Resources

This page is under construction, too, as of 8/10/21.

Engagement grades. You may be wondering what goes into the many "Engagement" grades that are showing in Campus. In order to involve students in setting expectations in class, all of my classes held a few discussions in August, about what it means to be an engaged student. We boiled all of our conversations down to these: 1. Bring in standard materials every day: TBA2. Actively listen to what's going on: keep side conversations to a bare minimum, especially when others are talking, be patient with technical difficulties.3. Ask questions about the learning4. Participate / play when asked5. Do in-class work, in class.6. Don't space / doodle (too much)And THESE can all boil down to this:

Right stuff, Right place, Right time, Right attitude

Here are the materials (Right Stuff) you'll need for ELA class (May sound like Art class requirements). Please label everything with your name, class, and class period, e.g., Bruce Lee, ELA, P3

Device

Lined composition book, labeled ELA, for in-class note-taking and pasting of materials (There is a Virtual Notebook, too).

Lined composition or spiral notebook, labeled ELA, for to do lists at home.

Post-it notes

pencils/pens/pencil sharpener/eraser

colored pencils

scissors / glue stick and small bottle liquid glue and glue gun

straight edge / ruler

tape

Prompt Action Words

Take one or more of these deliberate actions in order to expand your analysis.

Describe / Description: Give details. To tell or show with written or spoken word, point out facts or details.
Explain / Explanation: Give reasons or steps.
Summary / Summarize: Briefly state the main points. To state or express in concise form, the essential components of something, usually in chronological order.
Compare / Comparison: Point out similarities. Examine in order to note similarities.
Contrast: Point out differences. Examine in order to note differences.
Illustrate: Give examples.
Discuss: Tell about the topic from all angles.
List: Give no details, just facts or items.
Justify / Support: Give proof or evidence. To back up, justify with evidence.
Analyze: Break down into its constituent parts. Break into its constituent concepts.
Identify: To recognize or establish as particular by noting individual features or characteristics.
Determine: To decide or conclude through reasoning or observations.
Infer: To deduce, conclude, or derive by reasoning. To guess, figure out, or surmise from evidence, the answer to “Why is that there?”

P.A.T. (Preferred Activity Time)

Mr. Reetz is big, BIG BIG on engagement in class. His classes' PAT system rewards students for being in class, for bringing the right stuff, being in the right place, showing up at the right time, and bringing the right attitude. Penalties are rare. Note the 4 Rs. My classes are rewarded increments of time for being totally engaged, and they cash in on PAT Friday which happens twice a month, usually. PAT is, however, NOT free time. The period is for ELA-related activities that can be more fun if the class earns the time goal. Each of my classes hopes to surpass set time-earned thresholds, so we may bring in snacks and drinks. A big, BIG, BIG thank you to parents who send snacks to school. Stand by for information on this program in the age of COVID.

ENGAGEMENT

Engagement is a big deal in ELA class. More information to follow.

Rubrics

Gr8_Narrative_Checklist.pdf

MLA Formatting

All papers for 8th grade English are to use MLA formatting.

We usually go with these:

4-part heading, left aligned, single spaced

2-part, centered title, genre: your title which reveals your attitude about the topic or your audience

1.5 line spacing (not 2.0, please)

No extra line spacing between paragraphs

3/4 inch margins,

12 point, Arial font.

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