This page contains some useful information about ELA class in 8th grade. I have included my class syllabus, an overview of our year, access to Google Classroom and Web2School, ELA expectations, and other resources that you may find helpful! 

These are the following values we hold about reading in 8th grade ELA:

• Young people want to read when given books that engage them, time to read, and opportunities to respond and share.

• Young people engage in literature that not only represents them, but also offers the opportunity to see the experiences of others who are different from them. 

• Reading helps to build a community that values collaboration, critical-thinking, and empathy. 

What do these values look like in practice?

• Learners will be given time throughout the week dedicated to independent reading. 

• Book talks will occur on a regular basis to keep learners engaged and provide opportunities to learn about books they otherwise might not have picked up.

• Books available to learners will offer diverse characters.

• Learners will engage with whole-class novels as well as reader-selected novels. 

These are the following values we hold for writing in 8th grade ELA:

• Young people have stories, ideas, and experiences worthy of writing.

• Writing is a life activity and not just meant for academic purposes.

• Young people need opportunities to practice and take risks in their writing.

What do these values look like in practice?

• Learners will be given the opportunity to free write often. Free writing allows learners to view writing as a life activity, experiment with different forms of writing in a low-stakes environment, and develop their own voice. 

• Learners will participate in academic writing alongside alternative mediums to best demonstrate their understanding of the learning targets and content standards.

Without a doubt, there's nothing more important to young readers and learners than access to books that interest them and challenge their thinking. As a community, we're incredibly fortunate to be supported by the Thompson Free Library. 

With a library card, your child will have access to the CloudLibrary, which means they can borrow and return from an extensive list of ebooks and audiobooks without leaving home. I highly suggest taking full advantage of this service. Do be aware that the library doesn't censor material due to age and anyone under the age of 14 needs a parent to sign.

Your child will be provided a copy of this application on their first day of school.