Introduction 

• Welcome

• Expectations

• Discussion of topics/assessments briefly

• Journal writing

Through the study of the module Part of a Family – English and family life, students develop their understanding of, and proficiency in, the use of language related to the nature of families, the roles of family within communities as well as their representations in text. Students develop knowledge, understanding and skills in accessing and comprehending official information to support families. They develop skills in using appropriate terminology and styles of language appropriate to the explanation and discussion of general issues relating to family life.

Students have the opportunity to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in the comprehension and composition of a range of informative texts, in both print and digital forms, for example reports and fact sheets, and engage with and critique a range of literary texts that explore the diverse representations of family in an imaginative way. They further develop their abilities to analyse how language is used to portray and explore ideas and issues, for example the significance of relationships within and between families and the experiences of the individual within a family network.

Students consider how texts represent a broad range of family structures and relationships in different ways and investigate how attitudes and individuals are depicted in these texts. These texts may include substantial texts for example novels, autobiographies, biographies, films or plays, as well as multimedia. Students explore individual and collective experiences and opinions and extend their skills in responding to texts by representing their own ideas and experiences in a range of creative and personal ways.

Through engaging in the learning opportunities that this module offers, students develop their skills in comprehending and responding to texts, and develop their abilities to use language imaginatively, expressively and purposefully. By creating a range of responses to the texts studied, students develop a stronger understanding of the power of language to communicate their ideas effectively and learn about the importance of using vocabulary, register and modality appropriately. Opportunities to plan, proofread and edit their work help students develop greater control of spelling, punctuation, syntax and grammar.

Initial thoughts

• Why are families important? 

• What do we learn from our family?

• Are we who we are because of our family?

Quotations about family 2

•  In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.

• Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter

• Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family

• The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family

•  Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.

• Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.

• No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?

•  We cannot destroy kindred: our chains stretch a little sometimes, but they never break.

• Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.

•  I know why families were created with all their imperfections. They humanise you. They are made to make you forget yourself occasionally, so that the beautiful balance of life is not destroyed

•   In every conceivable manner, the family is linked to our past, a bridge to our future.

•   I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.

• The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.