What your child is learning

Grade 8 children assess their own points of view during discussions with others. They listen actively, share viewpoints, disagree politely, ask questions correct misconceptions, and provide feedback.

Children compare how they understand what they read, see and hear. They summarize main ideas and learn to use specialized and technical vocabulary.

Children do research in a variety of ways and choose appropriate information sources to find answers to their questions.

Children try more ways to communicate ideas keeping in mind the purpose and the intended audience. For example, they present panel discussions, debates, dramatizations and speeches. They may also create timelines, write biographies or letters to the editor, and prepare audiovisual presentations and documentary videos.

In Grade 8, children use a variety of skills and strategies to edit their work.

Children learn to cooperate to ensure that groups work well together. For example, they discuss responsibility and resolve conflicts.

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

There are two types in Junior High. In English Program they are done of assessment in Grade 8 English Language Arts: the teacher's classroom assessments and the Middle Years Provincial Assessment.

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 think about and discuss strengths, needs and learning experiences to check his or her progress towards goals?
• How does your child use what he or she already knows to predict, question, and make connections to new learning?
• How does your child summarize information from various sources and learn from it?

Communication (Writing, Speaking and Representing)

• How does your child get and share information from a variety of sources?
• How does your child identify strengths and areas for improvement?
• How does your child use criteria and resources to check and improve work?

Critical Thinking

• How does your child compare his or her own viewpoints and ideas to those of others?
• How does your child use language in a way that respects gender, age, culture and race?
• How does your child examine ideas and materials for point of view and bias?

As part of the Middle Years Provincial Assessment, you will receive a report from the school on your child's achievement in reading comprehension and writing of informational texts. Using information from observations, conversations and samples of your child's work, the teacher will prepare a report at the end of January that compares your child's performance to mid-grade provincial criteria. The report will give you an opportunity to discuss the results with your child and the teacher and help you support your child's learning.

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.