Read a School Memo

Competency A: Find and Use Information

Task Group A1: Read continuous text

Level: 2

At this level, learners: Read texts to locate and connect ideas and information

Performance Descriptors

The learner:
•    Makes connections between sentences and between paragraphs in a single text
•    Scans text to locate information
•    Locates multiple pieces of information in simple texts
•    Reads more complex texts to locate a single piece of information
•    Makes low-level inferences
•    Follows the main events of descriptive, narrative, and informational texts
•    Obtains information from detailed reading
•    Begins to identify sources and evaluate information

Task Descriptors

•    Scope of task is clearly defined
•    Involves one text
•    Is one paragraph or longer
•    May include unfamiliar elements (e.g. vocabulary, context, topic)

Text types:
instructional, descriptive, narrative, and informational texts

Examples:     

• Letters
• Emails
• Notices

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario - A1.2

Competency A: Find and Use Information
Task Group A2: Interpret documents
Level: 1

At this level, learners: Interpret very simple documents to locate specific details

Performance Descriptors

The learner:

• Scans to locate specific details
• Interprets brief text and common symbols
• Locates specific details in simple documents, such as labels and signs
• Identifies how lists are organized (e.g. sequential, chronological, alphabetical)
• Requires support to identify sources and to evaluate and integrate information

Task Descriptors

• Scope of task is limited
• Involves one document
• Contains brief text, symbols, or both
• Uses a very simple format
• Contains common, familiar vocabulary
• Has a familiar context
• Addresses concrete, day-to-day topics
• Has a highly explicit purpose
• Documents at this level may contain up to one paragraph of text

Examples:

• Signs
• Labels
• Lists
• Coupons
• Simple forms

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario – A2.1

Competency B: Communicate Ideas and Information
Task Group B2: Write continuous text
Level: 1
At this level, learners: Write brief texts to convey simple ideas and factual information

Performance Descriptors

The learner:

• Writes simple texts to request, remind, or inform
• Conveys simple ideas and factual information
• Demonstrates a limited understanding of sequence
• Uses sentence structure, upper and lower case, and basic punctuation
• Uses highly familiar vocabulary

Task Descriptors

• Scope of task is limited
• Addresses concrete, day-to-day topics
• Addresses a small, familiar audience
• Is informal
• Is up to a paragraph in length
• Has a familiar context
• Has a highly explicit purpose

Text types:
instructional, descriptive, narrative, and brief informational texts

Examples:

• Notes
• Brief emails
• Directions
• Instructions
• Text messages

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario – B2.1

Competency B: Communicate Ideas and Information
Task Group B3: Complete and create documents
Level: 1

At this level, learners: Make straightforward entries to complete very simple documents

Performance Descriptors

To complete documents, the learner:

• Makes a direct match between what is requested and what is entered
• Makes entries using familiar vocabulary

To create documents, the learner:

• Follows conventions to display information in lists, labels, simple forms, signs (e.g. images support the message, text is legible)
• Organizes lists to suit purpose (e.g. chronologically, alphabetically, numerically, sequentially)
• Includes titles where required
• Uses labels and headings to organize content
• Presents text and numbers below one or more headings in lists

Task Descriptors

• Scope of task is limited
• Involves one document up to a page in length
• Has a very simple format
• Requires few entries
• Contains clearly labeled entry fields
• Entries require common, familiar vocabulary
• Has a familiar context
• Addresses concrete, day-to-day topics
• Has a highly explicit purpose
• Documents at this level may require entering up to one paragraph of text

Examples:

• Lists
• Labels
• Simple forms
• Cheques
• Signs

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario – B3.1

Competency C: Understand and Use Numbers
Task Group C1: Manage money
Level: 2
At this level, learners: Make low-level inferences to calculate costs and expenses that may include rates such as taxes and discounts

Performance Descriptors

The learner:

• Calculates using numbers expressed as whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, and integers
• Calculates percentages
• Interprets and applies rates (e.g. $/kg, $/l)
• Chooses and performs required operation(s); may make inferences to identify required operation(s)
• Selects appropriate steps to reach solutions
• Represents costs and rates using monetary symbols, decimals, and percentages
• Makes simple estimates
• Interprets, represents, and converts amounts using whole numbers, decimals, percentages, ratios, and simple, common fractions (e.g. ½, ¼)
• Uses strategies to check accuracy (e.g. estimating, using a calculator, repeating a calculation, using the reverse operation)

Task Descriptors

• Scope of task is clearly defined
• May include unfamiliar elements (e.g. context, content)
• Requires the use of rates, or requires two or more operations, where operations are easily inferred
• Requires up to a few steps to complete
• May be completed in more than one way
• May involve one document, such as a table
• May require converting between whole numbers, fractions, decimals, ratios, and percentages

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario – C1.2

Competency C: Understand and Use Numbers
Task Group C4: Manage data
Level: 1
At this level, learners: Make simple comparisons and calculations

Performance Descriptors
The learner:

• Adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides whole numbers and decimals
• Recognizes values in number and word format
• Identifies and compares quantities of items
• Understands numerical order
• Identifies and performs required operation
• Begins to interpret integers
• Makes simple estimates
• Interprets and represents values using whole numbers, decimals, percentages, and simple, common fractions (e.g. ½, ¼)
• Follows apparent steps to reach solutions
• Interprets simple, common probabilities, such as the chance of precipitation from a weather forecast
• Recognizes simple patterns
• Uses strategies to check accuracy (e.g. estimating, using a calculator, repeating a calculation, using the reverse operation)

Task Descriptors

• Scope of task is limited
• Has a concrete and familiar context
• May require one operation; operation is apparent
• May require the same operation to be performed more than once
• Requires up to a few steps to complete
• Has a set procedure
• May involve one simple document (e.g. list, label)
• Has a highly explicit purpose
• Uses whole numbers and/or simple common fractions or decimals

ESKARGO:
Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario – C4.1