Proposal for English Language Arts Grades 10-12 Curriculum

via Ben Pare

Context

As with Grades K-9, the redesigned Grades 10-12 curriculum will support both disciplinary and interdisciplinary learning, encourage locally-developed curriculum, as well as enable a variety of learning environments and school and classroom configurations. This flexibility supports teachers and students wanting to organize learning through interdisciplinary inquiries that focus on project-based learning, problem-based learning, or learning through design. Central features of the 10-12 curriculum include the following:

• Core competencies remain central to BC’s redesigned curriculum framework and apply from Kindergarten through to graduation.
• Curriculum in Grades 10-12 maintains the same structure as in Grades K-9, including Big Ideas, Curricular Competencies, and Content.
• Grades 10-12 provincial curricula consist of both core curriculum (curriculum that all students are required to study) and optional curriculum (curricular options that students may choose from).

It is proposed that there be two curricula within the Graduation English program: English 10-12 and English First Peoples 10-12. These two curricula are academically equivalent, and both are accepted for entrance to post-secondary education. It is also proposed that Communications 11/12 curriculum and the Communications 12 examination be discontinued as of September 2017.

The following is a draft of the redesigned curriculum for English Language Arts (ELA) 10-12. Your feedback on this draft is encouraged.

ELA 10-12 Proposed Curriculum structure.

We welcome your feedback.

• What do you like about the draft? Please comment on the core and optional curricula.
• What do you think should be improved? Please comment on the core and optional curricula.
• Does the core curriculum require anything further to meet the needs of students graduating from BC schools? Please provide details.

You can find a feedback link here on the 10-12 Draft Curriculum site.

“Upstanders is about helping young people question the world, build knowledge, become skilled researchers, and communicate thoughtfully—in the service of humanity, not just themselves.”
—Harvey “Smokey” Daniels and Sara Ahmed

Join our book club and get a free book! All you have to do is be a current member, and send your application in by May 20th. First come, first served!

This is our fourth year with the Summer Book Club event. Once again we are returning to our strategy of picking a book by the up-coming October conference keynote speaker. This year, we are pleased to announce Harvey Daniels will be in attendance in Victoria on the PSA Professional Development Day.

Here is the link to the book, Upstanders.

We will be discussing the book over two twitter chats. The chats will be one hour long and will  take place Wednesday, July 20th, at 3pm and on Wednesday, Aug 17 @ 3pm.

If you are wondering how to participate in such a Twitter event, here is some advice from last year on how to prepare. Not sure where you will be on those days – besides enjoying a hard-earned rest? No worries – we’ve had members tweeting from a cafe on the road, a camp site, and while bathing a busy toddler. Can’t fit it in? Don’t worry!

If the Twitter Chat is not for you, we have some potential to meet up in different locations for in-person inspiration! Just indicate on the form that you are interested. Or, do both. Last year, people first had a chat together at a cafe and then joined the twitter chat right after.

The deadline for submissions to the “Story and the Landscapes of Learning” issue of English practice has been extended to March 15, 2016. 

We will now also be accepting submissions on general topics related to the teaching of English Language Arts in grades 4-12; however, preference will be given to submissions on the topic of place-based and/or place-conscious learning. 

Please consider submitting your poetry, prose, articles, photographs, postcard stories, lesson ideas, and teaching reflections.

 Read more about our criteria and guidelines for submission.

We will be having a Special AGM on Saturday, January 30, 2016, at 10:00 am in the Ovans Room at the BCTF Building in Vancouver. The sole purpose of this meeting is to discuss and vote on the recommendation made at the last AGM and formally put into writing at our last executive meeting, that we add two members-at-large to our executive.

Notice of Motion:

English Practice now has a Facebook Page!

Like us on Facebook and receive lesson and article ideas that connect to the current call for articles. Share resources with other educators, and provide us with feedback on our latest issue.

We would love to hear from you.

BCTELA Facebook Page link!

Congratulations to our own Ashley Cail, who has received the 2015 NCTE Affiliate Leadership Development Award.  The award recognizes her as an early career teacher who has demonstrated a capacity for professional leadership as well as a willingness to join and participate in the BC Teacher’s of English Language Arts (NCTE affiliate) during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Ashley is a member of the team that produces our English Practice journal, which also recently won an NCTE award.

See Press Release NCTE Award