English
The English Faculty consists of a dedicated and innovative staff. We pride ourselves on commitment to excellence and strive to further our students to achieve to the best of their abilities.
Staff Members
Mr G. Kennedy – Head Teacher |
| Ms K. Eleos |
| Mrs K. Ilioglou |
| Mrs D. Repole |
| Mrs A. Talevski |
| Mrs K. Tami |
Curriculum
The curriculum we offer is diverse and challenging. We focus strongly on meeting the different needs and abilities of our students. We have a firm commitment to ensure all of our students clearly meet stages 4 and 5 outcomes of the syllabus. Each year group has a focus on developing and reinforcing skills learned through topic areas which are taught yearly. Each topic area is revisited each year, however different aspects are taught which ensure all stage 4 and 5 outcomes are met. There is a strong focus on allowing students the opportunity to develop and expand their skills and knowledge in the key areas of:- Reading/viewing
- Writing
- Speaking
- Listening
- Computer technology
Programs
Stage 4 – Years 7-8
In Year 7 & 8 classes consist of:
- 2 top stream, gifted and talented classes
- 3 Mid-stream mixed ability classes
- 1 Special Learning Needs class
- Diagnostic Literacy Testing at the beginning of the year. This helps the class teacher to address the learning needs of individual students
- Thematic Unit-Fantasy Country
- Literature Study – focus on the fantasy genre
- Media – Introduction to Multimedia
- Text Types
- Poetry – Introduction to form a structure and poetic devices used to convey meaning
- Film as Text
- Listening/Speaking components addressed throughout the year
- Drama – practical and text study
- Literacy special focus on: Language/Comprehension/Vocabulary
- Literature Study – close study of novel
- Media – Newspapers as a focus study
- Text Types
- Poetry – special focus on Australian Poetry
- Film as Text – Heroes as represented in film
- Listening/Speaking components addressed throughout the year
- Drama – practical and text study
Stage 5 – Years 9-10
Classes in Stage 5 consist of:
- Two top stream classes
- Two Mid Stream classes
- Two Learning Needs classes
- Literacy (Special focus on language comprehension; vocabulary, text type forms)
- Literature Study – close study of novel
- Text Types
- Poetry – Introduction to Analysing Poetry – poetic devices; close study of a Poet
- Representation of different genres through film texts
- Media – Radio as a focus study
- Listening/Speaking components addressed throughout the year
- Drama – close study of Romeo & Juliet
- School Certificate
- Background
- Expectations
- Exams
- Careers Unit/Text Types – close study of work-related texts
- Literature Study – close study of a novel
- Poetry – close study of a poet
- Drama – Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’
- Media Advertising as a focus area
- Film as Text – Whale Rider
- School Certificate Trial Preparation
- Trial School Certificate Examination
- Preparation for Year 11in Term 4
English Faculty’s Literacy Initiatives
1. Home Reading Scheme
All Year 7 students participate in the Home Reading Program. The program is designed to improve general literacy and reading comprehension skills. Students are required to read for approximately 15 – 20 min a night, five nights a week. Students select their reading material from a designated Home Reading Room set up in the School Library. During reading, students fill in a home reading diary which is used as a record and checked by both teachers and parents
2. Daily Dose
This is a program managed by the English faculty. During Roll-Call, all Year 7 students spend 20 minutes each morning working through a range of literacy activities that targets reading comprehension, sentence structures, word formations, spelling and language appreciation. All students are pre-tested at the beginning of the school year to determine the best level and specific area of literacy support that needs attention. The program is closely monitored by roll teachers. Some students receive additional support from specially trained Year 9 tutors. All students are post- tested at the end of the year to illustrate improvement or areas still requiring attention.
3. Peer Tutor Program
During roll call time a class has been formed to help address the specific literacy needs of students who were targeted from results gained from ELLA/NAP test. A number of Year 10 students are trained to become tutors and work on an individual basis with each Year 7 student. Each Year 7 student is taken through a structured program that specifically addresses reading comprehension skills.
4. Year 10 Writing Portfolios
As part preparation for the senior school, all Year 10 students prepare a portfolio of work samples that demonstrate their work in preparing and writing in a range of text types demanded by the School Certificate and as preparation for their Higher School Certificate work at Oatley campus. Work samples are collected over the year and taken to Oatley campus in term 4. Year 11 teachers assess the portfolios to determine areas of strength and weakness and they help guide their own teaching practice as to how best to support the incoming Year 10 students to Oatley.