1. New NSW English Syllabus K-12
Prue Greene, Senior Curriculum Support Officer English K-12
The English and Literacy team, CLIC
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
3. ACARA and the NSW curriculum
How does the Australian Curriculum English work the NSW
Syllabus for the Australian curriculum English K-10 ?
• The NSW BOS has written a syllabus for the Australian curriculum.
• This document contains all the ACARA content.
• The content is coded and identified.
• (ACELA1437) or (ACELY1663, ACELY1673) or (ACELT1586)
• ACELA = Australian Curriculum: English – Language
• ACELT = Australian Curriculum: English – Literature
• ACELY = Australian Curriculum: English – Literacy
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4. Designing the NSW Syllabuses
Australian Curriculum New NSW syllabuses
(ACARA) (Board of Studies NSW)
Year-based content Stage-based outcomes
and content
General Learning across the
capabilities, cross- curriculum areas
curriculum priorities embedded in content as
appropriate to individual
learning areas
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6. Key messages English K-10
Content and Pedagogy
• Multimodal outcomes
• New content, represents a pedagogical shift, reflecting, imagining and
expressing
• Imaginative, informative and persuasive texts
• Digital content has caught up with the 21st century.
• Visual literacy explicitly taught
• Text requirements for each year and stage
• Bigger emphasis on literary texts
• K-10 syllabus bridges the divide between S3 and S4 and serves to inform
teachers of learning both prior and beyond a stage
• The new K-10 syllabus includes much similar content to the current K-6
and 7-10 syllabus documents
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8. Speaking and listening
Writing and representing
Reading and viewing
Speaking and listening
Writing and representing
Reading and viewing
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10. The sequential nature of learning across stages
Stage 1
Demonstrate Stage 2
Recognise
Respond Uses Stage 3
Plans
Composes Compares Stage 4
Identifies Thinks
Discusses imaginatively, creatively Responds to
and critically
Stage 5
Effectively uses a wide
range of processes Critically assesses and
Demonstrates adapts
understanding of a Describes and explains
broadening world effect
Investigates
relationships between
and among texts
Evaluates
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12. Objectives Current syllabus
A communicate through
speaking, listening, readin
g, writing, viewing and
representing
B use language to shape and
make meaning according to
purpose, audience and context
C think in ways that are
imaginative, creative, interpretive
and critical
D express themselves and
their relationships with others and
their world
E learn and reflect on their
learning through their study of
English
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13. Objectives Stage 4 Outcomes New syllabus Stage 4 Outcomes
Through responding to and composing a wide range of
texts in context and through close study of texts,
students will develop skills, knowledge and
Current New
understanding in order to:
A student: A student:
1 responds to and composes texts for understanding, EN4-1A responds to and composes texts for
interpretation, critical analysis and pleasure understanding, interpretation, critical analysis and
A communicate through pleasure
speaking, listening, reading,
speak, listen, read, write, view and represent
2 uses a range of processes for responding to and EN4-2A effectively uses a widening range of processes,
writing, viewing and composing texts skills, strategies and knowledge for responding to and
representing composing texts in different media and technologies
3 responds to and composes texts in different
technologies
4 uses and describes language forms and features, and EN4-3B uses and describes language forms and features,
B use language to shape structures of texts appropriate to different purposes,
audiences and contexts
and structures of texts appropriate to different
purposes, audiences and contexts
and make meaning
use language and communicate appropriately
and effectively to
according
5 makes informed language choices to shape meaning EN4-4B makes effective language choices to creatively
purpose, audience and with accuracy, clarity and coherence shape meaning with accuracy, clarity and coherence
context
6 draws on experience, information and ideas to EN4-5C thinks imaginatively, creatively, interpretively and
imaginatively and interpretively respond to and critically about information, ideas, and arguments to
compose texts respond to and compose texts
C think in ways that are
think in ways that are imaginative, interpretive
7 thinks critically and interpretively about information,
imaginative, creative, inter
and critical
ideas and arguments to respond to and compose texts
pretive and critical
8 makes connections between and among texts EN4-6C identifies and explains connections between and
among texts
D express themselves
express themselves and their relationships with
9 demonstrates understanding that texts express views of
their broadening world and their relationships within it
EN4-7D demonstrates understanding of how texts can
express aspects of their broadening world and their
relationships within it
and their relationships with
others and the world
others and their world
10 identifies, considers and appreciates cultural EN4-8D identifies, considers and appreciates cultural
expression in texts expression in texts
learn and reflect on their learning through their 11 uses, reflects on and assesses individual and EN4-9E uses, reflects on, assesses and adapts their
study of English. collaborative skills for learning. individual and collaborative skills for learning
E learn and reflect on their
learning through their study of
English NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
14. Content organisers - Key processes
Engaging personally with texts
Developing and applying contextual knowledge
Understanding and applying knowledge about language forms and
features
Respond to and compose texts
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15. Life Skills
Outcome outcome added
(Stages 4&5)
Link to
Australian
Curriculum
Content is
organised by key
processes
(Content
organisers)
Learning Across
the Curriculum
reference
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17. Content?
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18. What aspects of AC:English content
might be new/challenging to teachers?
Photo (taken in 1966) belonging to Kevin Dooley, available for free use through Creative Commons
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19. K-10
Focus on Asia
• Asia and Australia’s relationship with Asia is a learning across the
curriculum area in the draft syllabus.
• Content and text requirements include texts that provide insights
about the peoples and cultures of Asia
• Explicit references to Asia in content are limited, but many
opportunities.
• e.g. Stage 1: Students respond to texts from a range of cultures
and experiences (11D).
• Some other considerations:
• Place of Asian languages in Australia
• Cultural sensitivity to Asia in communication.
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20. K-10
Understanding ATSI cultures
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures is a
learning across the curriculum area in the draft syllabus - includes
the concepts of Country and Place, People, Culture and Identity.
• Some considerations:
• Texts about ATSI histories and cultures
• Texts written by ATSI people
• Place of Aboriginal languages and dialects in Australia
• Cultural sensitivity to ATSI people in communication
• Some references to ATSI cultures in NSW content, but many
opportunities in content derived from AC:
• e.g. Stage 5: Students compare and evaluate a range of
representations of individuals and groups in different historical, social
and cultural contexts (8D).
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21. K-10
Understanding ATSI cultures content K-6
ES1
use opportunities to write begin to identify some engage with and
in their home language language features of appreciate the
and dialect and make familiar spoken texts imaginative use of
basic connections with (ENe-6B) language through
English, including storytelling (ENe-10C)
Aboriginal languages and
Aboriginal English (ENe-
2A)
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22. K-10
Appreciating the English language
• e.g. Stage 2: Students:
Understand that languages have different written and visual communication
systems, different oral traditions and different ways of constructing meaning
(1A)
• Understand that Standard Australian English is one of many social
dialects used in Australia, and that while it originated in England it has
been influenced by many other languages (1A).
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23. K-10
Appreciating the English language
• e.g. Stage 4: Students:
• Understand the influence and impact that the English language has had
on other languages or dialects and how English has been influenced in
return (4B)
• Analyse and explain how language has evolved over time and how
technology and the media have influenced language use and forms of
communication (2A).
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24. K-10
Catering for EAL/D students
• EAL = English as an Additional Language = ESL
EAD = English as an Additional Dialect
• ESL scales should be used to support teaching of EAL
students
Level statement
Outcome statements
The structure of the ESL scales:
The strands
Oral Interaction (listening and speaking)
Reading and Responding
Writing.
The strand organisers
Communication
Language and cultural understanding
Language structures and features
Strategies
Pointers, Language examples
show the teacher what to look for in deciding whether an outcome
has been achieved. They are not a checklist of required achievements
Eg; Uses some common courtesy and situational formulae
('Good morning', 'Excuse me', 'Very good’, 'Finished’,)
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25. K-10
Grammar
• e.g. Stage 1: Students use subject-verb and noun-
pronoun agreement when composing texts and
responding to texts orally and in writing (6B).
• e.g. Stage 2: Students understand that a clause is a unit
of meaning usually containing a subject and a verb and
that these need to be in agreement (6B).
• e.g. Stage 3: Students understand the difference
between main and subordinate clauses and that a
complex sentence involves at least one subordinate
clause (6B).
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26. K-10
Grammar
• e.g. Stage 4: Students analyse and examine how
effective authors control and use a variety of clause
structures, including embedded clauses (3B).
• e.g. Stage 5: Students:
• Analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of a wide range of clause
and sentence structures as authors design and craft texts (3B)
• Understand how certain abstract nouns can be used to
summarise preceding or subsequent stretches of texts (3B)
• Understand how higher order concepts are developed in
complex texts through language features including
nominalisation, apposition and embedding of clauses (3B).
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27. K-10
Comprehension strategies
• e.g. Stage 2: Students use comprehension strategies to build literal
and inferred meaning and begin to evaluate texts by drawing on
growing knowledge of context, text structures and language features
• e.g. Stage 3: Students use comprehension strategies to interpret
and analyse information, integrating and linking ideas from a variety
of print and digital sources
• e.g. Stage 4: Students use comprehension strategies to
interpret, analyse and synthesise ideas and information, critiquing
ideas and issues from a variety of textual sources
• e.g. Stage 5: Students use comprehension strategies to compare
and contrast information within and between texts, identifying and
analysing embedded perspectives, and evaluating supporting
evidence
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28. K-6
Study of literature
• e.g. Early Stage 1: Students:
• Share feelings and thoughts about the events and characters in
texts
• Recognise some different types of literary texts and identify
some characteristic features of literary texts
• e.g. Stage 3: Students:
• Use metalanguage to describe the effects of ideas, text
structures and language features on particular audiences
• Present a point of view about particular literary texts using
appropriate metalanguage, and reflecting on the viewpoints of
others
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29. K-6
Visual and multimodal texts
• e.g. Stage 1: Students construct texts that incorporate supporting
images using software, including word processing programs
• e.g. Stage 2: Students use a range of software including word
processing programs to construct, edit and publish written text, and
select, edit and place visual, print and audio features
• e.g. Stage 3: Students use a range of software including word
processing programs with fluency to construct, edit and publish
written text, and select, edit and place visual, print and audio
features
• Working across the modes may be a challenge for some K-6
teachers.
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30. 7-10
Punctuation
• e.g. Stage 4: Students:
• Understand the use of punctuation conventions, including
colons, semicolons, dashes and brackets in formal and informal
texts
• Understand the use of punctuation to support meaning in
complex sentences with prepositional phrases and embedded
clauses
• e.g. Stage 5: Students:
• Understand how punctuation is used along with layout and font
variations in constructing texts for different audiences and
purposes
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31. 7-10
Spelling
• e.g. Stage 4:
• Students understand how to use spelling rules and word
origins, for example Greek and Latin roots, base
words, suffixes, prefixes, spelling patterns and generalisations to
learn new words and how to spell them
• e.g. Stage 5:
• Students understand how to use knowledge of the spelling
system to spell unusual and technical words accurately, for
example those based on uncommon Greek and Latin roots
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32. 7-10
Handwriting
• e.g. Stage 4:
• Students consolidate a personal handwriting style that is
legible, fluent and automatic and supports writing for extended
periods
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33. 7-10
Citing and Referencing
• e.g. Stage 4:
• Students understand conventions for citing others, and how to
reference these in different ways
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34. Key concepts – syllabus threads 7-10
Aestheticism Hybridity/subversion
Appreciation Imagery
Appropriation Interconnectedness
Artistry/craft Interpretation
Characterisation Intertextuality
Communication Narrative voice
Contextualisation Perspective/point of view
Creativity Persuasion
Cultural heritage Representation
Cultural perspective Reflection
Cultural representation Rhetoric
Cultural identity Stagecraft
Genre Transformation
Voice
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35. DEC support
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36. Resources
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37. Courses
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Notas del editor
The ACARA content is in the NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum English K-10 document verbatim. It is identified by a code (as shown on the slide above).The Australian Curriculum is written in years and NSW works in stages. The NSW Board of Studies got permission to merge some of the Australian Curriculum in to the one content point if the content was almost the same within the two years of a stage.NSW teachers need only use the NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum as it contains all the ACARA content.
Click to animate – use the time between each animation for discussion.NSW syllabuses will continue to have stage-based outcomes and content.The seven general capabilities and three cross-curriculum priorities of the Australian Curriculum have been embedded in the new content of the NSW syllabuses as 13 Learning across the curriculum areas, as appropriate to individual learning areas. The 13 areas are largely based on those currently in all BOS syllabuses.
General messages
Important pages of document.
This slide shows the mode-specific outcomes in K-6.
In primary school communicating and shaping meaning is broken down in to incremental steps, which reflects the needs and way in which students learn.In stages 4 and 5 the critical thinking skills are broken in to smaller pieces as students now have the communicative skills to more deeply explore critical thinking in English.
The Board has attempted to create a stronger sense of a continuum of English learning K-10.The key verbs used at the start of content points seem to suggest the sequential nature of learning.
The purpose of this diagram is to show “the integrated relationship between objectives, learning outcomes and key processes” in the English syllabus. At the very centre of learning in English K-10 is the concept of making meaning through language. Students make meaning of texts they read, listen to and view; they also make meaning through their own writing, speaking and representing (or creating texts with visual content). “Responding and composing” have been given their own circle as they are the most important processes in English – they cover all the modes of communication. Responding refers to reading, listening and viewing. Composing refers to writing, speaking and representing. The next circle moving outwards shows three other key processes that may be considered to be aspects of responding and composing – indeed, they represent the personal, social and linguistic aspects of responding and composing. The key processes are used as organisers of content throughout the syllabus K-10.The next three circles represent the outcomes and objectives. It may be helpful to check out the ‘values and attitudes’ objectives on page 14 of the syllabus.
This slide shows that there have been relatively few changes in the objectives for 7-10.
These processes are key to the study of English.In ES1-S3 within certain outcomesthey change and develop according to the learning needs of the students.
Typical 7-10 content page. Note the only significant structural difference is that the outcomes in 7-10 are not give descriptors or labels as they are in K-6. One possible reason for not providing descriptors in 7-10 is that the outcomes tend to be more generic and cannot be easily labelled. Another difference between K-6 and 7-10 content pages is that the Life Skills outcomes only relate to 7-10.
Typical 7-10 content page (continued).
The overall structure of the syllabus is familiar to secondary English teachers but the content is no longer organised by ‘learn to’ and ‘learn abouts’ and therefore not a an easy and immediate cross-over.
Discuss photo: have English teachers changed in 46 years? How well do we cope as a profession with big changes, like new syllabuses?
This is a cross-curriculum priority from the AC, now a learning across the curriculum area in NSW syllabuses.What are the implications for English?
While our current syllabuses have quite a strong focus on ATSI histories and cultures, the particular concepts mentioned here provide an opportunity for renewed focus.
ES1 example of the content that is tagged as ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures’ from learning across the curriculum.
This is the first time that NSW teachers have been required to teach content about the English language – about its evolution through history and its importance in the world today.
The draft syllabus identifies EAD students as a group, but provides no guidelines on how they should be taught.The ESL scaleshave been developed on the basis of four assumptions:That the acquisition of English is a precondition for successful schooling in Australia for students whose first language is not English.That the English language starting point for ESL learners is different from that of students from English-speaking background. That ESL learners' points of entry to Australian schools differ from those of Australian-born students from English-speaking backgrounds.That ESL students' patterns of development in listening, speaking, reading and writing differ significantly from those of students from English backgrounds.
Much of the grammar in AC: English is covered in the English K-6 Syllabus, e.g. the Stage 2 content description about subject and verb agreement is actually in Stage 1 in the K-6 syllabus. However, some primary teachers may have difficulties with the teaching of grammar – lack of exposure to grammar in their own schooling and possibly even their teacher training.
Grammar will definitely be a challenge for most secondary teachers – for all the reasons why it might be problematic for primary teachers, plus there is little explicit reference to the teaching of grammar in the NSW 7-10 syllabus.
The explicit focus on comprehension strategies provides a strong validation of the approach taken in FoR 3-6. Does the fact that comprehension strategies are still a focus in Stages 4 and 5 strengthen the argument for extending FoR 3-6 into high school?
The current English K-6 Syllabus includes the requirement to teach literature, but the AC: English content provides more detail about what is required and emphasises that the study of literature, not just the experience of literature, starts from Kindergarten.
Representing is a term not used in the current English K-6 Syllabus. There are some references to viewing under Reading and to what secondary teachers would call representing under Writing, but this is not a strong feature. The very organisational structure of the current English K-6 Syllabus indicates that viewing and representing are not given as much priority as other modes. Technology has progressed significantly since the English K-6 Syllabus was first written, so it is not surprising that multimodal texts now need to be given greater attention. The focus on representing and viewing, visual and multimodal texts is much stronger in the current 7-10 syllabus, but some secondary teachers may be still lacking confidence in this aspect of English.
Punctuation is mentioned in the current 7-10 syllabus but not given as much specific attention as this.
So too with spelling.
In the past secondary English teachers have assumed that handwriting was taught only in primary school. The AC: English content description for Stage 4 suggests that they share this responsibility.
What are the conventions for citing? Is there value in standardising this for NSW, or DEC at least? Does citing and referencing differ across subjects?