English / Year 4 / Language / Language variation and change

Curriculum content descriptions

Understand that Standard Australian English is one of many social dialects used in Australia, and that while it originated in England it has been influenced by many other languages (ACELA1487)

Elaborations
  • identifying words used in Standard Australian English that are derived from other languages, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, and determining if the original meaning is reflected in English usage, for example example ‘kangaroo’, ‘tsunami’,’ typhoon’, ‘amok’, ‘orang–utan’
  • identifying commonly used words derived from other cultures
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Intercultural understanding Intercultural understanding
ScOT terms

Language conventions,  Standard Australian English

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Whose Country: exploring First Nations peoples languages map (7-13yrs)

Learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages can help children build their understanding of land, water and people. This activity helps to assist the identification of the language group/s on which the school, youth group or home is situated. To understand local perspectives and support these activities, ...

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Books in Homes Primary Programme

This teacher resource is about the Books in Homes Primary Programme, in which students in low socioeconomic status schools with limited access to books at home are provided with nine books of their choice per year. There are ten sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; Measures; Results; Lessons learned; Next steps; ...

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Literacy coaching - reading comprehension

This teacher resource describes a successful evidence-based strategy developed by Darlington Primary School in South Australia to improve the reading comprehension of students from Reception (Foundation) to year 7. The central focus of the strategy was a literacy coach supporting teachers' explicit instruction of higher-order ...

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Improving student writing outcomes through teacher induction

This teacher resource describes the induction program for new and beginning teachers at North Lake State College in Queensland and how it supports the college's literacy initiative, particularly in the early and primary years. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; Results; Lessons learned; Next ...

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Enhancing reading comprehension for Koori students: a cultural focus

This teacher resource is about a project to improve reading outcomes for Aboriginal students in years 2 to 7 in the Gippsland and Mildura areas of Victoria. The Expanded Central Gippsland Koori Literacy Project (ECGKLP) involved 123 Koori students from 19 primary schools and one secondary school. It focused on helping teachers ...

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Coaching Initiatives

This teacher resource describes the success and wider applicability of coaching strategies implemented in government primary and secondary schools in Victoria. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; Results; Next steps; Lessons learned; Research base; Further reading and links; and Contacts, ...

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Literacy Empowerment Project: Literacy Backpack Program

This teacher resource is about the Literacy Backpack Program established in 16 remote school campuses in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory. The program supplies books and magazines to schools and homes in the region as part of a levelled reading program and is designed to foster a community approach to reading. ...

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Teaching Reading and Viewing - Comprehension Strategies and activities for Years 1-9

This resource developed by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority provides teachers with a collection of strategies and activities for developing students’ comprehension. It is a companion document to the series of guides on teaching reading and viewing. The strategies are listed alphabetically in the table ...

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Horton Hears a Who

This resource for primary school children examines the Dr Seuss picture book classic and the film based on the book. It examines the theme of sustainability. It contains questions and activities on the book and the film, as well as a teacher guide.

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TrackSAFE Education Primary School Resources: Year 3 and Year 4 English

This unit of work focuses on behaviour in and around tracks and rail infrastructure. Activities build subject-specific vocabulary and understanding of procedural text structures. Guided writing activities support students to develop a series of track safe procedures while a slogan writing activity focuses on effective ways ...

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Creating a reading culture in a school community

This teacher resource describes how Proserpine State School in Queensland successfully responded to the need to improve student outcomes, especially in the area of reading, by implementing a whole-school approach that encouraged students to read more, and more widely. The resource is presented in eight sections: Summary; ...

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Literacy is everyone's business: the South Australian Accelerated Literacy Program

This teacher resource describes the successful Accelerated Literacy strategy implemented by the South Australian Department of Education and Children's Services to improve the literacy of Aboriginal students, students in low socioeconomic areas, and those whose first language is not English. The resource is organised in ...

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A whole-school approach in literacy and numeracy

This teacher resource describes the successful whole-school strategies implemented by 147 New South Wales schools to improve the literacy and numeracy of students, particularly those not achieving national minimum standards. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; Results; Next steps; Lessons ...

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Principals as Literacy Leaders Project

This teacher resource describes the Principals as Literacy Leaders (PALL) professional learning strategy aimed at strengthening the capability of school principals to bring about improvement in the reading abilities of students in low socioeconomic status and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The resource ...

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Creating change as a literacy coach

This teacher resource describes how a literacy coach made a substantial difference to students' literacy achievements, teachers' involvement in literacy strategies and whole-school culture at Allendale East Area School in South Australia. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; Results; Lessons ...

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Literacy and numeracy improvement: a whole-school approach

This teacher resource describes how 74 public schools in metropolitan, regional and rural Western Australia used three major components of the school improvement cycle to achieve significant improvement in the literacy and numeracy learning outcomes of their students. The resource is organised in nine sections: Summary, ...

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Successful language learners: whole-school ESL language and literacy practices

This teacher resource describes the Successful Language Learners Whole-school ESL Language and Literacy (SLL) strategy implemented in 11 Sydney metropolitan public and Catholic schools. The strategy met the needs of ESL students, particularly refugee students, newly arrived students with little or no English language skills, ...

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Linking school targets to classroom practice

This teacher resource describes a successful whole-school approach by Rosemeadow Public School in New South Wales to enhance the reading and comprehension skills of years 3-6 students. Assessment for learning was used to identify desired results, develop whole-school targets, devise a reading and comprehension rubric, adjust ...

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Primary English: models and modelling

These seven learning activities, which focus on 'modelling texts' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers are provided with guidance about ...

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Improving reading in a community of schools

This teacher resource describes a highly successful strategy implemented by a network of four schools in Sydney to improve their students' reading in years 3 to 6. The Focus on Reading 3-6 professional learning program resulted in teachers developing and sharing their skills and experiences. There were also positive effects ...