OCSB Literacy at Home (Intermediate/Secondary)
OCSB Literacy at Home (Intermediate/Secondary)
Resources for Grades 7-12
Resources for Grades 7-12
Embedded Files
The Five Pillars of Reading Instruction
The Five Pillars of Reading Instruction
The National Reading Panel, using decades of research, has identified these FIVE critical areas of instruction for reading proficiency.
How can I support these skill at home?
Grounded in decades of research, the Five Pillars - Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension - form the foundation of effective reading instruction. Click on each pillar below for ideas to support your child at home (or click the tabs at the top of the page).
Why is it important?
The Right to Read - Implications for High School
The Right to Read - Implications for High School
In 2019 the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) launched a public inquiry into human rights issues affecting students with reading disabilities in Ontario’s public education system. The data gathered in the inquiry demonstrated an urgent need to improve reading in Ontario. Outcomes for students with special education needs, Learning Disabilities (LDs), boys, Indigenous, Black and other racialized students, multilingual students, and students from low-income backgrounds were even more concerning. Based on the findings of the inquiry, the report provides 157 interconnected recommendations for education sector partners on how to meet the Right to Read (RTR) recommendations. Here is the Executive Summary and the Two-Year Anniversary Update.
Reading Screening
Reading Screening
Reading screening is a component of assessment FOR learning and is one of the most proactive steps schools can take to support your child’s academic journey. OCSB recommends screening students for reading in grades 7 & 8, with an option to do so also in grade 9. Think of it as a "wellness check" for literacy; it quickly identifies whether a child is hitting key milestones or if they are struggling with the foundational building blocks of language. Catching potential hurdles as soon as possible—before they lead to frustration or a loss of confidence—allows for simple, targeted support that can get a student back on track. By identifying needs at the beginning/middle/end of the school year, we ensure that reading remains a source of discovery rather than a source of stress. If you have questions about reading screening, reach out to your child's Language (gr 7/8) or English (gr 9) teacher.
7/8 Language and ENL1W English Curriculum
7/8 Language and ENL1W English Curriculum
"An effective language curriculum is based on and informed by evidence-based research. In response to the recommendations in the Ontario Human Rights Commission's Right to Read inquiry report, the language curriculum is designed to equip all students with the solid foundational knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their full potential. Informed by proven research, this curriculum employs evidence-based approaches to systematically and explicitly teaching this knowledge and these skills. Reading and writing are emphasized in the curriculum with a focus on language conventions necessary for clear communication; comprehension at the WORD, SENTENCE, and TEXT level when listening, reading, and viewing and the knowledge, skills, processes, and techniques required for effective speaking, writing, and representing" (Ontario Principles Underlying the Language Curriculum).
Resources for Multilingual Learners
Resources for Multilingual Learners
EQAO Assessments - OSSLT
EQAO Assessments - OSSLT
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) measures whether students are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9. Successful completion of the literacy test is one of the requirements to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Visit the EQAO OSSLT page to learn more about the OSSLT.
Literacy Resources in the OCSB Student Portal
Literacy Resources in the OCSB Student Portal
All of the following digital resources can be accessed at the links below and are also available in the OCSB Student Portal. Students can access these at home by logging into the student portal with their OCSB student email account. To learn how to log into the OCSB Student Portal, watch this video.
Gale is a valuable online library and research tool that schools purchase to give elementary students a safe, engaging, and age-appropriate way to find credible information for their assignments and general curiosity.
Browse Gale Literature, Gale Literature Resource Center, Gale Academic OneFile, Contemporary Authors, Gale eBooks, Gale In Context: Canada, Gale In Context: Middle School, Gale OneFile: Diversity Studies, Gale OneFile: News, Gale OneFile: Popular Magazines
Newsela is an online, literacy-focused instructional platform that takes real-world content (like news articles, historical documents, and science texts) and makes it accessible for every student, regardless of their reading level.
ReadWorks is a nonprofit committed to advancing reading comprehension for all students, with a deep focus on under-resourced communities.
For over two decades, they have provided FREE, research-based resources, including thousands of diverse K–12 texts, instructional routines, bilingual materials, and professional development to support teachers in building knowledge and vocabulary.
Their accessible, high-quality tools have reached millions of teachers and students and are proven to engage students, strengthen instruction, and foster meaningful reading experiences in classrooms nationwide.
Sora simplifies the process of getting books into the hands of students by providing instant, 24/7 access to their school library's digital collection, along with tools that make reading customizable and engaging. Sign in to Ottawa Catholic School Board.
Use Curio to readily find and explore CBC/Radio-Canada content that has been carefully selected for its educational value and is available in teaching-friendly formats.
Curio offers:
more than 10,000 resources
content in both English and French
documentaries, TV/radio shows, podcasts, archival clips and more
material for every academic level from elementary to university
material for every subject
teacher guides
the Curio Info and News In Review current affairs channels
channels from the BBC and National Geographic
new resources every week
Explore millions of high-quality primary sources and images from around the world, including artworks, maps, photographs, and more.
The Insignia library software is used to manage books and equipment in the Learning Commons at each school. Teachers and students can look books up at their local Learning Commons and see what’s available to be checked out. Insignia authenticates users based on their google accounts.
Typesy is a comprehensive online typing and keyboarding curriculum designed to teach students how to type quickly, accurately, and efficiently without looking at the keys.
In today’s digital world, we all have a responsibility to make sure something’s true before we share it online. The house hippos are here to give us that important reminder. You can usually tell if a story is true or false in less than 30 seconds: check out the video showing the four easy ways to fact-check and share it with friends and family.
EVERFI helps teachers, schools, and districts bring real-world skills to students.
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