Year 9

The outlines are sligthly different between each teacher.

Making Meaning (listening, reading and viewing) Creating Meaning (Speaking, Writing and Presenting)
  • film study
  • extended text study (novel/Shakespeare/other drama)
  • short text study
  • information literacy
  • wide reading
  • language study (in context)
  • reading static images
  • creative and expressive writing
  • formal writing
  • speaking to small and large groups, formally and informally
  • storyboarding and/or production of film clips
  • static image production
  • research work
In order to cover all the work listed above, we will be doing the following units this year:

Different Strokes for Different Folks
The better I know you, the better I can help you, so we will begin with a unit which includes a poster and written work about you, some language work and some testing of your reading, writing and spelling skills.

Library and Research

Oral Language

We will go to the Library most weeks.

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This will allow you to take new books out. You will also work each week on part of our Information Literacy Programme. Certain questions will be assigned each week. Once we have developed enough familiarity with the resources, you will be set research tasks, so you can develop your information literacy skills.

There are several sections to this unit.

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The first is the preparation and presentation of speeches. You may use material from your research for the last of these. We will study how quality speeches are structured and presented. We may also debate and do prepared readings.

Spelling

Close Reading

Each fortnight in terms one and three, we will work on a spelling list based on the words you misspell or discover in your work and words with particular spelling patterns.

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This will include words from other subjects. We will work on as many ways as possible to overcome the difficulties these words present. Regular spelling tests and group quizzes will also help us.

Every week in terms two and four, we will work to develop our knowledge of text features, key words and other ways to improve your reading skills so that any written work is easier for you.

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Our aim is for your Lexile score to improve by more than 300 by the end of the year.
We will also produce reading logs, which are responses to your own reading. You will be expected to read a variety of texts during the year.

Static Images
While you have been making posters for years, this skill needs to be refined so that they are well set out, balanced and have impact on several levels. This will connect to several units including novel, poetry and research.

Film Study
A careful look at Edward Scissorhands will give us insight into the craft of film making and the way directors influence us through the use of camera work, costume, lighting, music and dialogue. We may also work on making a film advertisement.

Writing
Creative and transactional writing, such as descriptions, stories, poetry, reports and essays will be completed as mini units or within the other units.

Study of Texts
We will study a novel or play (probably in groups) and some short stories or poetry to help us see how we can produce our own writing.