It’s been a while since I gave an update from the English department. Last year I was writing weekly, sharing literacy tips and books the staff were enjoying.

I also started to share our ‘Word of the Week’ which is a game we play across the school. I give the staff a word to use in their classes, students listen out for it, and when they think they know what it is they email me and go in a draw at assembly for a prize. 

Recently I have been feeling like the energy and enthusiasm for it has been waning and I have been wondering what I can do to reinvigorate our focus on literacy. Vocabulary is the cornerstone of literacy. When we have a wider vocabulary we understand more of what we read, and we are better communicators, able to express our ideas clearly and in more detail. This has obvious benefits for students in all subjects. 

With the approaching CAA Literacy and Numeracy exams, I have been responding to many queries from families on how to best support their children. This is great to see and I know we have a very supportive parent community backing our students. 

This week my son’s primary school has been running “Math Week” and as part of that they have been sending short math questions to families to answer at home. I have really enjoyed it! Numeracy is not something I spend a lot of time on but it did spark a conversation in our staffroom. It made me think I should get back into sharing our literacy tips and word of the week with you so you can feel a part of focus on literacy.

So, if you are able to use our word of the week at home, talk about a book you’ve read or recommend one to your child, or even better spend some time reading in front of your children, you are making a powerful impact on their education. I recently had a student shocked to hear me say that those who read make better writers. I was shocked that she was shocked! The two are inextricably linked! 

This week’s word of the week was intrinsic; belonging to the specific nature of something. You might more commonly hear it in relation to motivation. Intrinsic motivation is something that comes naturally or from within ourselves, as opposed to extrinsic motivation, which comes from something external, for example a prize or reward. We are working to encourage students to be intrinsically motivated to seek out knowledge, acquire new vocabulary and want to succeed!

Other words we have had this year have included; Euphoric, Vivacious, Whimsical, Disseminate, Magnanimous, Loquacious, Kura, Jovial, Irate, Habitually, Generic, Fabricated, Dubious, Catastrophic, Tau kē, Audacious and Centrifugal. 

Back to the book recommendations!

Recently I have read “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. I had seen it on a list of “books every woman should read” and it was one of two I hadn’t already read, so I thought; I should read that! (As a side note, one of the books on the list was also the novel I have taught my Year 13s this year - Khaleed Hosseni’s A Thousand Splendid Suns - which I highly recommend!)  

I didn’t know what to expect from this book. “The book tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman who in 1951 became the source of the scientific discovery of HeLa cells – the world's first “immortal cells.” These cancerous cells, which were taken from her body without her permission, became the source of numerous medical breakthroughs.” I had heard of the cells in a podcast many years ago but thought nothing more of them. I really enjoyed the human story behind the cells and learned some interesting science throughout the book too.  

It’s always a joy to read a book you know nothing about and be thoroughly entertained right the way through! 

I would love to hear from you if you have a conversation with your children about the word of the week or the books you or them are reading at home! Feel free to email me.

Next Thursday is also Book Day! We encourage everyone to come to school dressed as a book character! I can’t wait to see what the students come up with. 

Katherine Beaumont
HOD English
[email protected]