NSW English Curriculum FAQ for Teachers
Whether you're navigating the new NSW English K-10 Syllabus (2022) for the first time or looking for ready-to-teach units that tick every box, you're in the right place. Below are answers to the questions we hear most from NSW teachers.
What is Component B in the NSW English curriculum?
Component B refers to the textual concepts strand of the NSW English K–10 Syllabus. While Component A focuses on language and literacy skills, Component B is where students develop a deep understanding of how texts work — exploring concepts such as genre, narrative, character, argument, perspective, and connotation.
Teaching Component B well means going beyond surface-level comprehension. Students learn to analyse why authors make the choices they do, and how those choices shape meaning for different audiences and purposes. This is the foundation of sophisticated English thinking from Kindergarten through to Year 10.
Our units are built around Component B, with each unit centred on one or more textual concepts and structured to build student understanding progressively across a term.
Browse Component B units by stage:
- Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) English Units
- Stage 1 (Years 1–2) English Units
- Stage 2 (Years 3–4) English Units
- Stage 3 (Years 5–6) English Units
What's changing in the new NSW English K-10 Syllabus (2022)?
The NSW English K–10 Syllabus (2022) represents the most significant update to English curriculum in over a decade. Here's what teachers need to know:
- Stronger focus on textual concepts: The new syllabus places even greater emphasis on Component B — students are expected to engage with textual concepts explicitly and progressively across every stage.
- Clearer outcomes and content descriptors: The updated syllabus provides more specific guidance on what students should know and be able to do at each stage, making planning more straightforward.
- Integrated reading and writing: The new syllabus reinforces the connection between reading like a writer and writing like a reader — a principle embedded in all our units.
- Increased emphasis on multimodal texts: Students are expected to engage with a wider range of text types, including digital and visual texts.
- Stage 6 rollout from 2026: If you teach senior English, Stage 6 syllabuses are rolling out from 2026 — watch this space for resources aligned to the updated senior curriculum.
All Oceanview Resources units are aligned to the NSW English K–10 Syllabus (2022), so you can teach with confidence knowing your program meets current NESA requirements.
Shop syllabus-aligned units:
How many units do I need for a full term?
This is one of the most common questions we get — and the answer depends on your stage and how you structure your English block.
As a general guide for NSW primary schools:
- One unit per term is the most common approach. Each of our units is designed to run for approximately 8–10 weeks, making them ideal for a single term of English.
- Some teachers use two shorter units per term — for example, pairing a reading-focused unit with a writing-focused unit. In this case, you'd need two units per term, or four across the year.
- For a full year program, most teachers purchase 4 units (one per term), which gives complete coverage of the textual concepts required at their stage.
Each product listing includes information about the recommended duration and the textual concepts covered, so you can plan your scope and sequence with confidence.
Start building your year program:
What resources do I need for my stage?
Each stage of the NSW English curriculum has distinct textual concept requirements. Here's a quick overview of what to look for:
Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten)
ES1 students are beginning to understand how texts work. Units at this stage focus on foundational textual concepts like narrative and character, using picture books and simple texts to build understanding.
Browse ES1 English Units →
Stage 1 (Years 1–2)
Stage 1 units build on ES1 foundations, introducing concepts like genre and perspective through engaging mentor texts. Students begin to make connections between author choices and reader response.
Browse Stage 1 English Units →
Stage 2 (Years 3–4)
At Stage 2, students engage more deeply with textual concepts including argument, connotation, and theme. Units support students to analyse and create a wider range of text types.
Browse Stage 2 English Units →
Stage 3 (Years 5–6)
Stage 3 units challenge students to think critically and creatively, exploring complex textual concepts like intertextuality, ideology, and representation. Ideal for preparing students for the transition to high school English.
Browse Stage 3 English Units →
How do I teach textual concepts like genre, character, and argument?
Textual concepts can feel abstract — but the key is to make them visible and explicit for students through quality mentor texts and structured inquiry.
Here's a simple framework that underpins all our units:
- Immersion: Students read and explore mentor texts, noticing how the textual concept appears in real examples.
- Deconstruction: Students analyse how and why authors use the concept — what choices they make and what effect those choices have.
- Joint construction: Teacher and students create a text together, applying their understanding of the concept.
- Independent application: Students create their own texts, demonstrating their understanding of the textual concept.
Each Oceanview Resources unit follows this inquiry-based structure, with all resources, mentor text suggestions, teaching sequences, and assessment tasks included — so you can focus on teaching, not planning.
Find a unit built around your textual concept:
What resources do I need for Term 2?
Term 2 is a great time to tackle a meaty textual concept — students are settled into the year, and there's enough time before mid-year reports to complete a full unit and gather strong assessment evidence.
Popular Term 2 choices from our teachers:
- ES1: A narrative or character-focused unit using a picture book mentor text
- Stage 1: A genre unit exploring the features of different text types
- Stage 2: An argument or perspective unit, often paired with persuasive writing
- Stage 3: A theme or representation unit using a novel or film as the mentor text
Browse all available units and filter by stage to find the right fit for your class:
Still have questions?
We're here to help. If you can't find what you're looking for, get in touch with us — we love hearing from teachers and are happy to help you find the right unit for your class.