8th Grade Language Arts is a new format to the classes previously offered as English and Literature for the 7th and 8th graders at Maquoketa Valley Middle School. The middle school literacy teachers along with the curriculum administrators are working hard and learning together to incorporate the best practices for the students at both the 7th and 8th grade levels. We are taking a workshop approach with workshops in the areas of reading, writing and language. Throughout the workshops, Iowa Core Curriculum standards will be taught and assessed.
READER'S WORKSHOP:
The Reading workshop will include groups reading texts at the individual students' reading levels with text response activities followed with conversations to deepen the understanding of the material. The Reader's workshop will also include the students reading individual reading books of the student's choice. Students will be required to complete a novel each month. The first 3 weeks of the month, the students will fill out a Reading Response Form, and the 4th week, the students will complete a book talk project (projects will vary from month to month). The overall goal of the Reader's Workshop is to get students reading more of a vast variety of texts and pinpointing the reading level of each student. The reading level of each student will provide a better opportunity for each individual student find success in reading.
LANGUAGE WORKSHOP:
The Language workshop will work with author's craft, writing styles and techniques focusing on author's purpose and audience. This workshop will include formal writing pieces that will give the students time to apply what they learn. Also in the Language workshop, students will complete word work. During this, students will be focusing on learning greek and latin roots with the hope that students will be able to identify new words with the same roots which will help them determine the definition of unknown words.
WRITER'S WORKSHOP:
The Writer's Workshop will consist of students using the writing process with topics of his/her choice. Students will use a journal to brainstorm, start stories, poems and essays, try different strategies, and take a piece of writing through the writing process to publication.