Language A
Integrated IBMYP and Alberta Education Course Outline
Grade Seven ( Year 2) Language Arts Course Description
1. Course Description:
The aim of the English Language Arts Program is to enable each student to understand and appreciate language, and to use it confidently and competently in a variety of situations for communication, personal satisfaction and learning. The Language Arts Course will be focused within the framework of the six curricular strands of reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and representing, as identified by the General and Specific Learning Outcomes in the Alberta Learning Language Arts Program of Studies. As students interact with the literature in this class they will have the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of many of the attributes of the IB Learner Profile, including open-mindedness, thinking, caring and the nature of being a principled person. Emphasis on the integration of Alberta Education Curricular Outcomes and IB Aims and Objectives will also help foster a genuine appreciation for the uniqueness of different cultures among students. At the core of the course, therefore, is a fundamental emphasis on intercultural awareness, respect, and sensitivity to the heterogeneity of today’s world.
2. Curricular Focus of IB Aims and Objectives:
Through this student-centered curricular focus, students will be encouraged to heighten their understanding and appreciation of their primary language. They will do this by responding appropriately and critically to a variety of texts and using the language with enjoyment. The media texts will provide a deeper understanding of human nature thus of oneself and one’s culture as well as others and their cultures. Through the media studied and the related areas of interaction students will develop a sense of a new humanism by exploring the interdependence of human beings and their environment in a technological age.
3. Utilizing the AOI:
The Areas of Interaction will play an integral role throughout our year. Approaches to Learning (ATL) will be integrated throughout the year with our major focus occurring the 7th grade research project. The novel Touching Spirit Bear will allow us to gain a deeper understanding of Environment while Doctor Franklin’s Island (?) will allow us to explore the impact of man’s inventiveness through Homo Faber. Etc….
4. Resources:
The primary teacher resources for this course are the IBO MYP guide for Language A (2002), IB Areas of Interaction Guide (2002), IB Learner Profile Booklet (2006) and the Alberta Education Curriculum Guide for English Language Arts (2000).
Student Resources include Sightlines Anthology, Resourcelines ( a resource book for Approaches to Learning), newspaper, internet, magazines, video, television, movies, novels ( The Cay by Theodore Taylor and The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox) for whole-class novel study, Literature Circle novels for small group study and response, graphic organizers..
5. Methodology:
In this section describe how IB has/might/will change your teaching strategy. How might students describe your IB classroom?
6. Assessment & Grading Policy:
Forms of formative and summative assessment throughout the course will respectively include, but not be limited to, student reflective portfolios, observations, and checklists, as well as written and oral assignments, projects, presentations, quizzes, and exams to be evaluated using selected teacher led, student negotiated rubrics. In addition, the IB Style and Language Usage Criteria, found in the September 2002 IBMYP Language A Subject Guide, will be used to assess students’ written and project-based work where applicable. A variety of measures will be used both formative and summative. Students will be involved in selecting assessment criteria, self evaluation and goal setting. Instruments used will be checklists, student self - reflections, rubrics, quizzes and tests. Students will be assessed on the following MYP Criteria:
· Content
The student will demonstrate an awareness of the function of Language A through critical and creative writing; an understanding of the words studied: and an effective response to literature.
· Organization
The student will demonstrate the ability to express ideas with clarity and coherence; structure arguments in a
Sustained and logical fashion; and support these argument with relevant examples.
· Style and Language Usage
The student will demonstrate the ability to use language for a variety of purposes, including description, analysis and persuasion.
6. IB Distinctiveness: NOTE: This is not on our template, but may help to frame your thinking as you fill out our document. This could also serve to help you as you think about the ATL articulation.
The uniqueness of specific IB curricular Aims and Objectives, taken directly from the MYP Language A Subject Guide is as follows:
IB Viewing Skills to be developed in Language A:
· Text Conventions
o Basic Skills: elements of a newspaper article analysis of comics and speech / thought balloons (Media), word processing (Writer’s Workshop)
o Developing Skills: camera angles, music, and lighting (Novel Study film, Media)
o Advanced Skills: viewers’ reactions to truth details (Media)
· Understanding Text
o Basic Skills: viewing characterization diagrams and maps (Short Stories)
o Developing Skills: analysis of plot, genres, and themes (Short Stories, Poetry and Novel Study)
o Advanced Skills: offer alternative perspectives on media stereotypes (Media)
· Communication and Context
o Basic Skills: symbolism (Short Stories, Media, Poetry, and Novels)
o Developing Skills: advertising images and language (Media)
o Advanced Skills: media stereotyping, social and political issues in media text, examining the socio cultural effects of media (Media, Short Story, Debating)
· Critical Awareness
o Basic Skills: relating personal experiences to plots (Short Story, Poetry)
o Developing Skills: use and analysis of symbols within visual texts (Media)
o Advanced Skills: socio cultural attitudes and biases within texts (Short Stories and Media)
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