Ontario Kindergarten Curriculum 2026 Review

Vocabulary flashcards detailing key curriculum policy shifts, strands, expectations, and continuums from the 2026 Ontario Kindergarten Curriculum lecture notes.

2026 Ontario Kindergarten Curriculum Policy

The official policy document replacing The Kindergarten Program, 2016, effective starting in the 2026-27 school year.

Strand A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics

The curriculum strand covering oral communication, reading and writing foundations, text response, creating texts, mathematical processes, number, patterning, data, geometry, and measurement.

Strand B: Problem Solving and Innovating

The curriculum strand covering foundational coding, scientific investigation, engineering design, and exploring natural and built environments.

Strand C: Self-Regulation and Well-Being

The curriculum strand covering social skills, independence, health concepts, active participation, and movement skills.

Strand D: Belonging and Contributing

The curriculum strand covering identity, perspectives, Canadian identity, bias, community, nature, responding to art, and creating art.

Curriculum Expectation Code Map

A map for reading expectation codes that sequences from strand letter, to overall expectation number, to specific observable learning (e.g., A = strand, A2 = overall expectation, A2.3 = specific expectation).

Letter Knowledge

The ability to name upper- and lowercase letters, both in and out of order, and use proper formation patterns.

Phonemic Awareness

The ability to isolate and blend phonemes, and segment simple words into phonemes.

Phonics

The ability to identify simple grapheme-phoneme correspondences.

Word Reading and Spelling

Reading and spelling simple words using phonemic awareness and phonics knowledge.

Sentence Fluency

Reading short sentences fluently with increasing accuracy to support comprehension.

Creating Texts

Children's use of letters, words, sentences, pictures, symbols, and classroom writing resources to create simple texts.

Mathematical Processes

Core math practices including problem solving, reasoning, reflecting, connecting, communicating, representing, and selecting tools/strategies.

Composition (Mathematics)

Subitizing to 5, as well as composing and decomposing quantities to 10.

Unplugged Coding

Developing coding skills like sequencing, precision, testing, and revision through movement, directional language, maps, and symbol cards without requiring screens.

Engineering Design Cycle

A systematic cycle of learning that involves stating problems, predicting and observing, choosing tools, building and testing models, and concluding and communicating results.

Language Foundations Continuum

A developmental progression tool that connects Kindergarten language expectations with Grade 1 expectations.

Mathematics Continuum

A developmental mapping tool that connects Kindergarten math expectations directly into Grade 1-3 math strands.