored the ten steps necessary to prepare an effective public speech, evaluate elements of persuasion and appeal to enhance oral presentation, and work on timing, volume and body language to suit the audience. Students listened to and produced a range of spoken texts on a complex theme or issue, they learned to identify and control linguistic structures and features in a range of spoken texts, and evaluate strategies used by other speakers to enhance their oral presentation. The need for effective communicators is vitally important. Whether you are selling a product, advising a customer, or expressing your ideas at a community meeting, your level of success will be greatly enhanced if you have mastered public speaking skills.The intention is to provide a resource that will aid teachers in getting their students started in good public speaking.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1s0-ZcqsjnwnrEOMfu167-CvO1iEWGAsn
Stage 6 - Years 11 & 12 - Through the study of English in Stage 6 students continue to develop their capacity to understand and use the English language for a variety of purposes and in various textual forms. Students engage with and explore a variety of texts that include widely acknowledged quality literature of past and contemporary societies. Through their responding and composing of both critical and creative texts, students develop an understanding of themselves and of diverse human experiences and cultures. The study of English in Stage 6 provides students with opportunities to experiment with ideas and expression, to become innovative, active, independent learners, to collaborate and to reflect on their learning. Our students hit the ground running with the courses that are set for the Year. They had Assessment tasks due in both Terms 1 & 2.
Year 11- https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I0VDviRkb_Lo43RaCYL7GZ_CuItS5frt
Year 12 - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1v_76KXtdtBigr34z2zpLzg86A8PthCdk
Years 7, 8 & 10 did a Close Study of Text - Novels in Term 2
Novel Study enables students to understand and use language effectively, appreciate, reflect on and enjoy the English language and to make meaning in ways that are imaginative, creative, interpretive, critical and powerful.
YEAR 7
YEAR 8
YEAR 10
