Welcome to 8th Grade Merit ELA!!!
Overview:
This class will make use of an advanced version of the 8th grade ELA curriculum. The students will be doing the majority of the general curriculum to prepare them for the PSSA, but they will also be exploring more advanced topics throughout the year to challenge and enrich their experiences with reading and writing.
Just as with last year’s ELA class, the course is divided into five units, each organized by a guiding essential question. Within the unit, the students will read at least one novel as well as various fiction and nonfiction in order to write a culminating essay answering the essential question at the end of the unit.
Novels:
Unit 1: The Giver (Lois Lowry)
Unit 2: Touching Spirit Bear (Ben Mikaelsen), Kidnapped (Robert Louis Stevenson)
Unit 3: The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton), Frankenstein (Mary Shelley)
Unit 4: Summer of my German Soldier (Bette Green), The Diary of Anne Frank
Unit 5: Monster (Walter Dean Myers), Eight Tales of Terror (Edgar Allan Poe)
Grading:
All of the ELA teachers in the building will be using the same grading policy. Here are the weights for the different categories of work:
Homework 10%
Classwork 20%
Tests/Quizzes/Projects 40%
Writing Assignments 30%
The school policy for late work will be followed in this class. In the case of an extended absence, a plan will be made to help you catch up in a timely manner without causing undue stress.
Materials:
A large part of being an 8th grader is learning to be responsible for your own things. There will be certain items that you are expected to bring to class every day. If you do not have these items, you will receive Wams Jams and ultimately detentions. Every day you will need to bring the following items:
3-ring binder or a folder just for ELA
Warm-up booklet
Supplementary readings booklet
Novel(s)
Novel packet
Pencil or pen
Behavior:
In this classroom, you are expected to demonstrate the different pillars of character counts. The pillars of character are summed up in the following classroom rules:
1.) Be in your seat ready to work when the bell rings. This means you have already used the bathroom, went to your locker, and sharpened your pencil before the start of class. You will receive a detention after three tardies, and you will receive a Wams Jam if you have to leave class after it has started.
2.) Only speak when it is your turn, and always speak with respect. This means when I am talking, you are not. When one of your classmates is talking, you are not. Discussion is an important part of ELA class, but it only works when everyone in the class shows respect to each other. You’re not always going to agree with everyone, but you must respect them enough to listen to their opinion and respond kindly.
3.) Do your best work every day. This means that you do not have your head down and that you try every assignment. Some things will be hard, and if you do not understand something, please ask for help. Not understanding is not an excuse to not try.
4.) Touch people or their property only with permission. I don’t care if you were “just kidding.” Immature behaviors such as knocking people’s books down, taking things off people’s desk, etc. will not be tolerated in an 8th grade classroom.
5.) Act in a way that ensures the safety of everyone in the room. This means that you do not do anything, no matter how silly, that could potentially hurt someone. This includes jumping over desks, throwing things, etc.
Consequences:
If you choose not to follow any of the above rules, you will receive the following consequences:
1. Verbal warning
2. Documented warning
3. Phone call or e-mail home
4. Teach detention
5. Office referral
Consequences are not always bad things though. If you do choose to follow the rules, you will receive these consequences:
1. Character count slips
2. Prize drawer
3. Phone call, e-mail, or postcard home
4. Opportunity to change seats (including moving to the couch)
Contact Information:
If you ever need to talk to me about anything, you can e-mail or call me at the school.
717-762-1191