Curriculum Overview
The English Language Arts Curriculum Guide for the Secondary Level outlines guidelines for organizing an English language arts program and specific course planning and classroom routines. It provides specific and practical teaching and assessment strategies as well as evaluation and reporting suggestions related to the foundational and learning objectives. It attempts to balance theory with practice and content with process and product.
The curriculum advocates a unit approach to instruction and suggests themes and issues of interest to students at the Secondary Level. Students learn language through purposeful and challenging experiences designed on these themes and issues.
Course Descriptions
English Language Arts A10, 20 and A30 are meant to be taken sequentially. In these language-based courses:
These courses are organized by themes that are of interest to adolescents and focus on self, society, and what it means to be human. Teachers are expected to teach two 50-hour units based on the stated Learning Objectives for each course. A 50-hour sample unit is provided for each course. Suggested themes and sample units include:
English Language Arts A10
Canadian Frontiers and Homeland--Journeys and Discoveries
Possible subthemes include:
Challenges--Opportunities and Obstacles
Possible subthemes include:
The Unknown--Hopes and Fears[Sample Unit]
Possible subthemes include:
English Language Arts 20 is presently being piloted. English Language Arts A30 is being prepared for piloting in 1997-1998.
Courses designated as "B" are integrated issue-oriented courses. In these courses:
These courses are organized around the human concerns facing contemporary society. Again, teachers are expected to teach two 50-hour units and one 50-hour sample unit is provided for each course. Suggested issues and sample units include:
English B10
Decisions--Action or Apathy?
Possible subthemes include:
Environment and Technology--Reality and Responsibility?
Possible subthemes include:
Equality--Pain or Pride? [Sample Unit]
Possible subthemes include:
Elective English Language Arts 20 Courses
Four elective courses are being developed at the 20 level. They are being piloted in 1996-1998.
Communication 20 [DRAFT] is designed to help students develop further the language skills for various situations requiring effective oral, written, and visual communication. Students learn to gather, organize, deliver, and interpret information in a variety of ways including writing and presenting reports, delivering persuasive speeches, and taking part in discussions and projects.
Creative Writing 20 [DRAFT] is designed to develop further students' creative writing abilities and to refine their writing skills. Students practise a variety of writing forms which require increasingly complex levels of thought and imagination. They also have an opportunity to create and prepare various genre (including poems, plays and stories) for possible publication.
Journalism Studies 20 [DRAFT] is designed to help students learn how to gather, write, edit, publish, and broadcast news for print and electronic media. Students become knowledgeable about journalism as a career and learn to organize their time, meet deadlines, establish schedules, write creatively and objectively.
Media Studies 20 [DRAFT] is designed to help students better understand mass communication and popular culture. Students explore the impact of mass media on the individual and society, including television, popular novels, magazines, photography, radio, film, and video. Students have an opportunity to read, view, write, and discuss critically as they examine the media which influence their lives.