S
SpeakClub The Skill Graph
Every skill we teach, on one map 88 named skills across 7 strands. Each one has a plain can-do statement, the mistakes we watch for, and what counts as proof your child can do it without help. Tap any skill to open it.
Core
Taught and assessed this year
Keep
Kept sharp inside bigger tasks
—
Not on the map that year
All strands Reading Language Craft Writing Speaking Listening Vocabulary Foundations
88 skills shown GR 3 GR 4 GR 5 GR 6 GR 7 GR 8 GR 9
R
Reading, Comprehension & Reasoning Retrieve
R1.1 Find It Locate explicitly stated information CORE
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R1.2 Hunt Smart Use text features and structure to locate information INTRO
CORE
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R1.3 Read the Picture Read information from visual and graphic sources INTRO
CORE
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Organize and summarize
R2.3 Follow the Thread Trace how ideas or events develop across a text CORE
CORE
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R2.4 Shrink It Summarize concisely and accurately CORE
CORE
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Infer
R3.1 Read Between the Lines ◆ Make a text-based inference CORE
CORE
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R3.2 Update Your Guess Predict and revise using new information INTRO
CORE
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Support with evidence
R4.1 Prove It Select supporting evidence CORE
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R4.2 Clue or Just Cool? ◆ Distinguish relevant evidence from interesting but irrelevant detail INTRO
CORE
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Compare and analyze
R5.1 Line Them Up Compare and contrast on a stated dimension INTRO
CORE
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R5.4 The Author's Choices Analyze structure and author's craft choices —
INTRO
CORE
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Evaluate
R6.1 Take It Apart Distinguish claim, reason and evidence —
INTRO
CORE
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R6.3 Who's Telling Me This? Evaluate source credibility and persuasive intent INTRO
INTRO
CORE
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R6.4 Spot the Spin ◆ Detect bias, spin and loaded framing R6.5 Trust Check Judge the reliability of a source Synthesize
R7.1 Put It Together Integrate information from multiple sources —
INTRO
CORE
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R7.2 Who Do I Believe? Reconcile conflicting accounts R7.3 Any Text, Any Subject Read across disciplines and text types L
Sentence & Language Craft Complete thought
L1.1 Whole Thoughts Produce complete, well-bounded sentences CORE
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Expand
L2.1 Tell Me More ◆ Expand a bare sentence with relevant detail CORE
CORE
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Connect
L3.1 Link It Right ◆ Express the relationship between ideas with an accurate connective CORE
CORE
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Combine
L4.1 Sentence Surgery Combine short sentences into one stronger sentence INTRO
CORE
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Vary
L5.1 Mix It Up Vary sentence structure, length and openings deliberately —
INTRO
CORE
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Precision
L6.1 Cut the Fuzzy Words ◆ Detect and repair vague language INTRO
CORE
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Tone and voice
L7.1 Right Voice ◆ Control register and tone for purpose Style
L8.1 Make It Land Use rhetorical and syntactic devices deliberately L8.2 Cut the Fat ◆ Edit for concision W
Writing & Composition Focus
W2.1 Say What You Mean ◆ State a clear central idea, opinion or claim CORE
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Develop
W3.1 Back It Up Develop an idea with relevant specific content CORE
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W3.2 Show, Don't Tell Elaborate from general to concrete CORE
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Organize
W4.1 Blueprint First Plan a structure before drafting INTRO
CORE
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Connect
W5.1 Make It Flow Create coherence with transitions CORE
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Support
W6.1 Put the Proof In Support a claim with evidence in writing INTRO
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Explain evidence
W7.1 Build the Bridge ◆ Explain how evidence supports the claim —
INTRO
CORE
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Multi-paragraph structure
W8.1 Build the Whole Thing Structure and sustain a multi-paragraph piece —
INTRO
CORE
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Analyze in writing
W9.1 Explain the Relationship Write an analytical response —
INTRO
CORE
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Argue
W10.1 Write the Case Develop a claim with reasons and evidence INTRO
CORE
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W10.2 Answer the Other Side Address an alternative or opposing position W10.3 Meet the Best Objection ◆ Answer the strongest counter-argument Research and synthesize
W11.1 Ask the Right Question Ask a researchable question —
INTRO
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W11.2 Notes, Not Copies Take notes in own words —
INTRO
CORE
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W11.3 Make Something New Write from multiple sources W11.4 Say Where You Got It Credit sources —
INTRO
CORE
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Revise
W12.1 Make It Better ◆ Revise for meaning, not mechanics INTRO
CORE
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W12.2 Take the Note Use feedback to improve work INTRO
CORE
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W12.3 Rebuild It Revise structurally, not just at sentence level Write for the world
W13.1 Real-World Writing ◆ Write for a real audience and format S
Speaking & Oral Communication Full response
S1.1 Whole Answers Answer in a complete, meaningful spoken thought CORE
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Explain clearly
S2.1 Make Me Get It ◆ Explain an idea so a listener understands CORE
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Organize orally
S3.1 Beginning, Middle, End Structure a spoken response CORE
CORE
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Elaborate
S4.1 Say More, Say Why ◆ Extend a spoken answer with reasoning or example CORE
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Deliver clearly
S5.1 Be Heard Speak audibly, at a workable pace, with clear articulation CORE
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Adapt
S6.1 Read the Room Adapt content and delivery to audience and purpose INTRO
CORE
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S6.2 Show and Tell Better Support a spoken message with a visual INTRO
INTRO
CORE
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Respond unscripted
S7.1 Think on Your Feet ◆ Answer an unexpected question coherently INTRO
CORE
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S7.2 Get Back Up Recover after a mistake or a blank INTRO
CORE
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Persuade
S8.1 Make Your Case Present a position with reasons and evidence orally INTRO
CORE
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Defend
S9.1 Answer the Challenge Respond to objections while maintaining a coherent position —
INTRO
CORE
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S9.2 Stand Your Ground ◆ Hold a position under sustained questioning Facilitate and teach
S10.1 Be the Teacher Teach or explain a strategy to another person INTRO
INTRO
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S10.2 Run the Conversation Guide a conversation or interview Present
S11.1 Own the Room ◆ Deliver a prepared talk with presence S11.2 Take the Questions Handle audience questions after a talk D
Listening & Discussion Attend
D1.1 Really Listen Understand what another person actually said CORE
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Clarify
D2.1 Say That Again? Ask a clarifying question when meaning is unclear CORE
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Respond
D3.1 Answer the Actual Question Respond directly to what was said CORE
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Build
D4.1 Add to It Extend another person's idea INTRO
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Paraphrase
D5.1 Say It Back ◆ Restate another person's position accurately INTRO
CORE
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Question
D6.1 Ask a Better Question ◆ Ask a substantive follow-up question INTRO
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Evaluate
D7.1 Weigh What You Hear ◆ Evaluate what a speaker is claiming Challenge constructively
D8.1 Disagree Well Disagree with an idea while respecting the person INTRO
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Synthesize viewpoints
D9.1 Where We Landed Combine multiple viewpoints Move it forward
D10.1 Unstick It Move a stuck discussion forward V
Vocabulary & Word Knowledge Context
V1.1 Word Detective ◆ Infer word meaning from context CORE
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V1.2 Which Meaning? Determine the intended sense of a multiple-meaning word CORE
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Word parts
V2.1 Word Builder Use roots and affixes to determine meaning CORE
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Reference skills
V3.1 Check the Word Verify and refine word choice with reference tools Relationships
V4.1 Word Neighbourhoods Understand word relationships and families CORE
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Precision
V5.1 The Exact Right Word Choose the most appropriate word among near-synonyms INTRO
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Figurative meaning
V6.1 Not What It Says Interpret figurative and nonliteral language CORE
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Academic and domain language
V7.1 Speak the Subject Understand and use academic and subject vocabulary CORE
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V7.2 Say It Simply ◆ Explain a technical term to a non-expert Connotation
V8.1 How Words Feel Distinguish connotation among similar words INTRO
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Active use
V9.1 Use It or Lose It ◆ Use new vocabulary in own speech and writing F
Foundational Reading Support Foundational reading
F1.1 Crack the Word Decode unfamiliar and multisyllabic words F1.2 Catch Your Own Slips Read accurately and self-correct F1.3 Smooth Enough Read at a workable rate F1.4 Read Like You Mean It Read with phrasing and expression See where your child sits on this map A free 1:1 demo class gives you a read on speaking, writing and reasoning — and the two skills we would start with.
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