Literacy development is the focus of the Ontario Grades 1-8 Language Curriculum which is organized into 4 strands:
Oral and Visual Communication - Students develop a foundation for literacy and intellectual development through verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Vocabulary and language facility is crucial for expanding proficiency in reading and writing. Effective listening skills are also vital to accurately receive and interpret messages before responding appropriately.
Reading - Skillful readers use a repertoire of comprehension strategies to not only understand ideas in text but also apply them in new contexts. Reading a wide range of materials will help students develop a richer vocabulary and discover areas of interest.
Writing - Through writing, students can articulate and clarify thoughts and ideas in a more clear, precise, and effective form and engage in more sophisticated critical thinking.
Media Literacy - Media texts are any works, objects, or events that communicate meaning to an audience through a combination of images, sounds, graphics, and/or words. Students need to critically interpret the messages in the vast media they encounter to respond to them more intelligently and responsibly.
We will be using the Nelson Literacy 8 program, as well as a variety of other reading materials and media texts, including those in the different subject areas, to develop and practice the reading comprehension strategies and writing traits. Through acquiring vocabulary in the different subject areas, discussions, and presentations, students will enhance their oral and visual communication skills. Students will also have the opportunity to communicate meaning in a variety of text and media forms.