The revised elementary language curriculum is part of Ontario’s plan to modernize the education curriculum to ensure all students have the foundational and transferable skills they need in a rapidly changing world, with early interventions in reading critical to future success. This curriculum will be implemented in all classrooms across the province in September 2023.  

The new curriculum is available to all parents, educators and students on the Curriculum and Resources website at Ontario.ca/curriculum and in Language, Grades 1 to 8: A Guide for Parents

What’s New?

The new curriculum emphasizes evidence-based systematic and explicit instruction of foundational knowledge and skills, including oral language, word-level reading and spelling, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. This systematic teaching of foundational knowledge and skills, in addition to universal screening and early intervention, is critically important and one that has been a continued priority in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) professional development focus over the past 3 years.  

A summary of the key changes can be found here.  Appendix A will provide an at-a-glance chart of the required learning that appears under Overall Expectation B2 Language Foundations Continuum for Reading and Writing, in Grades 1 to 4 and Appendix B provides the continuum for Overall Expectation B3 Language Conventions for Reading and Writing, in Grades 1 to 9.

Who was Involved in the Revisions? Where Can I Access the Revised Curriculum? 

Revisions to the curriculum were informed by current research and best practices that highlighted the need for explicit instruction on early reading skills, modernized content on digital literacy and the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives. The curriculum was further informed by feedback from education stakeholders and partners to ensure that it meets all the literacy learning requirements for supporting Ontario students.

What Support will be Available to Educators? 

• Time will be allocated during one of the 2023-2024 Ministry Priority Days for professional development.

• Each school will select a Literacy Lead who will receive ongoing professional development and act as a lead to support school teams with literacy instruction.

• Reading Interventionists have been hired to support and build capacity to provide timely and targeted early reading intervention.

• Literacy resources for K-12 will continue to be added to the OCDSB Literacy Portal 

• Learning Coaches will offer regular and ongoing literacy support sessions to support educators in understanding and planning for instruction with the new curriculum.

• The Summer Institute 2023 features a variety of virtual professional development opportunities for all educators, the week of August 14-18, with a variety of literacy sessions being offered in both French and English for K-12. Click Summer Institute Sessions Booklet for more information.

  • Session 50 Introduction to the New Ontario Language Curriculum 1-8 Register Here