English
A special people, a special place
Exploring visions of place and time
These units of work have been developed by three practising English teachers from both metropolitan and regional NSW schools. The profiles of the individual schools help to illustrate the broad nature of secondary education in NSW: one is a large Sydney metropolitan school, another is a rural high school, while the third is a large comprehensive regional high school.
The units are intended to provide opportunities for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to “take their place as confident communicators, critical and imaginative thinkers, lifelong learners and active participants in Australian society” (English Years 7–10 Syllabus, p.12), while addressing the unique individual context of each school.
Some central aims of the K–10 Curriculum Framework have helped inform this project. For example, the framework acknowledges the place and importance of the imagination and creativity in learning.
Students will:
- express themselves through creative activity and engage with the artistic, cultural and intellectual work of others
- develop a system of personal values based on their understanding of moral, ethical and spiritual matters. (p 4)
With their school contexts in mind, the writers asked questions such as:
- What major emphases of the English Years 7–10 Syllabus are most likely to assist our students?
- How can these emphases be transformed into manageable and engaging classroom strategies?
- What knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes of students are the units designed to improve?
- How can the units best integrate the principles of composing and responding?
- How can the units incorporate sufficient flexibility to allow implementation in other schools?
The writers of these units were keen not only were to develop the literacy skills of students, but also to provide students with the opportunity to use their imagination, to be aware of the power of language to explore and express views of themselves, others and the world, and to use language to develop positive interaction and cooperation with others. The units will hopefully also develop in students a love of learning that will grow and strengthen over time.