OCSB Literacy at Home
OCSB Literacy at Home
Resources for Grades 7-12 (Intermediate/Secondary)
Resources for Grades 7-12 (Intermediate/Secondary)
Embedded Files
Supporting Foundational Reading Skills at Home
Supporting Foundational Reading Skills 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).
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Newsela is an online, literacy-focused instructional platform that takes real-world content (like news articles, historical documents, and science texts) and makes it accessible for every student, regardless of their reading level.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.
Break the Fake is an educational resource developed by MediaSmarts, Canada’s Centre for Digital Media Literacy, about mis/disinformation. It contains lesson plans, videos and quizzes for young people. 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.
Reading screening
Reading screening
Reading screening 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 the option to screen in grade 9 as well. Think of it as a "wellness check" for literacy; it quickly identifies whether a child is hitting key milestones or 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 stress. If you have questions about reading screening, reach out to your child's Language (gr 7/8) or English (gr 9) teacher.
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.
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