English

In the English learning area students learn about the English language: how it works and how to use it effectively. They develop an understanding of the ways in which language operates as a social process and how to use language in a variety of forms and situations. They learn to speak, listen, view, read and write effectively.
 
(Curriculum Framework 1998)

At Wembley Primary School our staff is committed to providing a comprehensive educational programme that builds on each student’s knowledge and skills and makes learning a positive and rewarding experience. The English curriculum is designed to meet students' individual academic and social needs while developing their literacy skills.

 It covers a broad range of aspects:

  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Speaking and Listening
  • Viewing

A feature of the program is the manner in which units of work are integrated within other curriculum areas to provide students with a purpose for their learning. The reliance on integrated technologies and the school’s automated library add another dimension to the delivery of classroom programs.

The teaching of reading and writing at Wembley Primary follows the First Steps Literacy approach; drawing upon contemporary research to help teachers address current literacy challenges. It provides teachers with comprehensive Maps of Development that help them assess and monitor student needs and also provides explicit links to purposeful teaching and learning experiences.

The Four Roles of the Reader, a cooperative reading strategy consolidated in classes from Years 1-7, is one program which links to the First Steps Literacy Approach and supports full text analysis to improve comprehension. The Lexile Reading Framework, another program in use from Years 2-7, provides a common developmental scale for matching reader ability and text difficulty. This approach allows teachers to manage reading comprehension and encourage reader progress using Lexile measures and a broad range of Lexile products that can be accessed on-line from school or home.

A comprehensive writing program linked to the First Steps Literacy approach supports teachers to assess the writing and spelling development of students and to link appropriate instruction to phases of development. Students learn about the critical aspects of what and how to write, including writing for different purposes, writing for social action, and developing grammar and spelling mastery. In the junior and middle school students also have the opportunity to participate in the SMART Words Study Program. This aims to give students the opportunity to learn phono-graphic knowledge and strategies required for competent and independent spelling so that students can communicate effectively in the written form.

Student work is assessed and analysed firstly through teacher judgement and moderated work samples. It is validated through standardised tests such as WALNA, Uni of NSW and Easy Mark.