8th Grade ELA (English)

Welcome to Mrs. Murray’s 8th Grade English Class!!!

Course Information 2023-2024

Welcome to my classroom!  I’m so excited to share the next 10 months with you!  Here in English class, we will read, write, speak, debate, study grammar and proper writing techniques, and conduct research!  It’s been a beautiful and restful summer, but it’s time to get back to work!

To prepare students for college and career readiness, as well as real-world experiences, we will be focusing the following:  

• building skills in close reading 

• analyzing literary works 

• writing for a variety of purposes and audiences including: persuasive essays, informative essays, narrative compositions, occasion speeches…

• exploring the many facets of language through, reading, reflection, discussion, presentation and writing.

• developing the skills involved in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in a variety of contexts.

  Goals:

• Perhaps above all else, I want you to be confident in your reading and writing skills.  I will do my best to be organized, interesting, informative and prepared.

• You will read and discuss a variety of literary works including: novels, plays, short stories, essays, non-fiction pieces, and poetry.

• You will be writing in a variety of styles, but there will be a focus on evidence-based argument and research.  

• You will learn myriad new vocabulary words- especially Academic Vocabulary (helpful words for all classes)  (You like that, right?)

•  You will take part in problem solving and critical thinking tasks.

(Isn’t English class awesome???)

• You will realize that English class is the most important class ever created!!!  True.

Our 8th  grade curriculum is designed to provide reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities that will prepare students for the study of more advanced literature and writing.  Students will be able to analyze and make personal connections to literature.  

Some of the riveting texts we will read include:  Refugee,  Independent Reading choices, and short stories, poems, essays, and non-fiction. 

In order for us to get along in a productive and peaceful environment, there are certain classroom philosophies that must be observed.

Classroom Philosophies:

• PERHAPS ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE…WHEN YOU ARE ABSENT, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSULTING THE GOOGLE CLASSROOM.  THIS IS CRITICAL.

• You need to raise your hand when you wish to contribute to class discussion.  Otherwise, we could have total anarchy.  (This would not be good.)

• Respect your fellow students.  Do not talk while someone else is talking.  Please do feel free, though, to courteously share your ideas with the class.  We all learn from each other.

• When class time is designated for individual work, there must be silence in the classroom.  It is disrespectful to deny someone of a quiet work environment.

• If you are absent and you need to discuss something with me, talk to me at a time that is convenient for both of us.

• Please sharpen pencils and throw away garbage before or after the bell rings.

• Be prepared for class by being on time with notebooks, chrome books, and pens at the ready!

• Have a positive attitude.  It is contagious!

Extra Help:  I will be available for extra help on Wednesday afternoons from 2:50- 3:10 and Thursday mornings from 7:30-7:50.  

School Supplies:  2 composition notebooks, 2 folders,  pens/pencils and a personal pencil sharpener, highlighters and post-it notes.  Students should also have their charged chromebooks with them in class daily. 

I wish you all a very happy, healthy, exciting, and thought-provoking year!