Tuesday, April 12, 2016

The BEST English Teaching Resources - Worthwhile Texts for the English Teacher 2/3


Here are some of the texts that I LOVE!

1. 'Edible English' - Judy McLaughlin $27.95 Published: 2012 EAN: 978 1876400798
I have used this text regularly for the past decade. It provides a succinct definition, context, example, and exceptions to the rule (because, let's face it, there's always an exception!). The language in the text is straight forward and it is very useful when putting together materials for students. The author used to have a direct website where the text could be purchased directly but I cannot find it! The text is available from a range of booksellers including Five Senses Education
Here is the blurb about 'Edible English' from Five Senses Education:
Edible English: English terminology made easy revises the highly successful Edible English with more definitions and content for Drama, Film, Grammar, Graphics and Visuals, Internet and Computer, Language, Media, Narrative, Poetry and Punctuation Terminology, as well as assessment terms used in Senior English.

The Fourth Edition not only has updated examples, more appendix pages and all the terminology used in Secondary English, but it also addresses a fourth criteria in your studies.

Edible English: The Fourth Edition tells you:

   WHAT the term is
   WHEN you'll see it
   WHY it's used, and now...
   HOW can you use this info to maximise your marks!

2. 'Literary Terms' - Brian Moon $35.95 Published: 2002 EAN: 1875136 215
I have referred to this text on numerous occasions for teaching aspects of literature to students in Years 7 - 12. The way in which the book is set up makes it easily used to provide extension or aspects can be used to provide enlightenment for both students and teachers. I found this text extremely helpful when developing a unit of work for the new NSW Syllabus for CLIC, that explored ‘ideology,’ ‘perspective,’ and ‘representation.’ Moon’s explanation and accompanying activities are very effective.
Here is the 'Literary Terms' blurb from Chalkface Press:
Now in its second edition, this successful book has been fully revised. Over 20 new terms have been added, including desire, identity, myth, reader positioning, postcolonialism and subjectivity. The book also takes account of developments in literary theory and practice over the past decade to offer a perspective that remains both critical and contemporary. 

Literary Terms is intended for use as a supplement to courses in English and Literature. Unlike other glossaries, it includes brief activities which help students develop a working knowledge of the concepts. Definitions and activities in the text are designed so that they can be used independently by students, at individual points of need. However, the glossary can also be integrated into classroom study without the need for additional preparation.

Each entry is structured as a mini-lesson which is organised in four parts:
  • To get you thinking: a stimulating puzzle or problem which brings the concept into focus;
  • Theory: a brief theoretical explanation and discussion of the concept;
  • Practice: an activity which calls for practical application of the concept in textual analysis;
  • Summary: a final summary which can serve as a working definition of the concept.

A wide range of classic and contemporary texts is referred to, including High Noon, Heart of Darkness, Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the comedy of Jerry Seinfeld. All are used to explicate concepts either through the provision of a telling example or as an inventive and accessible activity.

Literary Terms: A Practical Glossary, like Studying Literature, draws on recent developments in literary theory and places special emphasis on the role of reading practices in the production of literary meanings. As well as introducing new terminology relevant to this emphasis, the glossary reviews many traditional terms, such as 'style' and 'theme' in the context of contemporary approaches to the study of literature.

The contents are available here.


3. 'Oxford HSC English' - Deb McPherson, Karen Yager, Jane Sherlock $61.95 Published: 2009 EAN: 978 0 195568 20 2
Five years ago I shifted from a 7-10 high school to a 7-12 high school. I was distraught - the only HSC experience I had was with my own HSC and being a student and well, that's completely different to teaching a class! I was set to start in term 2 so I had two weeks to prepare and prepare is what I did. I purchased the texts my new students were studying, the study guides for these texts, I downloaded the syllabus, and purchased this gem (below). 'Oxford HSC English' was so very helpful in clarifying what it was that I was going to be teaching. I still refer to it regularly.
Here is the 'Oxford HSC English' blurb from OUP Press:

Oxford HSC English is an innovative new textbook for HSC English. Authoritative and comprehensive, this premium resource is designed to engage students and optimise their chances of success.

With coverage of popular prescribed texts, it covers both Standard and Advanced English modules, has an in-depth coverage of the Area of Study and provides a 'pathways approach' that meets all the requirements for the HSC Standard and Advanced English courses.

Oxford HSC English won an award for the Best Secondary Single Title at the 2010 Australian Education Publishing Awards. Here are the judges' comments: 

*     This well designed and attractively presented text is written in a very clear and informative manner. The detailed attention paid to the assessment advice and guidance, and assessment exemplars, reflects the pedagogical approach to English teachers and supports student learning. Supporting illustrations and photographs enhance and enrich the learning possible from the publication.

OUP wishes to congratulate the authors for their hard work on this award-winning title!


4. 'Grammar and Meaning New Edition' - Sally Humphrey, Louise Droga, Susan Feez $33.70 (members) $44.95 (non-members) Published: 2012 EAN: 978 1 875622 91 7
This book, teamed with 'A NEW Grammar Companion for Teachers' is the best of the best when it comes to unravelling the meaning encapsulated in grammatical conventions. Easy to use, with accompanying activities and answers, this text provides insight into the world of functional grammar and its usage to create meaning. I explored the text whilst completing the 12-week PETAA Grammar and Teaching course with Joanne Rossbridge. Every Wednesday from 4-6pm a group of primary and high school teachers got stuck into grammar - it was fantastic.

Here is the 'Grammar and Meaning' blurb from PETAA (the Primary English Teaching Association Australia):

The new edition of this bestseller aims to help teachers build their knowledge of the grammatical resources of the English language system and apply that knowledge to their teaching practice. It supports the Australian Curriculum: English and existing state-based syllabus documents, and is designed to complement Beverly Derewianka's A New Grammar Companion for Teachers. Each chapter assists teachers to engage actively with the material covered in the Derewianka text, and to apply their developing knowledge and skill to their teaching practice.

5. 'A NEW Grammar Companion for Teachers' - Beverly Derewianka $29.95 (members) $39.95 (non-members) Published 2011 EAN: 978 1 875622 90 0

This text is an excellent stand alone or even more powerful when combined with 'Grammar and Meaning.’ A commonly prescribed text for primary teachers, I came across an earlier edition when studying a grammar course. As someone who was about to embark on a teaching career in English, I felt I should know something about grammar. I undertook a semester of grammar that was more intensive than any of my grammar instruction at school. Before this course, I knew of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Afterwards, I was competent. The ‘Grammar and Teaching’ course allowed me to engage once more with grammar and look at it in the context of what I was teaching. I feel much more confident with grammar now.

The blurb for 'A NEW Grammar Companion' from PETAA is here:

This updated edition of our bestseller is an indispensible reference, written in response to the new Australian Curriculum: English. It is organised around the main functions that language plays in our lives - interacting with others, structuring coherent texts, and expressing and connecting ideas. The publication makes links to specific Content Descriptors and Outcomes and extends, for the first time, into secondary schooling.





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