Key competencies in the content of the Ukrainian literature textbook for the 5th grade of the New Ukrainian School

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of realizing in practice a competence-­oriented model of secondary literary education. We place an emphasis on the importance of preparing innovative educational support for the Ukrainian literature course that belongs to the adaptation cycle of the New Ukrainian School. The content of a new 5th grade Ukrainian literature textbook (created by the Institute of Pedagogy of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine) is thoroughly described, particularly its emphasis on the formation of key student competencies, as defined by the new State Standard of Basic Secondary Education (2020). We demonstrate the specifics of organizing the educational activities of fifth graders during the process of working with the proposed Ukrainian literature textbook, which is aimed at the consistent formation of 11 key student competencies. Using specific examples of proposed sections, such as “Reading Guide,” “THINK,” “Read and Explore,” “In the Circle of the Arts,” and “Linguistic Treasures,” we explain their competence-­forming potential in relation to the following competencies in students-­readers: fluency in the state language; ability to communicate in native (if different from the state) and foreign languages; mathematical competence; competencies in the natural sciences, engineering, and technology; innovative thinking; environmental competence; informational and communication-­related competencies; interest in lifelong learning; civic, social, and cultural competencies; entrepreneurship and financial literacy.