Preparing for the Grade 10 Literacy Test
All grade 10 students who are working towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) must pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). This test covers the reading and writing skills which students are expected to have learned by the end of grade 9.
The Reading Component Explained
There are several different required reading selections using three types of reading:
information i.e. explanations, instructions, reports
graphic i.e. schedules, graphs, tables, diagrams
narrative i.e. stories, descriptions, dialogues
Students will answer two different types of questions:
multiple choice
short answer with explanation
The three reading skills which are evaluated are:
understanding directly stated ideas and information (literal meaning)
understanding indirectly stated ideas and information (inferences)
making connections between the reading selection and personal knowledge and experience (interpretation)
The Writing Component Explained
On the Grade 10 Literacy Test, there are different types of writing each student must complete:
Series of Paragraphs expressing an Opinion
News Report
Multiple choice questions on the conventions of language
The four skills which will be evaluated are:
Developing a clearly stated main idea (the topic)
Providing supporting details (developing the topic)
Organizing and linking ideas (sort and sequence into a logical order)
Using correct grammar, spelling and sentence structures.
How YOU can be involved
Engage in activities together to help your teen’s reading and writing skills.
Reading:
Read often for fun and for information.
Read a variety of materials—books, magazines, online materials, schedules, manuals.
Read flyers, maps and pamphlets together to plan family events.
Encourage your teen to read the questions before the passage when doing homework.
Engage in friendly debates on current affairs and other issues of interest. Help your teen express opinions about matters which are important to him or her.
Encourage your teen to read, no matter what the form is, for at least half an hour each day.
Writing:
Find opportunities for writing at home i.e. shopping lists, to-do lists, letters, and instructions.
Encourage your teen to choose words that will improve the clarity of his or her communication.
As well, you can help by:
Limiting your teen’s absences from school.
Scheduling appointments outside of the testing period on Thursday March 27, 2008.
Ensuring your teen gets a good night’s sleep.
Ensuring your teen gets a good breakfast.
Ensuring your teen arrives at school on time.
The ability to find information in many forms and from many different sources, read and understand the information gathered, and use that information for a variety of different purposes is essential for success in today’s world.
Model Reading and Writing
Have your teen see you read and write.
Relate reading to your everyday life. For example, you can read magazines, newspapers, catalogues, menus, TV guides, internet, crossword puzzles, maps and guides.
Check out apprenticeships, college and university websites with your teen.
All grown up and no time to read? Place books and magazines in the car, bathroom, kitchen, or on the microwave.
Write letters to family and friends.
Write for several different purposes i.e. lists, recipes, instructions.
Teach your teen how to budget and how to complete a sheet of expenses and income.
Teach your teen how to develop ‘Pro/Con’ lists when making decisions.
held on the morning of April 2, 2008.
Literacy
