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Explore diverse ideas to develop predictions, opinions, conclusions, and understanding.

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Integrate new understanding with previous viewpoints and interpretations.

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Experiment with memorable language to convey personal perceptions, feelings, experiences, thoughts, and ideas in various forms.

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Pursue personal interest in specific genres by particular writers, artists, storytellers, and filmmakers.

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Self-monitor growth in language learning and use, using predetermined criteria.

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Discuss the importance of reflecting on prior experiences and knowledge to revise conclusions and understandings.

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Articulate, represent, and explain personal viewpoints clearly.

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Structure and restructure ideas and information in personally meaningful ways to clarify and extend understanding.

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Reconsider initial understanding in light of new information, and ask clarifying questions; listen to diverse opinions and recognize ambiguity.

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Make connections between previous experiences, prior knowledge, and a variety of texts, and apply them to new contexts.

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Use a variety of comprehension strategies [including adjusting reading rate, summarizing main ideas, SQ3R, structured overviews, and checking with peers] to make sense of familiar and unfamiliar texts and remember ideas.

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Use textual cues [such as the structures and elements of specific genres...] to construct and confirm meaning and interpret texts.

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Use syntactic, semantic, and graphophonic cueing systems [including word order; sentence structure; context clues; structural analysis to identify foreign roots, prefixes, and suffixes] to construct and confirm meaning and interpret texts [including meaning of specialized and technical vocabulary].

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Experience texts from a variety of forms and genres [such as magazine articles, diaries, drama, advertisements...] and cultural traditions; compare own interpretations to those of others.

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Discuss how similar ideas, people, experiences, and traditions are conveyed in various oral, literary, and media texts [including texts about Canada or by Canadian writers].

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Identify and describe techniques used to create mood in oral, literary, and media texts.

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Demonstrate appreciation for the appropriate use of various forms and genres according to purpose, audience, and content.

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Identify a variety of techniques [such as characterization, word choice, framing, angle...] used to create particular effects or to portray various cultures in oral, literary, and media texts.

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Explore factors [such as history, social trends, geographic isolation...] that influence word families and the evolution of language.

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Identify creative uses of language in popular culture [such as commercials, advertisements, rock videos...]; explain how imagery and figures of speech create tone and mood in texts.

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Create original texts [such as descriptions, panel discussions, impersonations, collages, timelines, documentary videos, journals or diaries...] to communicate and demonstrate understanding of forms and techniques.

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Determine personal knowledge of a topic to generate possible areas of inquiry or research.

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Formulate relevant main and subordinate questions on a topic to establish a purpose for gathering information.

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Contribute ideas, knowledge and strategies to help identify group information needs and sources.

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Prepare and use a plan to access, gather, and record in own words relevant information.

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Access, record, and appraise personal and peer knowledge and understanding of a topic to establish an information base for inquiry or research.

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Distinguish between fact and opinion when inquiring or researching using a variety of information sources [such as artifacts, debates, forums, biographies, autobiographies...].

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Develop and use criteria for evaluating information sources for a particular inquiry or research plan.

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Recall, expand, and use a variety of skills [including visual and auditory] to access information and ideas from a variety of sources [including subtitles, marginal notes and key words, electronic searches, previews and reviews, visual effects, and sound effects].

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Construct meaning using direct statements, implied meaning, and inferences; adjust rate of reading or viewing according to purpose, topic, density of information, and organizational patterns of text.

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Organize information and ideas in order of priority according to topic and task requirements.

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Make notes in point form, summarizing major ideas and supporting details; reference sources.

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Set aside personal bias to evaluate the relevance and importance of information collected; address information gaps for particular forms, audiences, and purposes.

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Incorporate new information with prior knowledge and experiences; adjust inquiry and research strategies to accommodate changing perspectives and availability of pertinent information.

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Experiment with several ways to generate ideas and focus a topic.

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Compose using specific forms [such as biographies, letters to the editor, newspaper articles, audio-visual presentations...] that ensure a match between content, audience, and purpose.

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Identify and use a variety of organizational patterns [such as rising action, pyramid structure, cause and effect, comparison and contrast, sequence...] in own oral, written, and visual texts; compose effective introductions and conclusions.

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Share own work in a variety of ways; appraise particular aspects [such as word choice, description, language usage, organization, audience appeal...] of own and others’ work and presentations using pre-established criteria.

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Revise to enhance meaning and effect according to audience and purpose.

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Format for legibility and emphasis when composing and revising; enhance the coherence and impact of documents using electronic editing functions [such as cut, paste, copy, insert...].

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Experiment with figures of speech and compound and complex sentences to clarify and combine ideas; provide effective descriptions.

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Prepare compositions, reports, presentations, and inquiry or research projects using a variety of organizers [such as chapters, table of contents, headings, introduction, conclusion...].

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Edit for sentence variety, word choice, and tone appropriate to audience and purpose, and to eliminate misplaced modifiers.

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Know spelling conventions and apply them to familiar and unfamiliar words; use appropriate resources when editing and proofreading.

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Know and apply capitalization and punctuation conventions consistently in a variety of sentence structures and written forms when editing and proofreading.

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Plan and facilitate small-group activities and short, whole-class sessions to share information on a topic using a variety of engaging methods [such as mini-lessons, role-plays, visual aids...].

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Explain, share, and present orally using appropriate conventions of public speaking in a variety of settings [such as small-group and whole-class presentations...]; use visual aids to enhance the effectiveness of oral presentations.

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Demonstrate critical listening and viewing skills and strategies [such as activating prior knowledge, integrating new information, evaluating the effectiveness of the introduction and conclusion...] and show respect for presenter(s).

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Express personal reactions to a variety of experiences and texts and compare them with the reactions of others.

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Recognize ways in which oral, literary, and media texts capture specific elements of a culture or period in history.

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Interpret the choices and motives of individuals encountered in oral, literary and media texts and examine how they relate to self and others; discuss personal participation and responsibility in communities.

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Use appropriate language to participate in public events, occasions, or traditions.

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Engage in dialogue to understand the feelings and viewpoints of others and contribute to group harmony.

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Organize and complete tasks cooperatively and collaboratively; evaluate group productivity and efficiency.

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Demonstrate respect for other people’s language, history, and culture.

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Evaluate the quality of own contributions to group process and set goals and plans for development of personal skills; evaluate group process and plan for growth.

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