Language Arts 8

8th Grade Language Arts is a comprehensive exploration of reading, writing, communication, and research. Students will work collaboratively and independently to improve their skills in these standard areas, as well as to develop confidence and competence in their work and thinking. In class, students will engage in reading, writing, thinking and vocabulary on a daily basis. 

Homework in LA: Students will have LA homework on an almost daily basis. Most often, this will be individual reading and responses/annotation, drafting,  and preparation for performances, discussions, and assessments. 

Current Writing Piece: Throughout the year, you will be working toward polishing various formal pieces of writing, in addition to daily writing in--and sometimes out of--class. These pieces may need to be drafted, edited or finalized at home. Please pay close attention to deadlines, as all assigned writing is a stepping stone to the next skill level. 

Independent Reading:  In language arts, you will typically have an assigned novel (at least one per quarter). Additionally, you need to always have a book on hand, and JUST KEEP READING! Some people are working their way toward finishing one or two this quarter, while others will devour 10-15 books. If you finish a book, make sure to find a new one for class the next day.  Students are expected to read 30 minutes, five days a week. A consistent reading schedule increases a reader’s fluency and has a direct positive impact on writing as well. We will work with our books daily in Language Arts, so please have any assigned books at all times. 

Other Skills: In addition to reading and writing, students in LA will work on Vocabulary usage and mastery, public speaking, and collaborative thinking. Additionally, we will complete iReady Progress Monitoring every month...more about that later! 

Possible Units of Study: We will begin and end the year with a calendar similar to the Advanced LA class as we build skills and routines.