What your child is learning

Grade 7 children compare and summarize points of view by discussing their thoughts with others. For example, they express opinions, disagree politely, and ask questions to clarify their thinking.

Children learn a variety of strategies that help them understand and communicate about what they read, see and hear. For example, they read material quickly in order to find the main and supporting ideas in their own words, think about its meaning and how it makes sense.

Children learn to choose appropriate information sources when looking for answers to their research questions.

Children use a variety of ways to communicate ideas, keeping in mind the purpose and the intended audience. For example, they do role-plays, create posters, prepare PowerPoint presentations, and write legends, scripts, advertisements, speeches, etc.

In Grade 7, children use skills and strategies to edit their work. They create a variety of interesting sentences and use figurative language such as similes. They eliminate repetition and apply rules for spelling, capitalization and punctuation.

Children learn to reach agreement when working in groups. They evaluate their own contributions and how the group is working.

To find out more about what your child is learning, talk to their teacher. You may also refer to the Language Arts Practices: Orientation Guide for information regarding the program's guiding principles and recommended practices. You may also refer to the Manitoba Curriculum Framework of Outcomes and Standards Kindergarten to Grade 8 for outcomes by grade for Kindergarten to Grade 8.

How your child is assessed

The teacher will report on your child’s progress three times a year. Here are the English Language Arts reporting areas and some examples of what the teacher will assess.

Comprehension (Reading, Listening and Viewing)

• How does your child check his or her comprehension?
• How does your child think about, compare and support his or her opinions and conclusions?

Communication (Writing, Speaking and Representing)

• How does your child choose and use a variety of information sources to answer questions?
• How does your child organize ideas in spoken, written and visual communications?
• How does your child use criteria and resources to check and improve work?
  

Critical Thinking

• How does your child discuss and question his or her own viewpoints and ideas and those of others?
• How does your child discuss the effects of bias and point of view on understanding?
• How does your child evaluate his or her contribution to group projects?

Resources

For a listing of outcomes by grade for Kindergarten to Grade 8, visit Manitoba Curriculum Framework of Outcomes and Standards Kindergarten to Grade 8

Winnipeg Public Library: Visitors to WPL’s web portal may access several resources for a variety of grade levels.

My Learning at Home – English website for links to more English language resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHY IS CRITICAL THINKING AND CRITICAL LITERACY IMPORTANT? Critical thinking helps students focus on developing their ability to reason, analyze, evaluate, and create in a way that expresses their thoughts, feelings and actions in a reasoned and clear manner. It includes the ability to clarify problems, determine viewpoints, and distinguish between facts, opinions, and preferences. It is necessary for students to understanding how we interact with new ideas, what we read, view and experience is as important as what these texts and ideas are. When children think critically, they ask questions, discuss ideas and opinions, and identify the message of the author or artist and why he or she is communicating it. Critical literacy involves questioning our own viewpoints and those of others, and focusing on social and political issues. Critical literacy encourages us to recognize and state contradictions and biases. It means asking questions that challenge commonly accepted social practices, and questioning our own understanding, beliefs, assumptions, and values.

HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD? Talk to your child’s teacher and local librarians. They can provide advice about helping your child. Here are some topics you could discuss with the teacher: your child’s reading strengths and the strategies you could encourage your child to practice the reading goal for your child and how you can support him or her in working towards those goals books that your child could read easily and books that he or she would find more difficult books and authors your child might enjoy talk about your child’s interests and how to find ways to use these interests. Spend time with your child playing word games, writing grocery lists, birthday or everyday messages, reading stories, and watching appropriate television programs will provide him or her with many opportunities to practice reading and writing skills. As you discuss, ask lots of question, make predictions and encourage your child to tell you what he or she thinks and feels about what is going on in the story. Your child will gain insights, gather information, and learn about the world. Having discussions with your child about stories, videos, etc., are important for their learning.