Teaching English - Elements of an English Program

Especially for Teachers - Teaching English

Elements of an English Program

Overview
Classroom culture
Supported wide reading
Sharing texts
A writing program
A spelling program
A speaking and listening program
Research
Exploring issues

Overview

As teachers design English programs they choose the content, language and learning processes and areas of experience to suit the ages, abilities, needs and interests of their students. They also establish and maintain routines and ways of working with students that facilitate the daily organisation of the classroom. While they incorporate a variety of approaches into their planning, there are a number of elements that are common to all quality English programs. These include ways of:

developing and maintaining a collaborative classroom culture
supporting students in their endeavours to read widely and independently and sharing texts with both small and large groups of students
facilitating students’ understandings and use of the processes involved in writing
encouraging students to develop multi-strategy approaches to spelling
providing opportunities for students to engage in speaking and listening
assisting students to engage in purposeful and systematic research
providing opportunities for students to clarify their own understandings of, and their attitudes and values towards important issues by engaging with texts
assisting students to select and use appropriate technology
engaging in cooperative learning activities
providing opportunities for students to engage in reflective thinking
involving students in decisions about their learning through negotiation