8th Grade Reading Mrs. Bellew/Mrs. Decembrino

Email Contact: / Phone 610 847 5131 x1109

Course Overview

Below are some of the areas of study and skills we will address.

·  McDougal Littell Literature Series

o  Unit 2- Character and Point of View

o  Unit 3- Setting and Mood

·  Examination of elements of fiction and author’s crafts.

·  Nonfiction text

·  Development of reading strategies.

·  Class Novel: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

·  Reading and examination of organization of nonfiction text

·  Literature Circles

·  Vocabulary.

·  Independent Reading Assignments

·  Use on new online reading response program: Whooo’s Reading

Goals

Through the activities and assignments in my class, I believe that each of my students has the ability to:

1.  Become fluent, independent readers.

2.  Improve comprehension of fiction and nonfiction text through use of a variety of strategies.

3.  Analyze literature through close reading of text.

4.  Write about and discuss literature and the author’s purpose.

5.  Enjoy reading a variety of genres.

Extra Credit Possibilities

Students must have all regularly assigned work submitted to be eligible for extra credit.

1.  Join Reading Olympics club. 2% added to final quarter grade for each quarter of membership.

2.  Read and document an extra book. 1% added to final grade. Maximum of 1 book per quarter. Must discuss this with me prior to submission.

1st Quarter
September-October / ·  Comprehension Monthly Assessments (12 Questions Multiple Choice)
·  Independent Reading: 3 books to read independently
·  McDougal Littell Literature Series
o  Unit 2- Character and Point of View
·  Short Stories from Junior Great Books and Day Books
·  Skill and Strategy Focus:
o  Talking to the Text/Annotation
o  Making inferences
o  Text Dependent Analysis (TDA) Essays and Responses.
·  Major Assessment:
o  MAP Testing (Measure of Academic Progress)-Online Reading Comprehension-September
o  Benchmark Test -end of October/beginning November
2nd Quarter
November, December, January / ·  Monthly Comprehension Assessments
·  Independent Reading: 3-4 books to be read independently
·  McDougal Littell Literature Series
o  Unit 3 Setting and Mood
·  Non-fiction text.
·  Skill and Strategy Focus:
o  Talking to the Text/ Annotation
o  Text Dependent Analysis (TDA) Essays and Responses.
o  Author’s Crafts
·  Short Story The Destructors by Graeme Greene
·  In-class novel: The Outsiders
·  Major Assessment:
o  Benchmark Test: end of January/ beginning of February
o  MAP Testing- online based testing January
3rd Quarter
February, March / ·  In-class novel: The Outsiders continued
·  Short Stories from Junior Great Books and Day Books
·  Skill and Strategy Focus
o  Organization of non-fiction text.
o  TDA with nonfiction
o  Text Annotation
·  Independent Reading: 3 books to be read independently
·  Major Assessment: PSSA March/April
4th Quarter
April-May / ·  Literature circles
·  Reinforcement of reading strategies
·  Independent Reading: 3 books to be read independently
·  Major Assessment: MAP Testing- May

Second Chance Learning

·  Many assignments, quizzes or tests can be retaken at no penalty.

·  For assignments, one week window for redo. Must submit with original.

Differentiation

·  Students in each class have variation in ability and interest.

·  Levelled activities and assignments

·  Varying degree of challenge in questions, tasks required, or methods of assessment.

Goal Setting

·  Record PSSA and MAP scores from 7th grade and 8th grade

·  Student awareness and understanding of scores provides a purpose, and promotes self-assessment, reflection, and motivation.

Homework, Website, and Homework Calendar

·  Regular Homework- to read book by due date

·  Independent reading assignments will be started in class, finished at home if necessary.

·  Occasional small homework assignments.

·  Homework will be posted on Google calendar

·  Assignments, directions, rubrics, and examples available on website.

Help?

·  Resource period

·  Email Mrs. Bellew or Mrs. Decembrino