What You’ll Learn in English Language Arts

Posted September 3, 2026

English Language Arts is about more than reading books and completing writing assignments. This year, you will learn to understand and think critically about what you read, hear and view. You will also learn to communicate your ideas clearly and use language effectively for different purposes and audiences.

Reading and Viewing

You will explore different kinds of texts, including short stories, novels, nonfiction, poetry, media and visual texts. You will learn to:

• understand important ideas and details
• make inferences and look beneath the surface
• examine characters, themes and different perspectives
• notice the choices authors make
• use evidence from a text to support your thinking
• question and evaluate the messages you encounter

Writing and Creating

You will write and create for different purposes and audiences. This may include stories, personal and creative writing, responses to literature, informational writing, and evidence-based explanations and arguments.

You will learn to develop an idea through the writing process:

1. Plan and organize your ideas.
2. Create a first draft.
3. Receive and use feedback.
4. Revise and improve your work.
5. Edit for clarity and correctness.
6. Create a polished final piece.

Speaking, Listening and Discussion

ELA also happens through conversation. You will practise sharing your ideas, listening to different perspectives, asking thoughtful questions and building on the ideas of others. You will also have opportunities to communicate through class discussions, presentations and other formats.

Vocabulary, Grammar and Language

You will explore how words and sentences work. Our learning will include:

• vocabulary and word meanings
• Greek and Latin roots
• prefixes and suffixes
• sentence structure and sentence craft
• grammar and punctuation
• spelling and word choice

These skills will usually be connected to the reading, writing and creating we are already doing.

Stories, Perspectives and Critical Thinking

Stories allow us to better understand ourselves, other people and the world around us. You will encounter different experiences, cultures and perspectives. You will be encouraged to ask questions, make connections, consider viewpoints beyond your own and think carefully about the information and ideas you encounter.

Our Goal

Everyone enters the year with different strengths and areas for growth. Through reading, writing, creating, discussing, practising and receiving feedback, you will work toward becoming a more confident, thoughtful, independent and purposeful communicator.

Our plans may change during the year as we respond to your learning, questions, interests and new opportunities.