General Outcome 5


Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to respect, support and collaborate with others.

Language is necessary for working together. Students learn collaboration skills by discussing in groups, by building on the ideas of others, and by planning and working together to meet common goals and strengthen community. In every classroom, students develop a sense of community. They learn to use language to offer assistance and to participate in and enrich their classroom community. In this way, students share perspectives and ideas, develop understanding and respect diversity.

Students learn that language is important for celebrating events of personal, social, community and national significance. In their language learning and use, they develop their knowledge of language forms and functions. As well, they come to know how language preserves and enriches culture. To celebrate their own use of language, students display their work, share with others, and delight both in their own and others’ use of the language arts. Throughout Kindergarten to Grade 9, students use language to celebrate significant community and national events. Students need opportunities to reflect on, appraise and celebrate their achievements and growth.

It is intended that students engage in purposeful language arts activities that respect individual differences and emphasize the interrelated and mutually supportive nature of the general and specific outcomes.

5.1 Respect Others and Strengthen Community
Appreciate diversity

ELA 8

  • compare own with others’ understanding of people, cultural traditions and values portrayed in oral, print and other media texts
  • clarify and broaden perspectives and opinions, by examining the ideas of others

ELA 9

  • examine how personal experiences, cultural traditions and Canadian perspectives are presented in oral, print and other media texts
  • take responsibility for developing and sharing oral, print and other media texts and for responding respectfully to the texts of others

Relate texts to culture

ELA 8

  • compare ways in which oral, print and other media texts reflect specific elements of cultures or periods in history

ELA 9

  • analyze how oral, print and other media texts reflect the traditions, beliefs and technologies of different cultures, communities or periods in history

Celebrate accomplishments and events

ELA 8

  • participate in organizing and celebrating special events, recognizing the appropriateness and significance of language arts

ELA 9

  • explore and experiment with various ways in which language arts are used across cultures, age groups and genders to honour and celebrate people and events

Use language to show respect

ELA 8

  • use inclusive language and actions that demonstrate respect for people of different races, cultures, genders, ages and abilities

ELA 9

  • create or use oral, print and other media texts in ways that are respectful of people, opinions, communities and cultures

5.2 Work within a Group

ELA 8

  • propose ideas or advocate points of view that recognize the ideas of others and advance the thinking of the group
  • use opportunities as a group member to contribute to group goals and extend own learning

ELA 9

  • contribute to group efforts to reach consensus or conclusions, by engaging in dialogue to understand the ideas and viewpoints of others
  • discuss and choose ways to coordinate the abilities and interests of individual group members to achieve group goals

Work in groups

ELA 8

  • contribute ideas, knowledge and strategies to identify group information needs and sources
  • organize and complete tasks cooperatively by defining roles and responsibilities, negotiating to find the basis for agreement, setting objectives and time frames, and reviewing progress

ELA 9

  • generate and access ideas in a group, and use a variety of methods to focus and clarify topics for research or investigations
  • share responsibility for the completion of team projects by establishing clear purpose and procedures for solving problems, monitoring progress and making modifications to meet stated objectives

Evaluate group process

ELA 8

  • evaluate the quality of own contributions to group process, and offer constructive feedback to others; propose suggestions for improvement

ELA 9

  • establish and use criteria to evaluate group process and personal contributions; set goals and make plans for improvement