Top Portion: Instruction and Practice

/ Quarterly ELA
Curriculum
& Assessment Planners Grade 8
Plugging Common Core State Standards into PARCC Blueprints to Design Effective Instruction
Designed by
Dr. Dea Conrad-Curry, Ed.D.
www.partnerinedu.com
© 2013 Partner in Education

How to use this document

This organizer is intended to be used as a planning guide for instruction and formative assessment. If students are to meet the changing demands of new generation assessments, they must become accustomed to reading cold text, responding to two-part selected response questions, and writing cohesive textual analysis. Each grade set curriculum and assessment planner is directly aligned to PARCC Model Content Frameworks, PARCC ELA Task Generation Model and PARCC Assessment Form Specifications. Grade level Common Core State Standards for Reading, Writing, Language and Speaking & Listening are found in the latter pages of the document.

Top Portion: Instruction and Practice

The title of each page identifies the grade and quarter for which the planning guide is intended. The top section titled “Close Reading for Instruction and Practice” shaded in green is aligned to PARCC’s Model Content Frameworks and reflects the MCF by indicating the number and types or genre of texts to be read. The form PDF provides ease in entering text titles and writing practices selected by the educator in the middle and far right columns.

Lower Portion: Formative Assessment Tasks

The lower section of the document titled “Quarterly Assessment Tasks” integrates PARCC Assessment Blueprints into curricular planning. The three types of writing tasks students will complete on the PARCC assessment are represented on the planner: an analytic task (yellow), a research task (tan), and a narrative task (orange). Corresponding cells provide space for documenting educator’s decisions for specific paired passage titles as indicated by the PARCC Blueprint. The suggested number of writing tasks students should perform each quarter in order to be prepared for future assessment is aligned to the Model Content Frameworks.

Each writing task type provides the pool of writing prompt topics (left column) and specific standards measured (right column) in accordance with PARCC’s Task Generation Model. The “Standards Measured” column indicates whether reading is evaluated through the prose constructed response (PC) or a two-part selected response (SR). Each text should have a two-part vocabulary item measuring one of the standards listed. The center column provides space to enter selected text titles. Educators are advised to select texts from which to develop formative tasks meeting the expectations of the specific standards.

These formative tasks should reflect the PARCC assessments in both text length and testing style: students read two or more separate texts, answer two 2-part selected response questions and one 2-part vocabulary question following the reading of each text, and finally, students write a constructed response (essay) to the performance task. For further questions or clarifications, feel free to contact me: .

*Note that beginning at the 6th grade, planners grow to a two -pages quarterly document as the responsibilities for teaching to and assessing the research simulation task and the narrative tasks must be shared across disciplines. The narrative task space (orange) is found on the second page not shown in this image.

Quarterly Planning Guide: Grade 8 First Quarter
Close Reading for Instruction and Practice
Essential Question
Genre / Text Title / Routine Writing
Extended Text (Literature) / Flowers for Algernon / Identification of Central Ideas, Double Journal (Entry)
Shorter Texts / Summaries, Reading Response Journals
L.A. Journal Writing,
Comparison/Contrast 1st-3rd Class Passengers
Personal Choice Narrative - Night of the Sinking
Literature (2-3) / The Hitchhiker / Grammar Mini-Lessons
The Tell Tale Heart / Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies
Use context (e.g. the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase
Use common grade appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to meaning of words (e.g. precede, recede, secede).
Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g. dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
Informational (1-2) / Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g by checkin)g the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meaning
Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in context
Use the relationship between particular words to better understand each of the words
Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g. bullheaded, willful, firm, persistent, resolute
Quarterly Assessment Tasks
Writing to Text Measures W.8.4, W.8.5, W.8.6, W.8.7, W.8.8, W.8.9, W.8.10, L.8.1, L.8.2, L.8.3, L.8.6
Analytic Writing: Argument
Complete each task each quarter / Standard Friendly Titles -
Bold (Titles For Instruction) - Italics (Titles For Assessment) / Standards Measured
Differences in points of view of characters
Prompt: "Charlie's progression vs. Doctor's" / A Night to Remember - Titanic / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.6
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5 / One vocab item per text selection RL.8.4, L.8.4,
L.8.5, L.8.6
Central idea/lesson of literature / Cherry Mine Disaster / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.2
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5
Flowers for Algernon
Effect of dialogue or events / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.3
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5
Analysis of themes, patterns of events, or character types / Cherry Mine Disaster / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.9
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5
Analysis of a filmed production / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.7
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.7
Research Simulation Task: Complete one each quarter alternating among disciplines
Prompt Types: Complete one / Standard Friendly Text Title / Standards Measured
Focus on point of view and purpose (ELA) / A Night to Remember - Titanic / PC: RI.8.1, RI.8.6, RI.8.9
SR: RI.8.2, RI.8.3, RI.8.5 / One vocab item per text selection RL.8.4, L.8.4,
L.8.5, L.8.6
History Channel Video
Focus on point of view and purpose (History/Arts) / PC: RH.8.1, RH.8.6, RH.8.9
SR: RH.8.2, RH.8.3, RH.8.5
Focus on point of view and purpose (Science/Technical)
PC: R / S / T.8.1, RST.8.6, RST.8.9
SR: RST.8.2, RST.8.3, RST.8.5

Relationship of ideas (ELA) / PC: RI.8.1, RI.8.3, RI.8.9
SR: RI.8.2, RI.8.3, RI.8.5, RI.8.6, RI.8.9 / One vocab item per text selection RL.8.4, L.8.4,
L.8.5, L.8.6
Relationship of ideas ( History/Arts) / A Night to Remember -Titanic / PC: RH.8.1, RH.8.3, RH.8.9
SR: RH.8.2, RH.8.3, RH.8.5, RH.8.6, RH.8.9
Relationship of ideas (Science/Technical) / PC: RST.8.1, RST.8.3, RST.8.9
SR: RST.8.2, RST.8.3, RST.8.5, RST.8.6, RST.8.9
Use of illustrations and other visuals (ELA) / PC: RI.8.1, RI.8.7, RI.8.9
SR: RI.8.3, RI.8.5, RI.8.6, RI.8.7, RI.8.8
Use of illustrations and other visuals (History/Arts) / PC: RH.8.1, RH.8.7, RH.8.9
SR: RH.8.3, RH.8.5, RH.8.6, RH.8.7, RH.8.8
Use of illustrations and other visuals (Science/Technical) / PC: RST.8.1, RST.8.7, RST.8.9
SR: RST.8.3, RST.8.5, RST.8.6, RST.8.7, RST.8.8
Analysis of argument (ELA) / PC: RI.8.1, RI.8.8, RI.8.9
SR: RI.8.2, RI.8.3. RI.8.5 RI.8.6. RI.8.8
Analysis of argument (History/Arts) / PC: RH.8.1, RH.8.8, RH.8.9
SR: RH.8.2, RH.8.3. RH.8.5 RH.8.6. RH.8.8
Analysis of argument (Science/Technical) / PC: RST.8.1, RST.8.8, RST.8.9
SR: RST.8.2, RST.8.3. RST.8.5 RST.8.6. RST.8.8
Narrative: Complete one task each quarter in each discipline | English alternates narrative type each quarter
Prompt Type / Standard Friendly Titles / Reading / Vocab
Narrative Story (ELA) / A Night to Remember - Titanic / RL.8.1, RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5, RL.8.7,9 / NA
Narrative Description (ELA) / RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, RI.8.5, RI.8.7, RI.8.9
Narrative Scientific Description (History/Arts) / RST.8.1, RST.8.2, RST.8.3,
RST.8.5, RST.8.7, RST.8.9
Narrative Social Studies/Arts Description (Science/Technical) / RH.8.1, RH.8.2, RH.8.3, RH.8.5, RH.8.7, RH.8.9

Quarterly Planning Guide: Grade 8 Second Quarter
Close Reading for Instruction and Practice
Essential Question
Genre / Text Title / Routine Writing
Extended Text (Informational) / A Long Way from Chicago / Letter to Ton Joeys Cousin, Quote Analysis
Writing - How does grandma show she cares based on her actions
Newspaper articles, Reading Responses, Comparison-Contrast Exercises
Summaries, Timelines, Writing Journal Analysis
Shorter Texts
Literature (2-3) / Chicago Poem / Grammar Mini-Lessons
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening
Use verbs in the active and passive voice and in the conditional and subjunctive mood to achieve particular effects (e.g. emphasizing the actor or the action; expressing uncertainty or describing as state contrary to fact)
Informational (1-2) / John Dillenger, Bugs Moran, Great Fire, Depression
Quarterly Assessment Tasks
Writing to Text Measures W.8.4, W.8.5, W.8.6, W.8.7, W.8.8, W.8.9, W.8.10, L.8.1, L.8.2, L.8.3, L.8.6
Analytic Writing: Inform/Explain
Complete each task each quarter / Standard Friendly Titles -
Bold (Titles For Instruction) - Italics (Titles For Assessment) / Standards Measured
Differences in points of view of characters
Prompt: "Grandma vs. Kids - Mrs. Weidenbach" / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.6
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5 / One vocab item per text selection RL.8.4, L.8.4,
L.8.5, L.8.6
Central idea/lesson of literature / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.2
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5
Effect of dialogue or events / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.3
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5
Analysis of themes, patterns of events, or character types / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.9
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5
Analysis of a filmed production / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.7
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.7
Research Simulation Task: Complete one each quarter Alternating among disciplines
Vocab / Standard Friendly Text Titles / Reading / Vocab
Focus on point of view and purpose (ELA) / Biography of L. Frank Baum / PC: RI.8.1, RI.8.6, RI.8.9
SR: RI.8.2, RI.8.3, RI.8.5 / One vocab item per text selection RL.8.4, L.8.4,
L.8.5, L.8.6
Movie: The Wizard of Oz
Focus on point of view and purpose (History/Arts) / PC: RH.8.1, RH.8.6, RH.8.9
SR: RH.8.2, RH.8.3, RH.8.5
Focus on point of view and purpose (Science/Technical)
PC: R / S / T.8.1, RST.8.6, RST.8.9
SR: RST.8.2, RST.8.3, RST.8.5

Relationship of ideas (ELA) / PC: RI.8.1, RI.8.3, RI.8.9
SR: RI.8.2, RI.8.3, RI.8.5, RI.8.6, RI.8.9 / One item per One vocab item per text selection RL.8.4, L.8.4,
L.8.5, L.8.6
Relationship of ideas ( History/Arts) / PC: RH.8.1, RH.8.3, RH.8.9
SR: RH.8.2, RH.8.3, RH.8.5, RH.8.6, RH.8.9
Relationship of ideas (Science/Technical) / PC: RST.8.1, RST.8.3, RST.8.9
SR: RST.8.2, RST.8.3, RST.8.5, RST.8.6, RST.8.9
Use of illustrations and other visuals (ELA) / PC: RI.8.1, RI.8.7, RI.8.9
SR: RI.8.3, RI.8.5, RI.8.6, RI.8.7, RI.8.8
Use of illustrations and other visuals (History/Arts) / PC: RH.8.1, RH.8.7, RH.8.9
SR: RH.8.3, RH.8.5, RH.8.6, RH.8.7, RH.8.8
Use of illustrations and other visuals (Science/Technical) / PC: RST.8.1, RST.8.7, RST.8.9
SR: RST.8.3, RST.8.5, RST.8.6, RST.8.7, RST.8.8
Analysis of argument (ELA) / PC: RI.8.1, RI.8.8, RI.8.9
SR: RI.8.2, RI.8.3. RI.8.5 RI.8.6. RI.8.8
Analysis of argument (History/Arts) / PC: RH.8.1, RH.8.8, RH.8.9
SR: RH.8.2, RH.8.3. RH.8.5 RH.8.6. RH.8.8
Analysis of argument (Science/Technical) / PC: RST.8.1, RST.8.8, RST.8.9
SR: RST.8.2, RST.8.3. RST.8.5 RST.8.6. RST.8.8
Narrative: Complete one task each quarter in each discipline | English alternates narrative type each quarter
Prompt Type / Standard Friendly Text Titles / Reading / Vocab
Narrative Story (ELA) / Narrative of L. Frank Baum / RL.8.1, RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5, RL.8.7,9 / NA
Narrative Description (ELA) / RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, RI.8.5, RI.8.7, RI.8.9
Narrative Scientific Description (History/Arts) / RST.8.1, RST.8.2, RST.8.3,
RST.8.5, RST.8.7, RST.8.9
Narrative Social Studies/Arts Description (Science/Technical) / RH.8.1, RH.8.2, RH.8.3, RH.8.5, RH.8.7, RH.8.9

Quarterly Planning Guide: Grade 8 Third Quarter
Close Reading for Instruction and Practice
Essential Question
Genre / Text Title / Routine Writing
Extended Text (Literature) / Anne Frank (The Play) / Comparison-Contrast Moviesand Play
Shorter Texts / Journal Entries, Quote Analysis, Diary Entries,
Timeline, Reading Responses
Literature (2-3) / Grammar Mini-Lessons
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general and their function in particular sentences
Informational (1-2) / Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood
Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood
Quarterly Assessment Tasks
Writing to Text Measures W.8.4, W.8.5, W.8.6, W.8.7, W.8.8, W.8.9, W.8.10, L.8.1, L.8.2, L.8.3, L.8.6
Analytic Writing: Inform/Explain
Complete each task each quarter / Standard Friendly Titles -
Bold (Titles For Instruction) - Italics (Titles For Assessment) / Standards Measured
Differences in points of view of characters / They Lived in a Horse Stall / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.6
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5 / One vocab item per text selection RL.8.4, L.8.4,
L.8.5, L.8.6
I am an American
Central idea/lesson of literature / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.2
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5
Effect of dialogue or events / Four Perfect Pebbles / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.3
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5
Analysis of themes, patterns of events, or character types / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.9
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.5
Analysis of a filmed production / PC: RL.8.1, RL.8.7
SR: RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.7
Research Simulation Task: Complete one each quarter Alternating among disciplines
Vocab / Standard Friendly Text Titles / Reading / Vocab
Focus on point of view and purpose (ELA) / PC: RI.8.1, RI.8.6, RI.8.9
SR: RI.8.2, RI.8.3, RI.8.5 / One vocab item per text selection RL.8.4, L.8.4,
L.8.5, L.8.6
Focus on point of view and purpose (History/Arts) / PC: RH.8.1, RH.8.6, RH.8.9
SR: RH.8.2, RH.8.3, RH.8.5
Focus on point of view and purpose (Science/Technical) / PC: RST.8.1, RST.8.6, RST.8.9
SR: RST.8.2, RST.8.3, RST.8.5