Humberside ENGLISH Department
2022 - 2023
Program scope and purpose
English is all about communication: speaking, listening, reading, writing, and creating.
Critical literacy allows us to have conversations about important ideas and builds empathy for others.
Creative thinking allows us to imagine solutions and a better world.
Process over product is our focus; reviewing, practicing, and developing essential skills.
Reading collectively in class is a joyful time!
We have a wonderful team of teachers in our department!.
We collaborative on lesson-planning, reflect on our practices, and make improvements to the program.
We employ an iterative, responsive, metacognitive approach to the subject of English, which allows students to practice and improve specific skill areas.
Student are more motivated, engaged, and successful in English when they see what needs to be fixed, and have opportunities to make those improvements.
Teachers
Ms. S. Dallas, Assistant Curriculum Leader
Sascha.Dallas@tdsb.on.caMs. Q. Akram
Qudsia.Akram@tdsb.on.caMr. R. Campbell
Richard.Campbell@tdsb.on.caMs. N. Dolan
Nicole.Dolan@tdsb.on.caMs. S. Howard
Sarah.Howard@tdsb.on.caDr. T. Prior
Tim.Prior@tdsb.on.caMs. M. Savvides
Maria.Savvides@tdsb.on.caMr. AJ. Smith
A.J.Smith@tdsb.on.caMr. D. Tremblay
Daniel.Tremblay@tdsb.on.caMr. S. Wells
Stephen.Wells@tdsb.on.ca
Ms. Dallas
Ms. Akram
Mr. Campbell
Ms. Dolan
Ms. Howard
Dr. Prior
Ms. Savvides
Mr. Smith
Mr. Tremblay
Mr. Wells
Expectations & Essential Skills
Grade 9 English
The English department believes that there are certain enduring expectations that will be achieved in grade 9 with the intension of developing essential skills over the course of four years. By meeting these expectations students will have foundational knowledge and essential skills that will serve them well throughout post-secondary pathways, future work positions, and in a variety of subject areas.
· creative thinking
· reading strategies
· writing as process; using all stages to improve final products
· media literacy
· collaborative knowledge building; valuing diverse ideas
· stories as central to our lived experiences
· co-curricular subject connections (bigger picture concepts)
Grade 11 English Options
NBE3U1 - Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Metis and Inuit Voices
explores the themes, forms, and stylistic elements of a variety of literary, informational, graphic, oral, cultural, and media text forms emerging from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures in Canada
examines the perspectives and influence of texts that relate to those cultures
understand contemporary text forms and their themes of identity, relationship, and self-determination, sovereignty, or self governance
analyse the changing use of text forms by Indigenous authors/ creators from various periods and cultures in expressing ideas related to these themes
EMS3O1 - Media Studies
Advertising: Industry, Audience, Basic Media Studies Concepts
Social Media: Medium, Identity and Entrepreneurship
Images and Image Makers: Representations, Reality and The Dominant Narrativ
Documentary Film Making & Short Films
Grade 12 English Options
EWC4U1 - The Writer's Craft
This course emphasizes the knowledge and skills related to the craft of writing. Students will analyze models of effective writing; use a workshop approach to produce a range of works; identify and use techniques required for specialized forms of writing; and identify effective ways to improve the quality of their writing.
Personal Essay writing and Author Exploration
Short Stories
Poetry
Writing for stage and screen
Independent study project (The Zine)
IDC4U1 - Interdisciplinary Studies: Media
Investigating The Media Landscape
Media Shaping Messages: You shape your tools, then your tools shape you
Media and Citizenship: News Media and social/political implications
Audience Profiling
Film: Storytelling and Unique Aesthetic of a Medium
literacy
Course Expectations: Essential Skills
These skills and expectations are develping throughout high school. Students have the opportunity to reflect on their own learning goals in conversation with their teachers.
TDSB offers ways to assess students' reading comprehension, speed, and vocabulary acquision.
What are we reading?
These are book titles teachers have read over the summer or are currently reading. Book talks are central to sharing stories, building community, and recommending books. Reading is not just a priviate experience!
Ms. Dallas
I am really interested in exploring stories in authentic voices. I am also interested in intersecting identities where people are viewed through a variety of lenses. Chris Bosh provides good advice to young athletes. He eloquently outlines ways to improve oneself overall; developing your mind as well as your body and the importance of effort in, results out!
Ms. Dolan
Over the summer I read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. I had been reading a lot of novels so I thought I'd try some non-fiction. The book is about how we experience, and cope with, suffering and death. The surgeon who wrote the book was direct and also compassionate, and gives readers a lot to think about.
Mr. Tremblay
The book is about the child of a US member of congress who-- though formerly a big part of his dad's political image-- has been packed up and moved to a different part of the country because he's transitioning. The protagonist, Mark, romanticizes his dad and his work from his new obscurity, keeping his own political aspirations in check in an attempt to fly under the radar as a cis male at his new school. Eventually Mark runs for student president, but I haven't got there yet.
Ms. Ritchie
Name of the Wind is a high fantasy epic that follows the life of a young adolescent boy whose entire traveling musician troupe, including his parents, is brutally murdered by mythical beings. Using his undeniable intelligence and charisma, the boy, Kvothe, gets himself admitted to the University and trains to become an arcanist despite being absolutely penniless. His goal is to gain enough knowledge in the university archives to kill the magical beings who destroyed his life. Kvothe's journey is the ultimate story of the underdog.
Mr. Wells
Great little book about a cafe that can send you back in time. Pairs great with Tokyo Stories on Netflix.
Mr. Smith
I've been taking advantage of the time on my commute to listen to some audiobook autobiographies. In the spring I listened to Trevor Noah's biography, Born a Crime, which I think is incredible because of the effortless, humorous storytelling ability of Noah as he describes his life growing up in South Africa during Apartheid. The author gives the reader a personal insight into a very complex and dark time in South Africa's history along with a heart warming account of his family and his unique place within it.
Ms. Howard
How to Kidnap the Rich by Rahul Raina -- it takes place in Delhi and is pretty fun and funny so far.
Dr. Prior
I've just finished Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad (2016). In the novel, Whitehead imagines that there really was an railway going underground (stations concealed below houses, tunnels going off into the darkness) from the South into the northern states. Its protagonist, Cora, escapes slavery when she finds it. Her journey is harrowing, sometimes magical, sometimes violent, sometimes grotesque and tragic. I enjoyed the book for several reasons: it is tough and gripping; the plot moves like a, well, train; it is full of fascinating characters; it's poetic; and, because it moves its protagonist through historical settings and events, it explores the past and the present with eloquent directness. Moreover, Whitehead has an extraordinary imagination and writes novels like this one that give it room to fly.literacy & Success
Poetry in Voice
Poets in the Classroom Workshops
Published Writers
We celebrate students and staff memebers who have published pieces in journal and book formats. 
Shakespeare in Action Workshops
Book Talk Video Project
Virtual Library - Online Resources to Explore
