Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Grade 6 Curriculum - English Language

This curriculum overview is based on the OECS Primary Grades' Learning Standards for Language Arts (Grades K-6). Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as a member of the OECS, utilizes this curriculum framework. The curriculum emphasizes developing communicative competence in Standard English through integrated learning experiences in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It focuses on building a strong foundation for literacy, preparing students for secondary education and beyond. The learning standards are organized into strands and sub-strands, outlining specific skills and knowledge students should acquire at each grade level. The curriculum also emphasizes the importance of visual literacy in the 21st century, integrating ICT into learning experiences.

Grade 6 English Language: Overview and Goals

Upon completion of Grade 6, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in understanding and using the English language effectively. They should be able to communicate effectively in various speaking and listening situations, demonstrating an understanding of audience and purpose. The curriculum aims to equip students with the necessary skills to transition smoothly to secondary school, having mastered foundational literacy skills and critical thinking. It also emphasizes information retrieval strategies, including using the internet for research and learning.

Listening and Speaking

This strand focuses on developing students' ability to understand spoken language, express themselves clearly, and engage in meaningful oral communication.

• Listening Comprehension: Students will be able to report on topics, present opinions logically, apply language knowledge to understand its function in different contexts, synthesize viewpoints, and identify useful details from oral presentations.
• Listening for Enjoyment: Students will develop an appreciation for different forms of oral communication, including speeches, songs, poems, and traditional stories, expanding their cultural perspectives.
• Giving and Getting Information: Students will learn to use precise language and vocabulary to inform and explain, present information logically and concisely, formulate clarifying questions, and identify key details in oral presentations.
• Social Interaction: Students will adapt their speech to various contexts, recognize variations from Standard English, demonstrate attentive listening, use appropriate vocabulary, and engage effectively with their audience.
• Reflecting on Listening and Speaking: Students will reflect on their oral communication skills, identify areas for improvement, and incorporate multimedia components into presentations.
• Evaluating Ideas: Students will evaluate information from diverse media, assess a speaker's viewpoint and reasoning, adapt their speech to different contexts, and identify persuasive techniques.

Reading

This strand aims to enhance students' reading comprehension skills, enabling them to understand, interpret, and analyze various texts.

• Reading Comprehension: Students will analyze texts, draw logical conclusions, make inferences, determine the author's point of view, summarize main points, synthesize ideas, and use textual evidence to support their understanding. They will also develop skills in discriminating between fact and opinion and understanding idiomatic expressions.
• Word Recognition: Students will be exposed to reading materials at and above their grade level, further developing their word recognition skills.
• Understanding Text: Students will analyze texts to establish the author's message, identify main ideas and supporting details, interpret the writer's message, differentiate facts and opinions, assess the importance of ideas, recognize text structures and literary devices, and apply contextual information to enhance their understanding.
• Vocabulary Building: Students will use context clues to understand word meanings, explain nuances in word meanings, use context clues and word analysis to understand unfamiliar words, and incorporate new vocabulary into their speaking and writing.
• Attitudes and Interests: Students will participate in book clubs, reflect on their reading strategies, select texts independently, and justify their reading preferences.
• Visual Literacy: Students will summarize information from visual aids, integrate visual and textual information, compare and contrast different versions of texts, and create presentations using multimedia elements.

Writing

This strand focuses on developing students' writing skills, enabling them to express themselves effectively and create various text types.

• Process Strategies: Students will use the writing process to plan, draft, revise, and edit their work. They will organize their writing logically, use appropriate language, incorporate multimedia components, and utilize digital media effectively.
• Writing for Different Purposes and Audience: Students will write narratives, develop their writing with support from peers and adults, use technology for writing and collaboration, compose essays, and create texts with graphics to explain concepts.
• Grammar and Mechanics: Students will demonstrate command of Standard English grammar, punctuation, and spelling. They will also recognize variations from Standard English and use strategies to improve their writing.
• Vocabulary Building: Students will use precise language and vocabulary, incorporate words and phrases from other subject areas, and demonstrate understanding of figurative language and word relationships.
• Attitudes and Interests: Students will write opinion pieces, use technology to create displays of their work, and contribute to class publications.
• Evaluating Ideas: Students will support their opinions with evidence, gather information from various sources, conduct research projects, use technology for writing and collaboration, and analyze texts for bias. They will also maintain journals to document their learning and language development.