Ms. Cindy Harris
I plan to teach your child the importance of education through verbal and written language. Throughout the school year, students will be exposed to different types of fiction and nonfiction reading material, as well as utilize the writing process by practicing various types of writing genres. While students work together to create a caring community, they will grow as writers and creative thinkers.
Language Arts Goal-
Children have the chance to explore areas of interests, exercise questioning skills and demonstrate knowledge. Their imagination and viewpoint will be respected as they assess their work and that of their peers, by utilizing rubrics. They will work in an environment that encourages them to take compositional risks and embraces the writing process. Unit topics correspond to text selections; novels vary according to reading levels.
Our 8th grade classes will be reading and analyzing the fictional and nonfictional novels, collaborating on projects , and utilizing the proper writing process to respond to various writing prompts.
Language Arts classes:
- Throughout the school year, students will be encourage to expand their vocabulary through exposure to new terms as well as build their skills by using context clues while reading.
- As an effective method to assist students with building comprehension skills, they will be working to analyze open-ended questions and answering open-ended questions using the “RACE” strategy in order to develop critical thinking skills.
Students will be required to use this strategy when answering all open ended questions.
Please review and reinforce this strategy:
**All students were given a copy of this year's syllabus, however I have attached one for you to refer to throughout the school year.
8th grade 2023 English Syllabus
Extra Credit:
Directions: Students are instructed to read independently and silently for 15 minutes daily. Once students have read a book entirely, they are encourage to write a 2 page summary. The 2 page summary should include details and facts about the book.
**If the book is fiction, the summary must include story elements (setting, characters, plot, & theme). If the book is nonfiction, the summary must include facts about the topic and an opinion about the topic.
EXTRA CREDIT will be given once the student has handed in a neat and well proofread 2 page summary.