“English is the key learning area where students develop knowledge, skills and understandings about English language and literature…..Language is central to students’ intellectual, social and emotional development and has an essential role in all key learning areas.”
Board of Studies New South Wales (1998) English K-6 Syllabus pp.5/6.
At Sts Peter and Paul, we believe that English:
• Enables students to acquire a knowledge and appreciation of their world – both physical and social, so that they can communicate ideas, feelings and desires with others, become independent of others’ help (reading instruction), be more imaginative (enter into a magical world) and gain enjoyment and a life-long love of literature.
• As an integrated and pervasive cultural phenomenon, it is the main vehicle of communication in our society. Without English children cannot participate fully in our society;
• Assists children to participate in the aesthetics of language, which forms the core of our cultural heritage;
• Enables children to explore a variety of texts thus catering for different needs and preparing them for a variety of challenges.
We believe that when students engage in the English learning experiences at Sts Peter and Paul Primary School, they will develop the ability to talk, listen, read, view and write with purpose, effect and confidence. They will develop knowledge of the ways in which language varies according to context (eg. purpose, audience, channel of communication and content). Students will develop a sound grasp of the language structures and grammar of Standard Australian English.
At Sts Peter and Paul, we emphasise critical literacy. This involves students in questioning, challenging and evaluating the texts that they listen to, read and review. Critical literacy enables students to perceive how texts position readers to take a particular view of people and events.
The approach taken at Sts Peter and Paul is based on the NSW K-6 Syllabus and First Steps and uses the three main interrelated uses of language:
to interact with others;
to create and interpret texts
to develop understandings about the world and ourselves.
This approach places emphasis on both spoken and written language and provides a comprehensive description of how language works. This is a useful
approach for the classroom because it allows for the diversity of language backgrounds, which is prevalent in our school
During 2008 the new template for our English Scope and Sequence was formed to incorporate the ACT Curriculum “Every Chance to Learn” Essential Learning Achievements (ELA 9, 10, and begin work on ELA 8 and 11):
The marker of progress
English NSW K-6 outcomes
Essential content
Indicators
Sequence of indicators taught
The scope and sequences for Reading (ELA 9) and Writing (ELA 10) were divided into the following bands of development:
K - 2 Early childhood
3 - 5 Later Childhood
6 – 8 Early Adolescence
The approach at Sts Peter and Paul is to continue to teach within a stage approach:
