UAE Grade 5 English Curriculum (MOE)

This information is based on the UAE National English Language Curriculum Framework and a Grade 5 Curriculum Guide for Parents from Raffles World Academy (RWA) in Dubai. While the RWA guide is not the official MOE curriculum, it incorporates the MOE framework and provides a detailed example of how the framework can be implemented in a school setting.

Overview

The UAE English Curriculum aims to develop students' English language proficiency across four key skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The curriculum follows a level-based approach aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Grade 5 typically aligns with Level 4 of the framework.

Level 4 Learning Objectives

At Level 4, students are expected to demonstrate the following skills and knowledge:

Listening

• Comprehension Skills:
• Listen and respond appropriately to peers and adults.
• Understand the overall meaning of simple texts on familiar and concrete topics.
• Identify specific information and details in simple texts.
• Identify the main points of simple texts.

Reading

• Reading Strategies:
• Recognize the effect of word spacing and punctuation.
• Read texts on familiar and concrete topics.
• Comprehension Skills:
• Read and understand the overall meaning, specific information, and details in simple texts.
• Identify the main points of simple texts.

Speaking

• Pronunciation: Begin to produce connected speech using correct stress, intonation, and rhythm.
• Fluency: Speak coherently in short exchanges using familiar phrases and expressions. Use a range of basic language structures.
• Interaction & Production:
• Express own ideas, feelings, and emotions.
• Retell stories and personal experiences.
• Ask and answer simple open-ended questions.
• Participate in simple interactions on familiar and concrete topics.

Writing

• Writing Strategies:
• Use phonological awareness and blending strategies to write new words.
• Write sentences using correct spacing, capitalization, and punctuation.
• Apply spelling rules and conventions.
• Use basic language structures.
• Writing Production:
• Write short, simple texts on familiar topics.
• Plan and develop ideas before writing.

Grade 5 English (RWA Example)

The RWA curriculum provides a specific implementation of the MOE framework. In Grade 5 English at RWA, students focus on developing skills across the four strands of 'Reading', 'Writing', 'Viewing and Presenting', and 'Speaking and Listening'. The curriculum emphasizes learning within meaningful contexts, rather than isolated skill acquisition. The Programme of Inquiry provides an authentic context for language development.

Writing

• Grammar and Mechanics: Focus on using expanded noun phrases, relative clauses, commas, hyphens, brackets, dashes, semi-colons, colons, and bullet points correctly. Students also learn to identify and use passive verbs, modal verbs, adverbs, and the perfect form of verbs.
• Composition: Students learn to plan, draft, and proofread their writing. They practice writing narratives with descriptive settings, character development, dialogue, and varied sentence structure. They also learn to structure texts using different formats and devices like headings, bullet points, and numbered lists.

Reading

• Comprehension: Students develop skills in summarizing, identifying themes, making inferences, predicting, and asking questions to improve understanding. They also learn to analyze the author's use of language, including figurative language.
• Fluency and Vocabulary: Students develop word-attack strategies, learn common and uncommon prefixes and suffixes, and use a thesaurus to expand their vocabulary.

Speaking and Listening

• Communication Skills: Students practice active listening, responding appropriately, giving clear explanations, articulating reasons for their opinions, and participating in discussions and debates. They also develop their vocabulary through reading, listening, and using dictionaries and thesauruses.
• Performance: Students perform poems and participate in role-play, improvisations, and presentations.

Viewing and Presenting

• Visual Literacy: Students learn to analyze and interpret visual texts, including advertisements, logos, and symbols. They also learn to design visual presentations to achieve specific effects.

Additional Information (RWA)

The RWA curriculum also includes:

• Standardized Assessments: Students may participate in standardized assessments like the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) and GL Progress Tests to measure their progress and inform instruction.
• Homework: Homework focuses on reading (at least 20 minutes daily) and inquiry projects.
• Student Portfolios: Students maintain portfolios of their work using Seesaw.
• Co-curricular Activities: Students have opportunities to participate in a variety of co-curricular activities to further develop their skills and interests.