Prep them well for VCE

Middle School English

Year 5

Students explore texts through reading and writing, and in the process learn comprehension strategies and how to write for different purposes and audiences. They become increasingly proficient in using spelling, grammar and punctuation correctly. There is a focus on developing students’ knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating. Learning in English builds on concepts, skills and processes developed in earlier years, and teachers will revisit and strengthen these as needed.

Year 6

Students analyse and explore texts through reading and writing. They explore language features, images and vocabulary and how different authors use them to represent ideas, characters and events. They compare and analyse information in different texts, exploring literal and implied meaning. Students select and use evidence from a text to explain their response to it. They take part in discussions, clarifying content and challenging others’ ideas. Students explore how language features and language patterns can be used for emphasis. They show how specific details can be used to support a point of view. They create detailed texts, elaborating on key ideas for a range of purposes and audiences.

Year 7

Students explore texts in greater depth and how text structures can influence the complexity of a text and are dependent on audience, purpose and context. They demonstrate their understanding of how the choice of language features, images and vocabulary affects meaning. Students explain issues and ideas from a variety of sources, analysing supporting evidence and implied meaning. They select specific details from texts to develop their own responses, recognising that texts reflect different viewpoints. Students listen for, and explain, different perspectives in texts. They create texts showing how language features and images from other texts can be combined for effect. Students create structured and coherent texts for a range of purposes and audiences. When creating and editing texts they demonstrate understanding of grammar, use a variety of more specialised vocabulary, accurate spelling and punctuation.

Year 8

Students explore text structures and how they vary for different purposes and audiences. They explain how language features, images and vocabulary are used to represent different ideas and issues in texts. Students interpret texts, questioning the reliability of sources and information. They select evidence from the text to show how events, situations and people can be represented from different viewpoints. Students listen for and identify different emphases in texts, using that understanding to elaborate upon discussions. Through combining ideas, images and language features from other texts, students show how ideas can be expressed in new ways. Students create texts for different purposes, selecting language to influence audience response. They demonstrate understanding of grammar, select vocabulary for effect and use accurate spelling and punctuation.

English Study Skills Years Year 5 to Year 8

English Study Skills involves the intensive study of language in both written and oral forms. The program incorporates: speaking and listening, reading and comprehension of text, research, spelling, punctuation and grammar, as well as the explicit teaching of skills and strategies to assist learning and improve language skills across the curriculum. Lessons are an alternative to timetabled Language classes and involve small groups of students who require additional support.