A statement on English for Australian Schools describes the goals of the English curriculum established by all Australian States and Territories.

1. The ability to speak, listen, read, view and write with purpose, effect and confidence in a range of contexts.
2. A knowledge of the ways in which language varies according to context, purpose, audience and content, and the ability to apply this knowledge.
3. A sound grasp of the linguistic structures and features of standard Australian English and the capacity to apply these, especially in writing.
4. A broad knowledge of a range of literature, including Australian literature, and a capacity to relate this literature to aspects of contemporary society and personal experience.
5. The capacity to discuss and analyse texts and language critically and with appreciation.
6. A knowledge of the ways in which textual interpretation and understanding may vary according to cultural, social and personal differences, and the capacity to develop reasoned arguments about interpretation and meaning."

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About English. Simply follow the links that interest you.

The snapshots of the English classroom provide a lively description of English classrooms at four stages of schooling: early childhood, primary school, high school and college. Because of the breadth of the development of students during the early childhood period, there are two snapshots to cover this stage. The snapshots do not attempt to describe a complete English curriculum; rather, they focus on certain aspects of it.

The snapshots have been prepared by practising teachers in Tasmanian schools and colleges. They focus on the experiences of a particular student in a classroom. Your own child may have somewhat different experiences. The students in the snapshots are fictional; however, they are typical of the range of students with whom teachers work in Tasmanian schools.

Go to Snapshots
(260k pdf document - click on the icon below to get Acrobat)

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For a more detailed look at what happens in the English classroom, have a look at the section entitled Teaching English. You could begin by reading some of the teacher interviews in Teachers Talk Teaching. Otherwise, simply follow the links that interest you.

• Book and Software Reviews
• Competitions
• Glossary
• TASSAB News
• Department of Education Services

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  For more detailed information, have a look in the section entitled Resources in the Teachers’ section of the site, and follow the links that interest you.

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD

This varies according to the age, interests and needs of your child. You can help a great deal simply by showing an interesting in what your child is doing at school. For example, take time to read a book together, discuss texts being read or viewed in class or assist with a homework assignment. If you have access to the internet, spend some time looking at some of the interesting web sites linked to the English site.
Parents of high school and college students may be interested in looking at the English syllabuses for Years 9-12 on the TASSAB. These syllabuses provide detailed information on course content and assessment criteria.

If you are concerned about your child’s progress, the best person to talk to is your child’s teacher. The teacher can offer you advice on ways of helping at home and inform you about the range of services provided by the school and District.

If you are interested in trying some of the strategies used by teachers, have a look at the following sections of the site:

• Beaut Ideas
• Choosing and Using Texts
• Assessment, Recording and Reporting
• Teaching Strategies
• Key Learning Processes
• Teachers Talk Teaching
• Sharing Texts

If you have any questions, please feel free to make contact through Enquiries Online.