Strands in the Language Curriculum

The language expectations are organized into three strands, which correspond to the three main areas of language use. The three strands are: Writing, Reading, and Oral and Visual Communication. All the knowledge and skills outlined in the expectations for the language program are mandatory. The program in all grades is designed to develop a range of essential skills in reading, writing, and oral language, including a solid foundation in spelling and grammar, an appreciation of literature and the ability to respond to it, and skills in using oral language accurately and effectively. Students will also learn to use critical and analytical skills to respond to communications media, and will develop skills in using technology to search for and share information.

Curriculum Expectations

The expectations identified for each course describe the knowledge and skills that students are expected to develop and demonstrate in their class work, on tests, and in various other activities on which their achievement is assessed and evaluated.

Two sets of expectations are listed for each strand, or broad curriculum area, of each course. The overall expectations describe in general terms the knowledge and skills that students are expected to demonstrate by the end of each course. The specific expectations describe the expected knowledge and skills in greater detail.

The specific expectations are organized under subheadings. This organization is not meant to imply that the expectations in any one group are achieved independently of the expectations in the other groups. The subheadings are used to help teachers focus on particular aspects of knowledge and skills as they plan learning activities for their students.

Many of the expectations are accompanied by examples, given in parentheses. These examples are meant to illustrate the kind of skill, the specific area of learning, the depth of learning, and/or the level of complexity that the expectation entails. They are intended as a guide for teachers rather than as an exhaustive or mandatory list.

Strands

The strands for English are as follows: Literature Studies and Reading, Writing, Language, and Media Studies.

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