Mariah Aged 16.3 years

Mariah is in her final two years of study, see below, and her wider plans include undertaking  Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care in 2019 and concluding her formal studies by sitting for the STAT test as have her older siblings.

Mariah is incredibly conscientious in setting goals, applying herself to her lessons and achieving what she strives for.

Mariah’s studies for Stage 6 will include: 12 Units of Study

  • 10 units of Board Developed Courses, including English
  • 2 units of a Board Endorsed Course

To meet the requirements for Stage 6 the following subjects to be undertaken are:

Board Developed Courses:

  • 2 Unit English Advanced
  • 2 Unit Maths Standard
  • 2 Unit Geography
  • 2 Unit Modern History
  • 2 Unit Studies of Religion 1

Board Endorsed Course:

  • 2 Unit Exploring Early Childhood

Further Areas of Study:

  • Languages: Spanish
  • Music: Piano

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English Advanced

Mariah has excellent language arts skills; both oral & written and she reads voraciously – this year has included studies of a variety of books including; Austen’s Pride & Prejudice and Persuasion.

Mariah will continue to develop her knowledge, understanding and skills of communication through the written and spoken word, to develop her listening and reading skills, to reflect and think at a higher level, to value the power of language not only in expressing herself but in exploring the role of language with others and the impact of language socially, culturally and morally.

Grammar & Composition

Mariah’s English studies will include

  • Poetics & Progym I which reviews and expands on the fable and narrative exercises taught in Bards & Poets, and introduces the anecdote, and proverb exercises; Homer’s Odyssey
    is the primary literature selection.
  • Poetics & Progym II which begins with the Progym twin exercises confirmation and refutation, then teaches the common-place exercise, and finishes with triplet exercises encomium, invective, and comparison; Virgil’s Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and a few of Plutarch’s Lives are the primary literature selections.

Mariah will cover:

  • Poetry & Prose—literary analysis: reading and comprehending the elements of a story or poem, including genre, characters, setting, plot, sequence, rhetorical situation, literary context, poetic form & meter (scansion)
  • Language Logic—grammar and word usage: grammar lessons, vocabulary study, parsing the parts of speech, and sentence diagramming
  • Eloquent Expression—style development: building copia (abundant and ready supply) of words and construction, paraphrasing, figures of speech, figures of description
  • Classical Composition—imitation-based composition assignments guide students to develop proficiency in invention, arrangement, and style as they follow the writing sequence (plan, write, revise)
  • Commonplace Book—a time-honored practice for writers of all ages: collecting and copying worthy literary selections

Resources include: Poetics & Progym I, Poetics & Progym II, Homer’s Odyssey, Virgil’s Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Plutarch’s Lives

Dictation

Mariah will continue with weekly dictation lessons, which continues to strengthen her spelling, punctuation, listening and recall skills. Her passages from Spelling Wisdom are selected from passages of well known classics such as Dickens and Bronte.

Resource: Spelling Wisdom

Logic

To have the ability to think and communicate both orally and in written form is an underpinning of our educational goals; the study of logic is an excellent basis for higher level thinking.

Mariah enjoys logic.

Last year we covered; what is a fallacy, what is good reasoning, benefits of listening, opposing viewpoints, red herring fallacies and recognising them, ad hominem attacks.

During 2018 we will cover genetic fallacies, tu quoque, faulty appeals, straw man, assumptions, circular reasoning, equivocations, loaded question, generalisations, analogies, post hoc ergo propter hoc, propaganda, appeals to tradition, hi-tech, snob, fear & pity, bandwagon, exigency and repetition.

Resource: The Fallacy Detective – Nathaniel Bluedorn

Shakespeare
Mariah has enjoyed a few of Shakespeare’s plays. She is to select and read one play of her choice, likely a comedy.
Resource: Complete Set of Shakespeare

Literature:

Independent Literary Study

Mariah is always to be found with a book in hand, having read many of the classics as well as more contemporary literature.

In the upcoming year she is to read at least 4 classics she hasn’t yet read and to read at least two contemporary authors she hasn’t yet experienced.

We are then to discuss and analysis works read.

Resources: Our extensive library & town library

Read Aloud Literature

Nurturing a love of literature within our family is at the core of our family’s learning approach, we immerse our children in quality literature from birth.  We read from many genres and delight in living books – a book that makes the subject matter ‘come alive’.

Mariah still enjoys listening to our daily Read Alouds, we have a read aloud time for for just our teen girls and I, it’s a really special time that we treasure. Not only can our books by more aimed at teen girls but it’s a time of precious conversations. xx
Resources include: Our extensive home library and the town library.

Poetry
The listening to and memorisation of poetry is part of our family’s culture of nurturing a love of literature.

Mariah will select two poets to study in depth, one Australian & her choice of either an English or American poet.

Mariah will continue to be immersed in poetry daily and memorise at least one poem a term, to recite  at our family weekly recitation nights.
Resources include: Banjo Patterson’s poetry, John O’Brien, John Donne and more from our extensive poetry collection.

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Mathematics Standard

Mariah is a bright student and quite capable of achieving the maths syllabus. Whilst mathematics isn’t her favourite subject she understands the importance it plays.

Last year Mariah covered; number & algebra, measurement & geometry, statistics & probability.

During Stage 6 Mariah’s studies will include; algebra, measurement, statistical analysis and financial mathematics.

Resources include: Maths Online and supporting digital resources & our library resources.

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Studies of Religion 1

Mariah has a deep interest in Religious Studies. Mariah will complete two Religious Tradition Studies; Christianity and Judaism, she will also briefly touch upon Islam one of the other major religious traditions.

Mariah’s Christian studies will include:

      • The New Testament Law
      • Jesus’ Teachings
      • The Resurrection
      • Early Church Years & Evangelising
      • Sacraments
      • How to Read the Bible
      • Moral Theology
      • Moral Conscience
      • Ethical Norms & Law
      • Social Teachings
      • The Commandments
      • Spiritual Readings: Bible, Saints & Spiritual Formation

Judaism studies will include:

      • The Creation Story
      • Early History of the Jewish Peoples
      • The Patriarchs
      • The Exodus
      • The Jewish Law
      • The Rise & Fall of the Jewish Kingdom
      • The Jewish Remnant

Understanding Islam studies:

      • explain the tenets of the religion
      • a short history of the prophet and literature
      • the Six Pillars
      • Five Articles of Faith

By studies end we wish Mariah to have an understanding and critical awareness of the nature and significance of religion and the influence of belief systems and religious traditions on individuals and within society.

Resources: Engaging with Islam and WADI, Understanding the Scriptures,

Our Moral Life in Christ, The Bible, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Beginning Apologetics

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Geography

Mariah has a keen love of Geography, an interest she has maintained for years. Mariah will continue to foster her awareness of and appreciation for different cultures, customs, environmental diversities and ecological relationships, to appreciate geographical perspectives about the contemporary world. Mariah will also continue to create detailed maps, her love;  of the world, continents & countries.

Last year Mariah studied; the Earth’s place in Space, cardinal & intermediate directions, relative location of the continents, Oceans & Seas of the world, map projections & distortions, ice formations, map reading large & small scale, Latitude, Climate, prime time longitude, the lithosphere, plate tectonics, earthquakes & mountain formations.

During Stage 6 Mariah will study;

  • Volcano types
  • Hydrosphere
  • Desalination
  • Ground & surface water
  • Water distribution
  • Deserts of the world
  • Continental divide
  • Rivers of the world
  • Ocean currents
  • Humboldt current & gulf stream
  • Glacier categories
  • Atmosphere
  • Coriolis effect
  • Categories of wind elevation
  • Climate changes
  • Layers of the atmosphere
  • Biosphere
  • Soil formation
  • Climate, latitude & weather
  • Erosion
  • Plant bionomes.

Resources include: World Physical Geography – Brenda Runkle, Geography non-fiction titles incl Atlases & Geographica, Geography living books from the Branch Library and our collection, supporting digital resources.

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Modern History

Mariah has an appreciation for history and desires to further her knowledge. By studies end Mariah will appreciate how people, forces and ideas have shaped the modern world and gain a deeper understanding of the developments of the modern world in their historical context. To analysis and acquire an understanding of differing views of differing source materials.

Last year Mariah covered a huge amount of History, she studied The Middle Ages through to the early 1600s & not just from a European perspective. She covered; the glory of Rome, Early Britain, Christianity in Britain, the Byzantine Empire, Medieval Indian Empire, Rise of Islam, Great Dynasties of China, First Peoples of Australia, Kingdom of the Franks, Islamic Invasion, Great Kings of France, Viking Invasion, England after Conquest, knights & Samurai, Age of Crusades, Diaspora (of Jews), Mongols Devastate the East, Mysterious East, Ottoman Empire, Plague, France and England at War, War of the Roses, Kingdoms of Spain & Portugal & Africa & Americans, India under Moghuls, Exploration New Worlds, Renaissance & Reformation, Galileo & Queen Bess & Shakespeare, Ventures to the Americas, Spain & England at War, Holy Roman Empire, Protestant Rebellions, King James’, French in the New World, Warlords of Japan, New Colonies in the New World, Slavery, Middle East, Thirty Years War, Far East of Europe, Monghul Emperors of India, Fire & Plague in England, Sun King of France, Rise of Prussia and Newton & Science.

During Stage 6 Mariah will study;

  • Russia looks West & Russian Revolution, Catherine the Great
  • East & West Collide
  • English in India
  • Imperial East, Russo-Japanese War
  • American: Revolution, Independence, Exploration, Trail of Tears, Alamo & Gold Rush
  • French Revolution & Bonaparte,
  • Industrial Revolution & Steam & Coal
  • China and Opium Wars
  • Haitian Revolt
  • Freedom for South America
  • Troubled Africa
  • New Zealand Wars
  • Franz Josef & Austria
  • Fight for Constantinople
  • Founding of German Empire & Bismark
  • First World War
  • Australia: First Peoples, Exploration & Settlement, through to Federation, through to World War 2 & our multi-cultural nation today.

Resources include: History of the World – Gombrich, Didache History, Story of World – Bauer, supporting digital resources, supporting biographies & novels, our extensive library and town library.

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Exploring Early Childhood

Mariah is most excited about this course (as am I), she has long had a desire to work with young children.

Mariah’s studies plans include undertaking Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Prior to beginning TAFE studies include:

  • Pregnancy & Childbirth
  • Child Growth & Development
  • Play & Young Children
  • Early Education & Differing Philosophies including: Montessori, Waldorf

By studies end Mariah will have gained further knowledge and understanding about the physical, social-emotional, behavioural, cognitive and language development of young children.

Resources include: Pregnancy & Childbirth – Janet Balaskis, How Children Learn, How Children Fail, How to Raise an Amazing Child, Maria Montessori & more from our extensive selection on this topic

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Language: Spanish

Mariah has been undertaking the study of the Spanish language since Stage 3. Spanish has become an interest with a few of her siblings (they also learnt Spanish for lessons) and her father, all enjoy communicating with one another using Spanish.  Their aunt’s boyfriend is from el Salvador so as we’ve got to know him over the past year it’s been lovely to have these language skills, an unexpected blessing for all.

This year she will continue focusing on pronunciation and intonation patterns, including pitch, accent and rhythm. She will continue to work on reading Spanish and the grammatical structures and sentence patterns.

Resources include: Duolingo, aunt and her boyfriend 🙂

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Music: Piano

Mariah has a natural ability and greatly enjoys learning to read and play music.

Mariah will continue to study piano weekly and practice daily.

Resource: Piano teacher, sheet music