Supporting Your Child’s Learning ENGLISH

GCSE English Language and English Literature 2015 All students must complete both GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature 100% Exam format All exams will be completed in June, 2018 GCSE English Language Exam format: Paper 1: Explorations of Creative Reading and Writing 50% weighting Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives 50% weighting

Programmes of Study Autumn Term Travel the World Reading and Writing Non Fiction texts Students will study writers’ viewpoints and perspectives from a range of non-fiction and literary non-fiction texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st century. Texts will include high quality journalism, articles, reports, essays, travel writing, accounts, sketches, letters, diaries, autobiography and biographical passages or other appropriate non-fiction and literary non- fiction forms.

Spring Term Shakespeare— Romeo and Juliet Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in: literal and inferential comprehension: understanding words, phrases and sentence in context; exploring aspects of plot, characterisation, events and settings; distinguishing between what is stated explicitly and what is implied; explaining motivation, sequence of events, and the relationship between actions or events.

Summer Term 19th Century Novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in reading, writing and critical thinking. Both students' literal and inferential comprehension will be developed: understanding a word, phrase or sentence in context; exploring aspects of plot, characterisation, events and settings; distinguishing between what is stated explicitly and what is implied; explaining motivation, sequence of events, and the relationship between actions or events.

Ensuring Success in English The more you read – the higher you will achieve. This is absolutely true. The most beneficial thing to do to ensure success in English (and other subjects) is to encourage your child to read for at least 2 hours per week. This is set as an extra homework activity. Accelerated Reader We use Accelerated Reader to assist in assessing a student’s reading ability, as well as to monitor reading activity and progress. Students take a quiz after reading each book and, if they achieve 100%, they receive a prize. The student who makes the most progress in reading within a year is awarded a Kindle. There are lots of other prizes for regular readers. Accelerated Reader (AR) produces an average of two years’ reading age growth in just one academic year while promoting reading for pleasure. Using information generated by the software, teachers can help students select books that are difficult enough to keep them challenged, but not too difficult to cause frustration. In addition, it helps teachers to monitor students’ vocabulary growth, literacy skills development and reading skills.

Top Tips to Increase Engagement in English Lessons  Talk to your son / daughter about their English lessons.  Read the texts we are studying in class.  Read a book together then watch a film version if there is one. Discuss the differences.  Talk about books as a family.  Help them to learn key vocabulary relating to the study of English including poetic terminology.  Listen to audio books.  Read and discuss newspaper / magazine articles and how they have been written.  Read charity leaflets and discuss how they have been written to persuade.  Cinema / theatre visits.  Visit the local library. Websites to explore 2015 exams: AQA GCSE English Language AQA GCSE English Literature