Ontario Language Curriculum, Grades 1 - 8

The Ontario Language Curriculum, Grades 1 - 8 was revised in June 2023. The was developed partly in response to the recommendations outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read public inquiry report. It is designed to support students in developing the language and literacy knowledge and skills they need to succeed in education and in life, and to encourage students to experience the joy and possibility that literacy learning can ignite!

The revised curriculum describes the knowledge and skills that students are expected to learn. It is organized in four distinct but interrelated areas:

1. Literacy Connections and Applications
2. Foundations of Language
3. Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
4. Composition: Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts

Families are a child’s first teacher and are integral in their child’s education. Children build capacity for reading and writing through talking and listening. Below outlines some ideas for you to share the joy and importance of literacy with your child. 

• Be curious and show an interest. Talk to your child about day-to-day situations and ask questions that will encourage them to share their thoughts and ideas (e.g., what if? how did you know?).
• If it’s available to you, speak to your child in another language. Languages are an important part of our identity. Reading and talking to your child in various languages helps them learn how languages work and are used. Children transfer their knowledge from one language to another.
• You are your child’s role model, so share with your child that you too are reading and writing for your own purposes.
• Share the joy of reading with your child every day – read and share stories aloud.
• Look for a variety of materials your child will enjoy reading – stories, poems, graphic novels, song lyrics, magazines, comics, online media.
• Encourage your child to choose books and materials themselves.
• Browse online together based on themes and topics that interest your child.
• Ask your child to talk about what they are reading. Leave notes. Encourage your child to write back.
• Suggest a scrapbook or e-book to record special times, a diary or daily reflection book.
• Stay informed about your child’s learning by staying in touch with their school and teachers. If you are unsure of your child’s progress, or how you can support your child’s literacy learning at home, ask your child’s teacher about skills and experiences required to support your child’s learning.

To find out more about what your child is learning by grade, visit the Ministry website.