8th Grade Reading
8th Grade Reading Syllabus
Course Syllabus: Ms Harrison
September 2022 - May 2023
I. Contact Information
Ms. Debbie Harrison
Email: harrisond@crook1.com
Room 224 – Moorcroft High School
“To educate is to expose kids to many possibilities until they find a connection between what’s really important to them and the world out there. And then…nurture and cultivate that connection.”
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Educational Leadership 2002
Welcome to 8th Grade Reading
Throughout history, several authors have voiced their experiences and views through the eyes and voices of their literary characters. This year, it is my goal to create a classroom atmosphere where we can analyze and interpret the different experiences that reveal themselves in some great books, and to analyze the themes, ideas, struggles, and meanings which inspire writers to create their stories in the first place.
Like many art forms, literature contains in its nature the potential for human connection. Why read novels if we can’t, in some way, learn more about ourselves in the process? Through your required journal writing you will think about many of these ideas and how they relate to you.
Considering such issues will inevitably enable us to improve our critical thinking skills, analyzing various themes of our reading and connecting a text’s meaning to our own experiences. Additionally, we will practice different types of writing, develop our abilities to read and interpret literature, and learn the fundamental characteristics of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama.
Texts for This Class
Textbook: EMC’s Mirrors and Windows for 8th grade textbook
We will also include the various novels of your choosing and possibly a couple class novels.
Teacher’s Academic Expectations/Objectives:
*students are expected to connect texts’ ideas to their own lives/personal experiences.
*students are expected to write personal journal entries/reflections about what they’re reading. Mainly, to consider the significance of issues we find in texts.
*students are expected to write essays and eventually, their own creative stories.
*students are expected to think critically and analyze the texts we read.
*students are expected to try their best!
Materials needed
You are REQUIRED to bring the following to class every day:
1). Text(s) we’re reading
2). A journal for reflections (either a composition book, spiral-bound notebook, or folder with notebook
paper inside)
3). Pens and/or pencils
4). Notebook paper
Rules and Expectations of My Classroom
1). You are required to participate in my class.
2). You are expected to arrive to class on time every day, and be ready to work when the bell
rings. This shows you take my class seriously and value our time together.
CONSEQUENCES:
3). If you miss my class, you must show proof of your excused absence in order to make up any work you have missed. Once your absence has been excused, it is your responsibility to find out the work you need to make up in my class. Check the classroom website.
* If your absence is UNEXCUSED, you are not able to make up the work you missed. This includes exams, essays, and projects.
* If you are going to be absent for a school event, all homework due for the day must be turned in and all upcoming assignments picked up BEFORE you leave. You will not be allowed to interrupt my classes to do this. Failing to do this will result in a zero.
4). Show respect for the teacher as well as the students at all times. Examples of disrespect are the following:
-talking while I’m talking to the class.
-talking while other students are talking (sharing their ideas) to the class. This includes whispering.
You are required to listen to other students who share their thoughts. You’d expect the same respect,
wouldn’t you?
-fighting.
-insulting me or other students (for example, name calling, cursing, or “dissing” the ideas and insights of
others in class).
-using derogatory language (curse words or racially-driven words such as the “n” word).
- texting in class; I will take your phone if I see it or hear it and turn it into the office.
CONSEQUENCES
*Fighting, any act of violence, or cursing in my class, such as insulting me or another student will immediately land you in the principal’s office.
5). Cheating is prohibited in my classroom.
CONSEQUENCES
If I catch you cheating, you will automatically receive an F and according to district policy, you will be suspended from my classroom.
6). Plagerism: Unless you’re quoting another writer, make sure your writing is your own! Writing someone else’s words and presenting them as your own (without quotation marks and a reference) is called plagiarism and is considered cheating!
CONSEQUENCES
If I discover that you’ve used someone else’s words as your own writing, you will receive an F for the assignment in question.
Classroom Methods for Learning
-Lectures/Classroom discussion -Group work
-Class reading/Home reading -Independent work
-Listening -Public Speaking
Student Activities
Quizzes and Tests
Written Compositions
Writing
*Journal
Your journal will be graded cumulatively at the end of each quarter, one grade for your amount of journal entries. A student who comes to class regularly and takes their journal reflections seriously when writing them will receive excellent journal grades. Journal grades are not based on spelling, grammar, or other writing mechanics. Rather, journal grades are based on content and thoughtful reflection. Writing unreasonably large or using excess space between lettering and words will result in a loss of points. If your journals contain inflammatory language such as racist names or swear words, the page will not be counted. If you are writing inappropriate information about teachers or other students the page will not be counted. Content of journals is to be over the assigned topics only. Do not write personal info unrelated to the assignment because you don’t always know who is reading them.
*Homework
I expect you to have your homework with you the day it is due. I will only accept late homework if you have an excused absence or we’ve made special arrangements ahead of time. If you miss a literature assignment you must make arrangements to visit with me about the assignment in person. If you are going to be absent for a school event, all homework due for the day MUST be turned in and all upcoming assignments picked up BEFORE you leave. You will not be allowed to interrupt my classes to do this. Failing to do this will result in a zero.
Projects/Oral presentations
Later in the semester, we will begin to speak in front of the class. I realize that this is terrifying for most of us, but polishing our public speaking abilities is essential for our future. I promise you, it gets easier as you get older! I will work with you to prepare you for this.
We will also have an opportunity to create visual projects for certain works of literature we read. Those of you that are better with building things than you are with writing, this is your moment to shine!
Comprehensive Semester Tests: At the end of each semester there will be a comprehensive test given that covers vocabulary and concepts from the lit book. At the end of the 2nd semester a comprehensive test will cover grammar, literature, and the research process.
Grades and Percentages
Individual quizzes, tests, homework, and other assignments are valued differently (see Section XI below) and are graded by point value. However, your overall classroom grade will be based on the following percentage scale:
100%-97% = A+
96%-93% = A
92%-90% =A-
89% - 87% = B+
86% - 83% = B
82% - 80% = B-
79% - 77% = C+
76% - 73% = C
72% - 70% = C-
69% - 67% = D+
66% - 63% = D
62% - 60% = D-
59% or below = F