English
Teacher:
What we do
As educators we open the minds of young people and empower them with the literacy and critical thinking skills that will prepare them for the changing world that is the 21st century.
The teacher’s board
What we are getting up to
Year 7
Semester two has now begun and the main focus for learning in term 3 is narrative structure. The students will analyse the features of narratives in poetry (the ballad), comics and film. There will also be an opportunity for the students to study the tools of production in film. Later in the term we will take a close look at a variety of non-fiction texts. This will culminate in students writing a biography on a person of their choice.
In term 4 the students will carry out an in-depth study of the short story and look closely at the conventions of short story writing. They will then write their own short stories for publication before revising for their end of year exam.
Year 8
Students will begin with a focus on poetry through a range of different poems from around the world. Students will develop analytical skills as well as an understanding of poetics techniques and devices. This unit is integrated with public speaking and includes performance techniques and delivery. Beat, rhythm and expression are explored through Dr. Seuss as an interactive study. Students then complete a film study which investigates film techniques, themes and character development through the analysis of film and documentaries. Visual literacy is another unit covered in which students explore the visual literacy techniques which are used to convey themes, ideology and mood through a range of picture books, advertisements and other visual aids.
Year 9
The students will begin term 3 with the close study of a drama text. The main focus will be on teen issues with a special emphasis on theme, character development and setting in the play. In the second half of the term, the students will take a close look at intertextuality in the various versions of ‘Frankenstein’, ranging from the original novel to film and mini-series adaptations.
In term four the students will finish with a study of the movie, ‘The Blind Side’. The main focus will be on the themes of individual and cultural differences which they will examine by writing a film review in response to the text.
Year 10
This semester year 10 will be covering the following topics:
Poetry Performance: This unit focuses on poetry and developing analytical skills as well as an understanding of poetic techniques and devices. It is integrated with public speaking and includes performance techniques, delivery and expression through the analysis of slam poetry.
Conflict – Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet: In this unit students explore the nature of conflict and how it is represented in a range of texts. In the world of Romeo and Juliet, conflict is everywhere: on the streets, in the family, between families. Using Romeo and Juliet as a starting point, this is an exploration of conflict: conflict in war, conflict in the mind, and conflict within society.
Mass media madness: Students examine the role of the mass media in our lives. They explore how issues develop and how language and the conventions of multimodal texts can be used to persuade audiences.
Visual literacy (The Rabbits) : Students explore the use of allegory and satire in picture books using The Rabbits as the focus text.
