English

The English curriculum is designed to be a challenging and inspiring course, aligned with UWCSEA’s core values. Over the course of three years, students read a wide variety of texts, gaining an understanding of ways in which thoughts, ideas and message may be conveyed. We aim to foster vital critical thinking skills and to encourage students to appreciate the aesthetic value of literary and non literary text types. We place great emphasis on helping students develop volume, stamina and fluency in their independent reading lives.

We find that reading widely and learning to analyse others’ writing duly enhances students’ own written work. In Middle School, we aim to develop students’ creativity and individual voice as writers, while reinforcing their understanding and use of all parts of the writing process. In addition we foster analytical skills through a range of text types. It is our aim that Middle School students leave Grade 8 as confident writers, lifelong readers and fully prepared for the transition to Grade 9.

Students are encouraged to read widely and with enthusiasm. Time for independent reading is built into every lesson. All students keep a record of their reading so that they may reflect meaningfully on their reading lives and grow in their tastes and habits over the course of the year. One important aspect of our reading instruction focuses on supporting students in knowing themselves as readers and being able to identify the texts that are ‘just right for right now’ for them as individuals. For this reason, we do not have a prescribed list of independent reading texts, but we make personalised recommendations tailored to each child, and work to create a reading community in which peer recommendation and book talks help students find books they will love. Our independent reading work is supported through carefully curated classroom libraries and unit-specific book boxes. These book collections are continually developed with a focus on the needs and interests of international Middle School readers.

Students are expected to supplement their reading in school with 30 minutes per day of reading at home.

Students write in a variety of forms during their time in Middle School, but whatever the writing type, our aim is to cultivate good practice in the writing process (growing ideas, developing ideas, drafting, revising and editing). We place particular emphasis on the importance of revision and encourage students to see quality writing as something to be worked for over time. We use the editing stage of the writing process to reinforce their understanding of the way language conventions (grammar, punctuation and spelling) allow for shared meaning. Our aim is to teach transferable concepts and skills around the way writers use structure and language to convey meaning.

Each of our units begins with a pre-assessment, designed to inform the teacher as to the extent of a student’s understanding of the concepts and skills that will be taught in the unit. These assessments are not graded, but are used as diagnostic tools to assist teachers in planning the rest of the unit. The unit is then taught through a series of learning engagements, each aligned to one of the unit’s learning goals and inquiry focuses. Throughout the unit, teachers use work done in class and at home to assess each student’s understanding of the learning goal and to provide timely feedback. Our approach is designed to be focused on learning outcomes rather than grades and to make learning goals as transparent as possible for students.