GRADE 7 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PAGE 1 OF 6 2016-2017 COURSE SYLLABUS TEACHER INFORMATION English Language Acquisitin COURSE SYLLABUS 2 2 0 0 1 1 6 7 GRADE 7 MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME Teacher: Alex van t Hf Email: a.vanthf_gwa@gemsedu.cm COURSE OVERVIEW At GWA-Dubai, nne f the students in English Language Acquisitin curses have a level lwer than Phase 2. Mst f the students in Grade 7 ELA already have a reasnable t gd level f English and are able t functin in English at Phase 3 t 4. This is enugh t understand abut 50 t 70% f the English material used t teach all the ther curses ELA students must study in Grade 7. The ELA curse is therefre fcused n getting students t the highest levels in all fur skills, Phases 5 and 6, by the end f the schl year. Once that is achieved, Grade 7 ELA students can be exited frm the English Language Acquisitin curse and mve t the English Language and Literature (ELL) curse when they start in Grade 8. T aid in this challenging gal, all ELA students als attend the ELL curse with their ELA teacher assisting them. After ne full year f such a strng emphasis n English, many students shuld exit ELA with a capacity t understand and respnd t 80 t 100% f all the subject material they study in the English language. Once exited, their fur perids f ELA will be replaced with a freign language (French r Spanish). Sme students will require tw years f ELA befre they are ready t tackle the higher English curse and anther freign language. **This curriculum verview is subject t change accrding t students needs** LEARNING OUTCOMES The aims f the teaching and learning f MYP English Language Acquisitin are t: imprve students prficiency in English as an additinal language and as the academic language f the schl while supprting maintenance f their mther tngues and cultural heritages prepare students t functin well academically and scially in English in all their curses at schl develp a respect fr, and understanding f, diverse linguistic and cultural heritages develp the student s cmmunicatin skills necessary fr further language learning, and fr study, wrk and leisure in a range f authentic cntexts and fr a variety f audiences and purpses LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2016 PAGE 1 OF 6 GEMS WORLD ACADEMY
GRADE 7 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PAGE 2 OF 6 2016-2017 COURSE SYLLABUS enable the student t develp multiliteracy skills thrugh the use f a range f learning tls, such as multimedia and translatin, in the varius mdes f cmmunicatin enable the student t develp an appreciatin f a variety f literary and nn-literary texts and t develp critical and creative techniques fr cmprehensin and cnstructin f meaning enable the student t recgnize and use language as a vehicle f thught, reflectin, self-expressin and learning in ther subjects, and as a tl fr enhancing literacy enable the student t understand the nature f language and the prcess f language learning, which cmprises the integratin f linguistic, cultural and scial cmpnents ffer insight int the cultural characteristics f the cmmunities where the language is spken encurage an awareness and understanding f the perspectives f peple frm wn and ther cultures, leading t invlvement and actin in wn and ther cmmunities fster curisity, inquiry and a lifelng interest in, and enjyment f, language learning. UNIT 1: My hme cuntry and its exprts/imprts Apprximate Length: 5 weeks Vcabulary t describe and cmpare a cuntry s exprts/imprts Build basic knwledge f an ecnmy Review parts f speech Review the future and past verb tenses Practice presentatin skills; presentatin n the hme cuntry s exprts/imprts Develp ral, reading and visual interpretatin skills Oral, reading cmprehensin and visual interpretatin summative assessments UNIT 2: Nvels: Abminatin Apprximate Length: 8 weeks Vcabulary extracted frm stries and nvels Cmpund, and cmplex sentences Cnnectrs between sentences Reading: Abminatin Learning and applying literary devices such as metaphrs and symbls Writing paragraphs Writing: a persnal narrative and alternative endings Written cmmunicatin and reading cmprehensin summative assessments LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2016 PAGE 2 OF 6 GEMS WORLD ACADEMY
GRADE 7 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PAGE 3 OF 6 2016-2017 COURSE SYLLABUS UNIT 3: Petry Apprximate Length: 4 weeks Review f basic petic devices such as alliteratin, rhyme and metaphr Reading and interpreting: petry selectins Learning and applying mre advanced devices such as persnificatin and symbls Writing: several stanzas f petry Oral cmmunicatin and visual interpretatin skills practice Writing, ral cmmunicatin and visual interpretatin summative assessments UNIT 4: Myths and Legends Apprximate Length: 7 weeks Identify special vcabulary and cncepts Identify a main idea and supprting details Read and interpret myths Identify distinctive features f a genre (myth) Respnd t literature thrugh writing and discussin Write a creative essay (their wn myth) Research Make a shrt ral presentatin Develp all fur language skills while studying Greek myths ASSESSMENT In the MYP Students will be evaluated using frmative and summative assessments. Frmative Assessment: Tasks and assignments that allw the teacher t regularly judge the effectiveness f bth teaching and learning prcesses. This may include teacher bservatin and ral, written r prducts f student effrt. Examples: class activities, hmewrk and quizzes. Summative Assessment: The judgment made by the teacher f the standard f achievement reached by the student at the end f a unit f wrk. Examples: Investigatins, presentatins, real-life prblems, unit tests. All assessments will be graded by using a criterin-referenced apprach using the Criterin Objectives listed belw. Each assessment will be develped with the IB standards in mind and the bjectives applied against the students submitted assessment task. The bestfit apprach is applied t ensure the mst valid, fair and reliable grade is determined using the IB Grade Bundaries and 7 pint scale. LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2016 PAGE 3 OF 6 GEMS WORLD ACADEMY
GRADE 7 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PAGE 4 OF 6 2016-2017 COURSE SYLLABUS Criterin A: Cmprehending spken and visual text Cmprehending spken and visual text encmpasses aspects f listening and viewing, and invlves the student in interpreting and cnstructing meaning frm spken and visual text t understand hw images presented with ral text interplay t cnvey ideas, values and attitudes. Engaging with text requires the student t think creatively and critically abut what is viewed, and t be aware f pinins, attitudes and cultural references presented in the visual text. The student might, fr example, reflect n feelings and actins, imagine himself r herself in anther s situatin, gain new perspectives and develp empathy, based n what he r she has understd in the text. As apprpriate t the phase, the student is expected t be able t: listen fr specific purpses and respnd t shw understanding interpret visual text that is presented with spken text engage with the text by supprting pinin and persnal respnse with evidence and examples frm the text. Criterin B: Cmprehending written and visual text Cmprehending written and visual text encmpasses aspects f reading and viewing, and invlves the student in cnstructing meaning and interpreting written and visual text t understand hw images presented with written text interplay t cnvey ideas, values and attitudes. Engaging with text requires the student t think creatively and critically abut what is read and viewed, and t be aware f pinins, attitudes and cultural references presented in the written and/r visual text. The student might, fr example, reflect n feelings and actins, imagine himself r herself in anther s situatin, gain new perspectives and develp empathy, based n what he r she has understd in the text. As apprpriate t the phase, the student is expected t be able t: read fr specific purpses and respnd t shw understanding interpret visual text that is presented with written text engage with the text by supprting pinin and persnal respnse with evidence and examples frm the text. Criterin C: Cmmunicating in respnse t spken, written and visual text In the language acquisitin classrm, students will have pprtunities t develp their cmmunicatin skills by interacting n a range f tpics f persnal, lcal and glbal interest and significance, and respnding t spken, written and visual text in the target language. As apprpriate t the phase, the student is expected t be able t: interact and cmmunicate in varius situatins express thughts, feelings, ideas, pinins and infrmatin in spken and written frm speak and write fr specific purpses. Criterin D: Using language in spken and written frm This bjective relates t the crrect and apprpriate use f the spken and written target language. It invlves recgnizing and using language suitable t the audience and purpse, fr example, the language used at hme, the language f the classrm, frmal and infrmal exchanges, scial and academic language. When speaking and writing in the target language, students apply their LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2016 PAGE 4 OF 6 GEMS WORLD ACADEMY
GRADE 7 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PAGE 5 OF 6 2016-2017 COURSE SYLLABUS understanding f linguistic and literary cncepts t develp a variety f structures, strategies (spelling, grammar, plt, character, punctuatin, vice) and techniques with increasing skill and effectiveness. As apprpriate t the phase, the student is expected t be able t: rganize thughts, feelings, ideas, pinins and infrmatin in spken and written frm develp accuracy when speaking and writing in the target language. STUDENTS RESPONSIBILITIES Academic Hnesty GWA maintains very strict guidelines twards maintaining academic hnesty as fllwed by IB students glbally. 1. First ffense: A student wh submits plagiarized wrk will be required t meet with the teacher t discuss the ffense. The teacher will ntify the parents and the MYP Crdinatr by email f the ffense. The student will be required t repeat the assessment fr frmative feedback purpses nly.(the summative cannt be graded as it was nt the students wrk.) 2. Secnd ffense: The teacher will ntify the parents and the apprpriate Assistant Principal (6-8; 9-12). An interview will take place and the assessment will received a grade f (0). The assessment will be cmpleted fr frmative purpses nly. Late Assessment Plicy When assessing students at GWA it is imprtant fr teachers t be able t prvide students and their parents with a grade that, as much as pssible, reflects their ability in a curse. It is als imprtant fr students t meet reasnably established timelines t cmplete their assessments. In rder t achieve this gal, the fllwing prcedures fr the submissin f summative assessments has been established: 1. Teachers will pst the due date n ManageBac with at least ne (calendar) week lead time fr students t cmplete the assessment. 2. Submissin f the assessment by students n the due date. If a deadline cannt be met, in rder fr the wrk t be evaluated, students must: prvide a dctr s nte, r prvide a nte frm a parent explaining special family circumstances, r have established an extensin with the teacher at least tw days in advance. Such extensins will be given at the teacher s discretin. LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2016 PAGE 5 OF 6 GEMS WORLD ACADEMY
GRADE 7 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PAGE 6 OF 6 2016-2017 COURSE SYLLABUS 3. MYP students must adhere t published deadlines. Students wh d nt meet IB Diplma Prgramme deadlines will fllw these steps: Detentin(s) until the assessment is cmpleted Parent meeting t discuss behavir cncern After 3 ffenses: Parents cntacted and additinal detentins and/r an in-schl suspensin until the assessment is cmpleted. Students must make up all wrked missed during the suspensin. 4. Repeated failure t meet deadlines will result in narrative cmments addressing these cncerns in reprt cards and letters f recmmendatin t ther schls. 5. Teacher Assessent Cmmitments All teachers will: Mark (grade and r prvide narrative feedback) all frmative assessments within ne calendar week f receipt. Managebac will be updated in the same timeframe. Pst n Managebac (shaded in purple) any frmative assessment (including hmewrk) n later than 5:00PM the day it is assigned. If the frmative assessment is nt psted by this time there is n expectatin that the assessment will be cmpleted fr the next day. Discuss with students prir t psting summative assessments and prvide at least ne calendar week lead time fr students t prepare. Summative assessments will be psted n Managebac at least ne week in advance f the due date (shaded in blue). Wrk cllabratively with their teacher clleagues and crdinatr t wrk tward the gal f students having n mre than tw (2) summative assessments n a given day. Return summative assessments t students with feedback n later than three calendar weeks after the due date. Update Managebac immediately upn cmpletin f marking/feedback. Cmmunicate, in a timely fashin, with clleagues and administratin abut students wh are turning in late frmative and summative tasks in rder t implement late assessment prcedures, as utlined in the Assessment Plicy. (see abve) Cmmunicate with parents when assignments/assessments are nt turned in n the due date and clearly articulate the next steps fr the student. APPENDIX Bridges t Literature Levels 2 and 3 My Wrld Levels 3 and 4 Wrkbk (prvided by the schl) Grammar fr Writing Series Level Yellw and Level Blue (prvided by the schl) Grammar and vcabulary wrksheets (prvided by the schl) LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2016 PAGE 6 OF 6 GEMS WORLD ACADEMY