What Ontario grade 8 students learn in language arts

Your child will understand how to use skills like problem-solving and critical thinking in different situations, whether they are reading, listening, watching, or creating their own stories and presentations. They will learn to adapt these skills to communicate effectively with people from various backgrounds and in different settings.

Your child will be able to understand how skills they learn in one area, like problem-solving or teamwork, can help them in other areas of their life, such as expressing their ideas, being more involved in school, and planning how to improve their abilities.

Your child will be able to understand their online rights and responsibilities, and make good choices that help them and others have a positive online identity.

Your child will understand how to use the internet safely, protect their personal information, and interact with others online in a way that is respectful and responsible. They will also learn to ask for permission when needed.

Your child will learn how to do research, focusing on whether information is true, believable, and if it shows different viewpoints. They'll also learn about misinformation (mistakes), disinformation (lies), and curated information (carefully selected information) to help them understand topics better, create their own work, and show what they've learned, all while being respectful of laws and ethics.

Your child will learn to understand how different ways of presenting information in digital and media texts, like using certain images or sounds, can affect the people who see or hear them. They will then use this knowledge when they look at other texts or create their own.

Your child will understand how the way a text is written, its message, and the situation it's used in all connect. They will also learn how to figure out who the text was meant for, who might see it even if it wasn't for them, and why it was created.

Your child will be able to pick and use the right digital tools and media to help them design and come up with new solutions for real-world problems.

Your child will learn how to communicate and work with others respectfully and safely online, using different digital tools and platforms. They will also understand how to be aware of and appreciate different cultures when interacting with people online.

Your child will be able to explain how the reading, writing, and communication skills they learn in Grade 8 are useful in other school subjects and in their daily life. They will also understand how these skills help them better understand the world and communicate effectively.

Your child will understand the history, contributions, experiences, and viewpoints of different people and groups, including those in Canada. They will do this by looking at how identity, self, and belonging are shown in various stories and texts that are meaningful to different cultures.

Your child will explore important ideas and beliefs found in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures. This will help them understand the different ways these groups see themselves, relate to others, and live their lives.

Your child will learn to be a better listener by understanding how to rephrase what others say, ask good questions, contribute thoughtfully to discussions, and think about what they've heard. They'll practice these skills in different situations and for various reasons.

Your child will learn to use different ways of listening before, during, and after hearing information, including understanding spoken words and body language. This helps them understand what is being communicated, ask questions if they don't understand, and find important details to support their answers.

Your child will learn to understand why and for whom they are speaking in different situations, and how to adjust their speaking style to communicate clearly.

Your child will learn to recognize and use different ways of communicating without words, like facial expressions, hand movements, and body language. They will also think about how well these methods work to help people understand each other, and how their meaning might change in different cultures.

Your child will be able to choose the best words to clearly explain their ideas, including special words used in different school subjects. They will also learn to write sentences that flow well and make sense, so that others can easily understand what they are trying to say.

Your child will be able to use their strong understanding of word parts (like prefixes, suffixes, and base words) to read and spell difficult words correctly and quickly.

Your child will understand and use many different words, including new words they learn in school and in other subjects. They will also be able to break down words into smaller parts (like prefixes and suffixes) to figure out what new words mean.

Your child will be able to read different kinds of challenging texts smoothly and correctly, at a good speed, to help them understand what they're reading. When reading aloud, they will also know how to change their voice and tone to match why they are reading.

Your child will learn to use different kinds of sentences and sentence structures to write more complex sentences that clearly and accurately share their ideas.

Your child will understand how different types of words (like nouns, verbs, and adjectives) work in sentences. This will help them understand what they read and write more clearly and accurately.

Your child will be able to understand how to use capitalization and punctuation correctly when reading and writing, so their ideas are clear and easy to understand.

Your child will be able to understand different kinds of complex texts by using their knowledge of words, grammar, how sentences are connected, and what they already know about the topic.

Your child will be able to compare different types of writing, including those from various cultures, and explain how their unique features help convey a message.

Your child will be able to compare how different types of writing (like a letter to the editor) are organized, and how parts like glossaries or pictures help people understand the message. They will also learn to explain why these features are important.

Your child will be able to understand how pictures, graphs, and the way things are designed visually help to create and share meaning in different kinds of writing.

Your child will be able to recognize different writing styles, like the author's unique "voice" (how they sound on the page), their word choices, repeated word patterns, and sentence structure. They will also understand how these elements work together to create meaning and fit the type of text being read.

Your child will be able to understand how the narrator's perspective (point of view) affects a story, including when the narrator knows everything (omniscient), only some things (limited), or isn't trustworthy (unreliable). They will also be able to explain how the author shows this perspective and suggest other ways the story could be told, explaining why.

Your child will explore many different stories, songs, and videos created by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people. They will learn about the past and present experiences of these groups, their cultures, and how they relate to each other, using a special way of understanding called Indigenous Storywork.

Your child will be able to use what they already know from their own life and from other school subjects to help them understand new things they read.

Your child will be able to understand why people read different things, choose books or articles from various authors that fit those reasons, and explain their choices.

Your child will be able to make educated guesses about what they are reading by using what they already know and clues from the text. They will also learn to ask questions to check if their guesses are right and change their understanding as they read more.

Your child will be able to use different approaches, like rereading or looking up words, to make sure they understand difficult texts and to help them when they get stuck.

Your child will be able to connect ideas in different texts and compare them to their own experiences and the world around them.

Your child will be able to understand and pull together the main ideas and important details from difficult texts, and then use that information to form strong conclusions.

Your child will be able to explain how different reading strategies, like picturing what they're reading or making predictions, help them understand stories and articles better, and they will set goals to improve their reading skills.

Your child will be able to understand how literary devices like irony (when something unexpected happens or is said), satire (using humor to criticize something), and allusion (referencing something well-known) are used in different stories and texts. They will also learn how these devices help create meaning and are suitable for the story's purpose and audience.

Your child will be able to understand more deeply what they read by using clues from the text (both directly stated and hinted at) to figure out things that aren't explicitly written.

Your child will be able to understand and think critically about different kinds of reading materials, like stories and articles. This means they'll learn to sort through information, put ideas together, and draw their own conclusions.

Your child will be able to understand and explain how different parts of a culture, like traditions, beliefs, social structures, hobbies, language, and things considered off-limits (taboos), are shown in stories and other texts. They will connect these cultural elements to their own life and culture, and see how they add to the overall meaning of the text.

Your child will be able to understand the different viewpoints presented in stories and articles, figure out if those viewpoints show unfair preferences or opinions (bias), and suggest ways to avoid such bias.

Your child will be able to understand how different texts talk about important topics like diversity (the variety of people and experiences), inclusion (making sure everyone feels welcome), and accessibility (making things usable for everyone). They will also be able to explain their thoughts on these messages and recognize different viewpoints presented in the texts.

Your child will compare two or more stories, poems, or other texts created by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people. They will explore how the time period, cultural background, or social and political situations influenced these works and how they connect to today's experiences.

Your child will be able to look back at how well they used their critical thinking skills when reading and understanding different texts, and then set goals to get even better at it.

Your child will be able to figure out the main idea, goal, and who they are writing for when they create different pieces of writing. They will also learn how to pick the best way to write something (like a story or a report), the style, and the tools to use, and explain why they made those choices.

Your child will be able to come up with and expand on ideas and details about difficult topics, including those about diversity, fairness, and inclusion, as well as other school subjects. They will do this by using different methods and resources, including their own experiences.

Your child will be able to find and combine information about a topic from different written materials, and understand how to decide if the information is up-to-date, good quality, fair, and correct. They will also learn how to check if the sources are trustworthy and properly give credit to others for their work.

Your child will learn to organize their thoughts and information in a logical order, choosing the best ways to present their ideas, and considering different types of writing or media to get their message across.

Your child will be able to look at the different ways they came up with ideas and organized their writing, explain what worked best, and suggest how they can improve their writing in the future.

Your child will be able to write different kinds of longer and more detailed pieces, like stories, opinion pieces, explanations, or reports, and will learn to properly mention where they got their information. They will also use various tools and methods to turn information into clear messages and share their thoughts.

Your child will be able to write smoothly in cursive, developing their own style, and use advanced computer tools to make their writing more accurate and impactful.

Your child will be able to write in a way that sounds like them, changing their language and writing style to fit what they are writing, who they are writing for, and why they are writing it, so they can clearly share their thoughts and feelings.

Your child will be able to explain the obvious and hidden viewpoints or biases in what they read and understand how different people might react to it. They will also be able to suggest ways to consider other people's perspectives.

Your child will be able to improve their writing by making changes to what they've written, how they've written it, and how it's organized, using feedback from others to make their writing clearer and more focused.

Your child will be able to improve their written work by checking for mistakes in spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and by making sure the writing flows well. They will also learn to use computer programs to help them edit their writing.

Your child will be able to create finished writing pieces using different methods and tools, including computer programs, to make their writing have the impact they want it to have.

Your child will be able to share their writing in different ways, like through presentations or digital formats, and understand how their choices helped them get their message across.

Your child will think about what helped them when they wrote and shared their work, what they learned while creating it, and how their writing explored different ideas. They will also suggest ways to improve their writing in the future.