The Essential Graduation Learnings, explained for parents
The Atlantic Canada curriculum is built around six Essential Graduation Learnings. They describe what graduates should be able to do, and they act as a framework for every subject, so teachers work on them in each grade. In the curriculum documents, each subject lists the key-stage outcomes at the end of Grade 3, Grade 6 and Grade 9 that contribute to them.
Aesthetic expression
Responding with critical awareness to the arts, and expressing yourself through them.
Ideas for home
- Visit a library, museum or gallery together and talk about what you notice.
- Ask your child to make a poster, song or comic about something they learned.
- Read a favourite story twice and talk about what changed the second time.
Citizenship
Understanding how people, communities and the environment depend on each other, locally and globally.
Ideas for home
- Help with a family or community job, such as a cleanup.
- Talk about a news story and ask how different people might see it.
- Learn about a custom or tradition from a family friend or neighbour.
Communication
Using listening, viewing, speaking, reading and writing, and mathematical and scientific symbols, to think, learn and share.
Ideas for home
- Ask your child to explain a game or a story to you without showing it.
- Read together every day and ask what they think will happen next.
- Write a postcard or a note to a relative.
Personal development
Continuing to learn and keeping an active, healthy lifestyle.
Ideas for home
- Make a short routine for homework time and let your child choose the order.
- Go for a walk, skate or play outside together.
- Ask your child what was hard today and what helped.
Problem solving
Using strategies and processes to work through all kinds of problems, with language, mathematics and science.
Ideas for home
- Ask “How do you know?” about something in the news or an ad.
- Plan a trip or a budget together and let your child do the maths.
- Try a puzzle or a recipe and talk about what you would change.
Technological competence
Using a variety of technologies, understanding how they work and choosing the right one to solve a problem.
Ideas for home
- Take something simple apart, like an old flashlight, and talk about how it works.
- Search for an answer together and check two sources.
- Set up a tablet or computer routine with time limits you both agree on.
Common questions
They are woven through subjects rather than rated as a separate subject. Ask your child's teacher how they show up on the report card.
Every subject builds them, for example problem solving in math problems, communication in language arts and citizenship in social studies.
No. Gradelings practises subject outcomes and shows how practice is going. The learnings grow through routines, talk and community, so we suggest home activities rather than scores.
The Kindergarten to Grade 6 report card also rates well-being and belonging, communication, social contribution and play and exploration as Consistently, Usually, With Prompting or Rarely. The Essential Graduation Learnings are the wider goals the curriculum works towards.
Next: understand the Newfoundland and Labrador report card levels or browse all Newfoundland and Labrador parent guides. Gradelings practises subject skills; These learnings grow through everyday routines, projects, play and helping others.
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