Language Arts 8th Grade

Welcome to Language Arts! We are looking forward to a wonderful year together.  We absolutely love reading, writing, vocabulary, and even grammar!  Language is so powerful.  The better our language skills, the more successful we will be in school, work, and even our personal lives!  We promise to do our best teaching you, and hopefully, we may even have a little fun!  

Assignments and Gradings

Major Assignments (tests, essays, & projects): 50%

Classwork/Quizzes: 35%

Homework/Bellwork: 15%

Grading Scale: 

90-100/A 

80-89/B 

70-79/C

60-69/D 

59-0/F

You will need to bring the following materials to school every day:

-Folder with pockets and brads 

-Loose-leaf notebook paper

-Pencil

-Composition book

-Your fully charged Chromebook (and headphones/earbuds)

-You will also need a personal reading book with you at all times!

8th Grade Expectations: Our classrooms will be a place of learning, honesty, trust, support, and encouragement.  The following THREE expectations will get us there:

•  RESPECT yourself, your peers, your atmosphere, and your teachers.
•  Choose to be a LEARNER!
• BE PREPARED!  
• Be RESPONSIBLE for your actions as well as your grades and attitude.  

You will also need a personal reading book with you at all times!  Reading books you enjoy makes you smarter (it’s true); plus, reading is fun – we promise!  We have a classroom library from which students are welcome to borrow books.  Please be aware that the selections in our classroom libraries, just like the public library, range from elementary-level to university-level reading material.  As a parent, we ask that you remain aware throughout the year of the books your child has chosen to read and assist in gauging appropriateness.  Students are expected to read approximately 20 minutes daily to meet a weekly reading goal and to complete one book project quarterly. We go to the library as a class every other week and can help your child access online books if needed.

Assignments

Assignments will be accessed through our Canvas pages and StudySync. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to check the weekly agenda and follow the links to the assignments.   

Overview

The content of this course is based on the Tennessee State Standards for 8th grade Language Arts.  This information can be accessed at the following address: http://www.tn.gov/education/curriculum.shtml. Complete detailed syllabus can be accessed in Canvas.

1st Unit: Everyone Loves a Mystery

Essential Question: What attracts us to the mysterious?

Genre Focus: Fiction

Extended Writing Project: Narrative

Novel study:  And Then There Were None 

2nd Unit: Past and Present

Essential Question: What makes you, you?

Genre Focus: Poetry

Extended Writing Project: Argumentative

3rd Unit: No Risk, No Reward  

Essential Question: Why do we take chances?

Genre Focus: Informational Text

Extended Writing Project: Informative

5th Unit: Trying Times

Essential Question: Who are you in a crisis?

Genre Focus: Drama