Summary of major knowledge and skills
The curriculum will teach students foundational language and literacy concepts, knowledge and skills to prepare them for success now and in the future. Learning to communicate clearly with confidence using both traditional and digital media will help students thrive.
Language development is central to a student’s intellectual, social and emotional growth, which is a key element of the curriculum. Throughout the grades and areas of learning, students learn to apply their understanding with increasing sophistication.
The relationship between a student’s understanding of spoken language and their reading skills is integral to motivating them to read with understanding, joy and emotion. This enables students to read and write with confidence.
The revised curriculum describes the knowledge and skills that students are expected to learn. It is organized in four distinct but interrelated areas, with language and literacy skills being taught and assessed throughout all areas of learning.
Literacy connections and applications
The curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the current media and digital landscape and integrate transferable skills throughout different areas of learning.
Students will:
- develop and apply the skills and attributes needed to thrive in the world of today, such as collaboration and problem solving
- demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the message and the intended audience in order to become critical consumers and creators of media
- make connections between reading, writing and digital media so they can apply their knowledge and skills in everyday life
- develop the knowledge and skills of digital media literacy, enabling them to interact safely and responsibly online
- make meaningful connections between themselves, what they encounter in texts, the communities around them and diverse perspectives.
Foundations of language
Language is the basis for thinking, communicating and learning. Students need language skills to understand ideas and information and to express themselves clearly.
Students will:
- discover the relationship between sounds of letters and written words (in the early grades)
- acquire foundational language knowledge and skills, with a focus on oral communication, reading and writing
- learn to understand and apply the patterns of language to develop reading, spelling and vocabulary skills
- gain knowledge about the components of sentence structure, grammar, capitalization and punctuation
- participate in discussions to develop the art of conversation, using words, sentences and stories to express themselves with confidence.
Comprehension: Understanding and responding to texts
Comprehension emphasizes the use of foundational knowledge and skills, specific strategies and critical thinking skills, to enable students to understand, appreciate and evaluate what they read, listen to and view.
Students will:
- understand that reading, listening and viewing are processes of constructing meaning using different strategies to support comprehension
- understand and appreciate the characteristics of different text forms and genres
- learn to understand the different purposes for reading, listening and viewing texts and to establish connections between ideas
- read, listen to and view a variety of texts by creators with diverse identities, perspectives and experiences, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit creators.
Composition: Expressing ideas and creating texts
Writing is a complex process that involves a range of skills and tasks. Students learn to express and communicate their ideas clearly and effectively.
Students will:
- develop the skills to plan, research and organize ideas and information for audiences and purposes
- learn how to gather information to create their own texts
- build the skills to use the writing process by drafting, editing and proofreading their own work
- create original work that is coherent and interesting and that reflects independent critical thought
- develop printing, cursive writing, keyboarding and word processing skills.