8th ELA




8th Grade Language Arts Syllabus:


Class Components

  1. Warm- Up: This is your time to settle into class, prepare and get your head in the zone.
    1. Students will choose from work options that will be posted on the board
    2. This is ungraded work time, a privilege and an opportunity to build trust with me as an individual. It is not time to socialize or do work from other classes. If this time is not used properly, I reserve the right to assign individual students my own warm-up assignment that must be signed by parents.


  1. Grammar: We will work through 1-3 mini lessons each week, depending on the skill. In whole/collaborative groups, we will complete practice work for each lesson. Students will then complete the assigned workbook pages independently. At the end of each chapter, there is a test.
      1. Short diagnostic tests
      2. 2 page practice work for each lesson (whole group > partner work)
      3. 3 workbook pages per lesson (independent practice, first 5 of each section)
      4. “Grammar in Lit.” application practice at the end of each chapter
      5. Mixed Review


*Graded Work* = 1) Workbook checks (Classwork grade)

2) Mastery Test at the end of each chapter (Test grade)


  1. Vocabulary: Students will be given vocabulary lists to learn and work with weekly. We will introduce and review words during class, but the majority of vocabulary work is independent study/ collaborative work.
    1. Vocabulary lists will include:
      1. Academic vocabulary- figurative language, comprehension skills, test prep
      2. Word study/ grammar skill - Greek + Latin word parts, words that end in -ful
      3. Novel studies - new, grade-level words based on text assigned
    2. Choice Boards
      1. Complete three activities throughout the week
    3. Quizzes will be given every 1-2 weeks
      1. Students will be assessed on vocabulary lists weekly on Quia


*Graded Work*= 1) Choice Board (Classwork grade)

2) Weekly Quizzes (Quiz grade)


  1. Literary Analysis/ Close Reading: Students will be exposed to a variety of texts including our big Lit. textbook, short stories, articles, poems, speeches and interviews. This is a whole-group, guided study. The focus is to practice new or higher-level comprehension skills, analysis, critique and to explore new writing styles.
    1. Close-reading of texts in class, whole group

c. Reading written responses

i. short, in-class responses to assess student understanding of concept or skill over writing conventions - expose students to different types of writing/ reading - time to take chances (Fail, Forward)


*Graded Work* = 1) Reading written responses (Classwork grade)


  1. Book Club: Students will work in groups based on their reading levels/ interest and given a list of books they can choose from. They will each be assigned a collaborative role to focus on for each week of reading. Students will meet to share and discuss, before switching roles. To start the year, and learn how to navigate this process, we will begin by reading the same text as a class until we understand how to perform each job.
    1. Independent Reading
      1. Use Post-it’s or notebook to “talk to text” and take notes as you read
    2. Group/ Class Discussions
    3. Group Meeting
      1. Individual work must be completed in order to share with your group
    4. Comprehension Quizzes - short, quick Quia quiz to make sure you are reading
    5. End of Book Project - thematic exploration of text

*Graded Work* - 1) Your portion of meeting work (Classwork grade)

2) Comprehension Quizzes (Quiz grade)

3) End of Book Project (Project grade)



  1. Step-Up to Writing: We will focus on specific skills through 2-3 mini writing lessons a week. We will then slowly build on and apply these skills with an extended (2-3 week long) writing assignment that will take students through the entire writing process. We will use a Writer’s Workshop model to complete this writing in class. Students will receive the opportunity to work with me in small groups as well as one-on-one, when appropriate, and receive specific feedback to guide them.
    1. The Writing Process
    2. Types of Writing
    3. Narratives
    4. Expository Writing- informational, research, opinion, persuasive

*Graded Work* - 1) Writing process (Classwork grade)

2) Final Paper (Step-Up to Writing grade)

***All work will be graded using the Step-Up to Writing rubrics.

3. Student Materials: Students should come to class with all of their materials in their backpacks. Backpacks will be kept on the back of each student’s chair.

  1. Chromebook - charged and ready to go!
  2. Textbook, grammar workbook, assigned reading and/or novel
  3. 3-Ring binder w/ 3 dividers - OR- 3-subject notebook
  4. Pencils , highlighters & red pens
  5. Post-it notes