We have seven units that we cover in 8th grade English Language Arts: Fiction, Expository, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Persuasive, Drama, and Mythology. Research will be integrated through every unit. Students will receive a pre-assessment before every new unit. This will serve as a baseline for student instruction.  A typical week in an ELA classroom would involve a few days of mini-lessons and practice, followed by a few days of small group, partner, or independent work, all based on the pre-assessment grade. Students will be reading both in the classroom and on their own. Students will also have various writing pieces - essays, scripts, poetry, and imaginative stories - to work on throughout the year. On level ELA will have more teacher guidance, modeling, and practice. Students will have specific choices to work with.