English
The following are excerpted from the Australian Curriculum [ACARA] (2013):
‘The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA 2008) recognises literacy as an essential skill for students in becoming successful learners and as a foundation for success in all learning areas. Success in any learning area depends on being able to use the significant, identifiable and distinctive literacy that is important for learning and representative of the content of that learning area’ (p.1).
‘Paying attention to the literacy demands of each learning area ensures that students’ literacy development is strengthened so that it supports subject-based learning. This means that
all teachers are responsible for teaching the subject-specific literacy of their learning area
all teachers need a clear understanding of the literacy demands and opportunities of their learning area
literacy appropriate to each learning area can be embedded in the teaching of the content and processes of that learning area’
(pp. 1-2).
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] (2013). Available at http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/literacy/introduction/introduction
Task description
Select a syllabus or curriculum document relevant to one of your teaching subjects and to your future teaching goals. With reference to the unit readings and prescribed unit textbook, and your subject specific syllabus or curriculum, write an expository essay in which you will address the following requirements.
A Discuss why the study of literacy is important for all teachers in the 21st century and what it means to be literate in your specific subject area.
Consider changing notions of literacy and the ‘social view of language’ embedded in the Australian Curriculum.
Identify and describe examples of what ACARA (2012) refers to as ‘the significant, identifiable and distinctive literacy that is important for learning and representative of the content’ in your learning area.
Note: Literacy involves students listening to, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creatingoral, print, visual and digital texts, and using and modifying language for different purposesin a range of contexts. (ACARA, 2012)
B. Detail ways that teachers can extend their students’ literacy in this curriculum area
Identify and describe at least twoliteracy teaching strategies from the unit text and topic notes and relevant to your subject area.
Explain how these literacy strategies may be embedded in classroom practices designed to extend students’ subject specific literacy.
In your essay you will:
demonstrate your understanding of a social view of language
demonstrate your understanding of the literacy demands of your discipline specific syllabus or curriculum
include ideas for extending literacy skills of students in relation to this learning area in meaningful ways
display knowledge of literacy-related terminology
compile a list of references using APA referencing (not included in the word count)
display a high standard of professional literacy