Get help with English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1
Most tutoring makes your child sit through material your child already knows. MapleMind flips that: pick the exact skill that's causing trouble — any of the 14 below — and the tutor teaches just that one, step by step, as many times as it takes. Ask questions in plain words, any time of day, in English, French, or 12 other languages.
The official Quebec English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 curriculum
Quebec defines English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 by strands and outcomes. MapleMind teaches the same curriculum reorganized for one-skill-at-a-time tutoring — the table shows exactly where every official strand lands, and the ministry's own wording is quoted under each unit below.
Official source Québec's official education programRead it on the government site — quebec.ca ↗| Official strand | Outcomes | Where MapleMind teaches it |
|---|---|---|
| Course outcomes | 14 | Contextual and Functional Language · Strategies · Cultural Elements and Cultural Products · Text Components |
Every skill below, taught one on one.
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How MapleMind teaches English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 — every unit, lesson, and skill
Every skill below runs as a short session: a plain-words lesson, a worked example, solving it together, then a five-question skill check that earns up to three stars. Guided Mode keeps it teaching instead of answer-handing — turning it off needs a parent's password.
Unit 1Contextual and Functional Language
Functional English for real classroom and social situations — the two-column phrase/function inventory (Cycle One Contextual + Cycles Two-Three Functional), pitched for francophone learners.
Interacting orally in familiar situations
- Discover: Uses common inquiries and statements1A.rout.c1 — Guided introduction of “Uses common inquiries and statements” (Interacting orally in familiar situations) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
- Discover: Describes people/characters, objects1A.desc.c1 — Guided introduction of “Describes people/characters, objects” (Interacting orally in familiar situations) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
- Discover: Uses basic expressions of courtesy1A.court.c1 — Guided introduction of “Uses basic expressions of courtesy” (Interacting orally in familiar situations) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
Reinvesting understanding of texts
The official wording — 4 outcomes in this unit
- 1A.rout.c1
Uses common inquiries and statements (e.g. Finished? Red pencil? That’s correct.)
- 1A.desc.c1
Describes people/characters, objects (e.g. Big, Big monster. Blue pants. Delicious apples.)
- 1A.court.c1
Uses basic expressions of courtesy (e.g. Hi. Hello. Please. Thank-you. Excuse me.)
- 1B.ppl.c1
Uses vocabulary related to people (e.g. friends, mom/dad, girl/boy)
Unit 2Strategies
Learner strategies — communication, learning, self-management and metacognitive moves that help a francophone learner keep going in English.
Communication strategies
- Discover: Uses physical motion to compensate for a lack of language2A.gest.c1 — Guided introduction of “Uses physical motion to compensate for a lack of language” (Communication strategies) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
Learning and self-management strategies
- Discover: Acts out a response to show understanding and facilitate lea2B.phys.c1 — Guided introduction of “Acts out a response to show understanding and facilitate lea” (Learning and self-management strategies) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
- Discover: Decides to pay attention to a task and to ignore distractors2B.att.c1 — Guided introduction of “Decides to pay attention to a task and to ignore distractors” (Learning and self-management strategies) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
- Discover: Repeats, rehearses, regroups, integrates and assimilates wor2B.prac.c1 — Guided introduction of “Repeats, rehearses, regroups, integrates and assimilates wor” (Learning and self-management strategies) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
- Discover: Makes use of material resources targeted for the task2B.res.mat.c1 — Guided introduction of “Makes use of material resources targeted for the task” (Learning and self-management strategies) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
The official wording — 5 outcomes in this unit
- 2A.gest.c1
Uses physical motion to compensate for a lack of language
- 2B.phys.c1
Acts out a response to show understanding and facilitate learning
- 2B.att.c1
Decides to pay attention to a task and to ignore distractors
- 2B.prac.c1
Repeats, rehearses, regroups, integrates and assimilates words and expressions
- 2B.res.mat.c1
Makes use of material resources targeted for the task (e.g. posters, flashcards)
Unit 3Cultural Elements and Cultural Products
Songs, rhymes, stories and cultural references from English-language cultures — the enjoyable, low-pressure input that builds a francophone learner’s ear for English.
Cultural elements and products
- Discover: Stories5.stories.c1 — Guided introduction of “Stories” (Cultural elements and products) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
- Discover: Choosing rhymes5.choosing — Guided introduction of “Choosing rhymes” (Cultural elements and products) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
- Discover: Circle rhymes5.circle — Guided introduction of “Circle rhymes” (Cultural elements and products) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
- Discover: Sing-alongs5.singalong — Guided introduction of “Sing-alongs” (Cultural elements and products) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
The official wording — 4 outcomes in this unit
- 5.stories.c1
Stories (e.g. Mouse’s First Halloween, Red Is Best, The Very Hungry Caterpillar)
- 5.choosing
Choosing rhymes
- 5.circle
Circle rhymes
- 5.singalong
Sing-alongs
Unit 4Text Components
Using the parts of a text to build meaning in English — connecting words, contextual cues, main ideas and events, at a controlled-vocabulary level.
Understanding how a text works
- Discover: Orally identifies main events4.events.c1 — Guided introduction of “Orally identifies main events” (Understanding how a text works) at English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 ESL (pre-A1/A1).
The official wording — 1 outcome in this unit
- 4.events.c1
Orally identifies main events
Printable workbook · A keepsake of the year
A English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 workbook worth keeping
Built from the same official curriculum as this page. Before and after each skill above, your student colours in how sure they feel — so the two of you can see, on one page, what's clicking and what needs another look. It's a quiet way to follow how the year is really going.
By June it's full of their own handwriting: units worked through, confidence grown, a mid-year check-in, notes from parent-teacher night, and a certificate at the end. Less a worksheet, more a record of the year worth keeping on the shelf.
Instant download · see every page, reviews and the full description · five or more workbooks are $2.99 each
What it looks like in the app
Common questions
Can MapleMind help my child with English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1?
Yes. MapleMind's AI tutor covers all 14 skills in Quebec's English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 — your child picks the exact skill, and the tutor teaches it step by step: a short lesson, a worked example, solving together, then a skill check to show it stuck.
Is MapleMind aligned to Quebec's official curriculum?
Yes. Every skill in this course maps to an official outcome code from Quebec's Grade 1 English as an Additional Language curriculum, and the ministry's own wording is quoted under each unit on this page — with the official government source linked so you can check it yourself.
What does MapleMind cost?
It's free to start — 5 tutoring chats and a practice quiz every day, no credit card. A Pro subscription ($9.99/month or $49.99/year CAD, 7-day free trial) unlocks unlimited tutoring, practice, and exam simulations.
What if my child is stuck on just one topic?
That's the point of skill-level tutoring: open English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1 in the app, tap the exact skill from the list on this page, and the tutor teaches just that — no wading through lessons your child doesn't need.
Does MapleMind work in French or other languages?
Yes — 14 languages, including French. Both the app and the tutor's explanations switch to the language your child chooses.
Where can I see the official Quebec curriculum for English as a Second Language (Core), Grade 1?
The official source is linked on this page — Québec's official education program. The outline here follows it: every MapleMind skill carries its official outcome code, and the ministry's own wording is quoted under each unit.
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