August 2025

 Monday 

August 11

(No School!)

 Thursday/Friday

August 14/15 (Block Periods)

Agenda:

1. Welcome!

2. Seating Chart/Attendance 

3. Reminders:

• Learning Commons Visit Monday (8/18)

• Today's Class (Nuts & Bolts)

• Sign up > Go Formative 

4. Review PTMS Semester System

• What does this look like?

5. English 8 Course Syllabus  (posted in GC) 

• Students Read/Complete "Quiz"

• Review "Quiz" Responses

• Need Parent/Student Signatures by Monday (8/18)

6. English 8 Classroom Expectations  (posted in GC) 

• Review/Discuss

7. Honors English vs College Prep

• What's the difference?

• English 8 Honors Grades (2024-25 results)

8. Introduce "I Am Poem"

• Review Format/Structure

• Review Instructions/Teacher Sample

• Student Document 

• Stress Authenticity

9. Introduce Literary Terms/Devices Study Guide & Go Formative  (if time)

Homework:

• Submit "English 8 Honors Course Expectations"/Syllabus (with electronic student/parent signatures) 

Due (per. 1) by Thurs. (8/21)

Due (per. 2) by Wed. (8/20)

• Learning Commons Visit Monday (8/18)

Monday 

August 18 (Late Start)

Agenda:

1. Welcome!

2.  Reminders:

• Late Start Bell Schedule 

• Parent Email (last Friday)

• Gradebook Update (Aeries)

• Use Class Calendar (access via Google Classroom)

• Fall STAR Reading Assessment (Thursday, 8/28)/(Friday, 8/29)

• Learning Commons Visit TODAY

• Last Week/This Week 

 3.  English 8 Honors Syllabus

• Review Student/Parent Signatures

 4.  "I Am Poem" Review/Questions

• Review Details/Mr. Copeland's sample

• Student Samples 

• Complete "I Am Poem" by Thursday (8/21)/Friday (8/22)

• Do NOT submit Student Doc.; instead, bring printed copy (with photo) on Tues./Wed.

Authenticity!

4. PTMS Learning Commons Visit

Homework:

• Fall STAR Reading Assessment next (Thursday, 8/28)/(Friday, 8/29)

• Complete "I Am Poem" by Thursday (8/21)/Friday (8/22)

Do NOT submit Student Doc.; instead, bring in printed copy (with photo) on Wed.

Authenticity !

 Tuesday/Wednesday

August 19/20 (Block Periods)

Agenda:

1. Welcome!

2. Opener:  Student Cards 

3. Reminders: 

• Fire Drill #1 (Thurs., 8/21) during period one

• Fall STAR Reading Assessment (Thursday, 8/28)/(Friday, 8/29)

• Gradebook Update (Aeries)

• Avoid Looking Ahead in Class Calendar

• Chromebook Issues Presentation (posted in GC)

• "I Am Poem" Assignment (any questions?)

• Go Guardian Sign-Up 

4. Complete English 8 Classroom Expectations Presentation (posted in GC)

5. Brief Review Honors English vs College Prep

• What's the difference?

6. Academic Honesty Presentation 

7. "Literary Device Partner Review" Activity

• Literary Device Review Assessment : Next Thursday (8/28)/Friday (8/29)

• Purpose of Lit. Terms/Devices  (student brainstorm)

• Literary Device Table Partner Activity 

ONE person in each group submits document when done

• Use Lit. Devices/Terms Study Guide (posted in Google Classroom)

• Use Literary Devices Flashcards (posted in Go Formative)

• Begin Literary Terms/Devices Review

Homework:

• "I Am Poem" (if you have not already turned in)

• Submit "English 8 Course Expectations"/Syllabus (with student/parent signatures) if you have not already 

• Literary Device  Review Assessment : Next Thursday (8/28)/Friday (8/29)

Use Literary Terms Study Guide, Partner Activity & Go Formative Flashcards, etc. to prepare 

  Thursday/Friday

August 21/22 (Block Periods)

Agenda:

1. Welcome!

2. Opener: Collect "I Am Poems"/Study Buddies 

3. Reminders: 

• Academic Honesty Presentation (posted in GC)

• Fall STAR Reading Assessment (Thursday, 8/28)/(Friday, 8/29)

• Literary Device Review Assessment : Next Thursday (8/28)/Friday (8/29)

• Back to School Night next Thursday (8/28)

• This Week's Birthdays 

• "Broken Chain" Comprehension Quiz 

• No Red Ink Sign-Up 

4. Literary Devices

• Complete/Submit Partner Activity 

ONE person in each group submits document when done

• Individual Study for Assessment (if finish early)

• Complete Literary Terms/Devices Review

5. Plot Chart Review

• What is PLOT/Exposition?

• Focus: Exposition 

6. Begin "Broken Chain"  (Red > p. 7; Blue >p. 29)

• Gary Soto Bio. & Video

• Knowing Our Authors

• Chart Plot Elements/Story Board

• Main Literary Focus: Exposition 

Homework:

• Fall STAR Reading Assessment (Thursday, 8/28)/(Friday, 8/29)

• Literary Device Review Assessment : Next Thursday (8/28)/Friday (8/29)

Use Literary Terms Study Guide, Partner Activity & Go Formative Flashcards, etc. to prepare 

Monday 

August 25 (Late Start)

Agenda:

1. Welcome!

2. Reminders: 

• I Am Poem (update)

• Fall STAR Reading Assessment (Thursday, 8/28)/(Friday, 8/29)

• Literary Device Review Assessment : Next Thursday (8/28)/Friday (8/29)

• Back to School Night this Thursday (8/28)

3. Introduce "Who Are You?" Activity 

• Review Instructions

4. Review Tuesday/Wednesday Plans & Expectations 

5. Complete  "Broken Chain"  (Red > p. 8; Blue >p. 30)

• Review Plot/Exposition  

• Chart Plot Elements/Story Board

• Main Literary Focus: Exposition 

Homework:

• May bring a personal book/novel to class on Tues. (8/26)/Wed. (8/27)

• Fall STAR Reading Assessment (Thursday, 8/28)/(Friday, 8/29)

• Literary Device Review Assessment : Next Thursday (8/28)/Friday (8/29)

Use Literary Terms Study Guide, Partner Activity & Go Formative Flashcards, etc. to prepare  

 Tuesday/Wednesday

August 26/27 (Block Periods)

Agenda:

1. Welcome!

2. Student SORA Time

• May bring a book instead (if you would like)

3. Individual Reading Time 

• Personal Book or SORA

4. Study for Literary Terms Review Assessment (if extra time)

5. "Who Are You?" Writing Activity (students work with table partners)

• Student Interviews

• Begin Writing (if time)

Homework:

• Fall STAR Reading Assessment (Thursday, 8/28)/(Friday, 8/29)

• Literary Device Review Assessment : Next Thursday (8/28)/Friday (8/29)

Use Literary Terms Study Guide, Partner Activity & Go Formative Flashcards, etc. to prepare