ENG KLA Minutes – 28th January 2010
1. Mail: circulated
2. Faculty Blog site: http://opi4.edublogs.org/
To be used to discuss issues between meetings, to respond to key issues, to allow for suggestions, to develop our social media skills. Try to promote it as the central communication document of Faculty.
3. Teacher tube and ‘social media revolution’. This short video says it all and ties in with Ultranet. http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=123139&title=Social_Media_Revolution
A good reason to begin incorporating social media, web 2.0 tools into the curriculum
4. Literacy Policy
A draft report. Add new ideas as you think of them, via blog. Will change with the introduction of the national curriculum
5. NAPLAN results:
Some students may benefit from smaller more focused lessons. To be decided among level teachers. Use results to inform your teaching. Ask for detailed student reports to aid decision making.
6. Visiting author – Scot Gardner (Literacy Week) – 31st August 2010.
7. Class Sets – suggestions to blog. (Replacements etc)
At least one set of class novels that meet the reading needs of the weaker students as part of point 5 suggestions.
8. Scope and Sequence
Due next week.
9. General Business
Year 12 English trip to Horsham, Literary Competition to be earlier, Domains and Dimensions for Semester 1 reports to be decided at next meeting. Purchase copies (student/staff) Skillworks levels 8 and 9 as staff references.
We now have a working draft of a Literacy Policy for the college. It has yet to be passed by Council but has been submitted for this approval at the first Council meeting in 2010.
I am including as way of explanation the Introduction. The full document will be available on our web site.
Introduction to Warracknabeal Literacy Policy
The College is required to have a Literacy Policy for all KLAs as each KLA has its separate literacy requirements. For example; report writing in Science. All Faculties must now teach to their own literacies
The drive behind the Department’s expectations arose from a series of intensive in-services I attended in 2009, provided by Lesley Wing Jan, a truly inspirational lecturer.
The most important point is too recognize that there is an expectation that we will have a Literacy Policy, endorsed by Council available by the end of the year or early in 2010.
The in-services covered a number of central issues. We explored the explicit teaching of writing with genres and purposes and the importance of reading and the interdependence of reading and writing were stressed. The importance of graphic communicators or the ‘creation of diagrams, tables and maps to represent information’ is now seen as central to literacy learning.
Teachers have to be trained and the expectation is that they will adopt the DEECD’s e5 approach to their own learning – engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate.
The spoken language is the key to explicit teaching and for modeling and scaffolding and building vocabulary etc.
We must establish the reading/writing link. Reading aloud allows for building of general knowledge, vocabulary, problem solving, developing metacognition and peer sharing etc.
There has to be common definitions across the school. What is a graphic communicator, PNI or PMI, essay, report etc. has to be established so students can move easily between learning areas.
In the secondary sector it is assumed that we have a working knowledge of the VELS levels 3 and 4 at least. We must ensure that we are closely working to VELS at levels 5 and 6.
I have included as an appendix a valuable handout: Source: Routman, R. (2005), Writing Essentials – Raising Expectations and Standards while Simplifying Teaching, Heinemann, Portsmouth pp 263 – 266.
Please comment on this and pass them to me. Thanks.
Richard L. Opie
English KLA Head.
Faculty Meeting 20th August 2009
Agenda and Minutes (in Italics)
1. Literacy Conference – handout Source: Routman, R. (2005), Writing Essentials – Raising Expectations and Standards while Simplifying Teaching, Heinemann, Portsmouth pp 263 – 266.
RO explained that this small document summarised all the research that supports all the English literacy and Language strategies we apply.
2. School Literacy Policy
Must be completed by end of year. We need to be aware of VELS levels at least from Level 4.
3. Literacy Week
Wednesday to Wednesday. Completing with the arrival of Bernie Monagle. We will have an open evening in the library, we will run the 50 word competition, adjudicated by John Martin. Prizes for most books borrowed over year and a lucky prize for the weekly book borrower. We will not persist with favourite books.
4. Texts for 2010
Top up Silver sword. Hope to have some money for class sets. Year 12 books decided. They are: 1984, Look both ways, Tirra Lirra by the River and Island.
5. Suitability of videos
Staff reminded that the videos shown must comply with the age appropriateness and rating. Check with RO and principal if in doubt. If the film is approved by council staff are not hassled by complaints, they are dealt at higher level.
6. Videos for Year 7 in 2010
Bridge at Terabithia, Water horse, Coralline. We could get class set of Terabithia.
7. Book Lists for 2010
Year 12 choices best of bad bunch. How about Streetcar?? Streetcar doesnot fit course.
8. General Business
Literary competition to be discussed next time.
These do not do justice to a really intensive two days and evening delivered by an expert, who knows her subjects and demonstrates teaching strategies, naturally.
Presenter: Lesley Wing Jan
These two days have been most intensive. The most important point is too recognize that there is an expectation that we will have a Literacy Policy, endorsed by Council available by the end of the year. Note, all Faculties must now teach to their own literacies.
We covered: explicit teaching of writing with genres and purposes. The importance of reading and the interdependence of reading and writing were stressed. The importance of graphic communicators or the ‘creation of diagrams, tables and maps to represent information’ now seen as central to literacy learning.
Teachers have to be trained and the expectation is that they will adopt the DEECD’s e5 approach to their own learning – engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate.
The spoken language is the key to explicit teaching and for modeling and scaffolding and building vocabulary etc.
We must establish the reading/writing link. Reading aloud allows for building of general knowledge, vocabulary, problem solving, developing metacognition and peer sharing etc.
There has to be common definitions across the school. What is a graphic communicator, PNI or PMI, essay, report etc.
In the secondary sector it is assumed that we have a working knowledge of the VELS levels 3 and 4 at least. We must ensure that we are closely working to VELS at levels 5 and 6.
Read the handout: Source: Routman, R. (2005), Wriitng Essentials – Raising Expectations and Standards while Simplifying Teaching, Heinemann, Portsmouth pp 263 – 266.
Please do not hesitate to add comments, particularly is you are unable to attend.
Faculty Meeting 20th August 2009
Agenda
1. Literacy Conference – handout Source: Routman, R. (2005), Wriitng Essentials – Raising Expectations and Standards while Simplifying Teaching, Heinemann, Portsmouth pp 263 – 266.
2. School Literacy Policy
3. Literacy Week
4. Texts for 2010
5. Suitability of videos
6. Videos for Year 7 in 2010
7. Book Lists for 2010
8. General Business
Finally, discuss the Literacy Conference notes in later post.
Staff are beginning to discuss possible new text, not only for 2010, but also for this year. Please contribute your ideas.
Leading Change/Understanding Change
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
Dr Pallotta-Chiarollis is a well know Health academic specialising in issues of sexuality. She draws our attention to the changing Australian classroom that in itself is becoming globalised. She states that teachers must acknowledge this diversity and that we should embrace change as so much is positive. Must not fall for media’s negativities.
She points out that classes today contain Anglo students, Africans. Asians and our own Indigenous peoples etc as well as gay, bisexual and transsexual students. Classes contain students who are Jewish, Islamic and Christian etc. She explains the problems associated with being gay, Moslem and a teenager who finds himself, suddenly homeless and denied his faith!!
The task English teachers face is connecting this disparate group and bringing the margins into the centre. Does this determine texts studied? Use the students to explore cultures?
Chances are as our students go global that are not going to meet white Anglos
Keynote Speaker – Professor Beverly Derewianka
Three areas:
Knowledge about Language (Literacy)
Evolving repertoires of English Usage (Language Use)
Informed appreciation of Literature (Literature)
Areas to be considered.
What does it mean ‘the basics’? Spelling and spelling strategies need to be established early. Students’ vocabulary is to be expanded.
Attention is to be given to grammar across K (our preparatory year) and Y12. It is part of the ‘toolkit’ that helps all students to access the resources to meet their educational needs.
Must focus on clearer expression, more convincing argument, more careful logic and such things as imaginative speaking and writing.
The national English curriculum should help develop in students the capabilities to understand, analyse, appreciate, construct and evaluate texts.
A debate must take pace about Australian literature. However, its presence should form part of what young Australians know about English and being Australian. Do we remain open to international English and world literature?
Literature should acknowledge traditional narratives and include works of writers in the languages of our recent arrivals as well as the standard Anglo texts and should also reflect the growing importance of Asia in our national life.
Leading your Engish faculty into the 21st Century
Anne Mirtschin Hawkesdale P12 College
Anne runs a completely e class relying on global resources and tools. Her argument is that we now live in the conceptual age, where students want to connect, communicate and create. Teachers must be supported by school the community, know the emerging technological tools, establish their own personal learning network, be given time to play with the tools and have access to PD.
Students have their own blog and podcast sites. She no longer worries about outsiders contacting (it hasn’t happened) and she has a RSS feed from each student so she has co-administrator rights.
She recommends among other tools: delicious, globalteacher (a Vic Educational department site), skype, wikis, blogs, podcasts etc.
A full list of her sites is available but try:
http://globalteacher.org.au
http://voicethread.com
http://coveritlive.com
Anne is available at: mirtschin.anne.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
Or
http://murch.globalteacher.org.au
Welcome to my report on the National Curriculum.
Panel discussion.
2009 Co-ordinators’ Conference, Friday 27th March
National and Victorian Issues in English – Panel Discussion.
Speakers stressed the need for higher standards, greater accountability and ICT.
Education will be linked to the nation’s productivity and the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals that was published in late 2008.
Time lines are short. Expected to be finished by September this year for full implementation from 2011 to 2013 (for VCE). Change to content can be expected but current assessment procedures to be maintained. Time for English to e determined by the National Curriculum.
Panel members see the changes a conservative with emphasis on quality and equity. All teachers urged to stand up and have a say.
There is a greater support for a National Curriculum as we are working on a Global curriculum.
See the National Curriculum Board site:
http://www.ncb.org.au/default.asp
