English JA 7th and 8th
Grade Breakdown:
Reading 30%
Writing 30%
Language 20%
AR 10%
Attendance 10%
Attendance 10%
100%
Category details:
Reading:
When students reach middle school level, the emphasis in reading instruction lies primarily in comprehension and vocabulary skills. CLOSE READING is systematically taught and used throughout the semester, as well as repeated practice correctly writing TEXT EVIDENCE to support answers and opinions from literature and informational text. Students are taught to use QAR (Question Answer Relationship) to identify types of questions and become confident when answering them within any subject. In addition, students use Reciprocal reading practices within small groups while reading novels. Reciprocal reading consists of predicting, summarizing, questioning, and clarifying. For more information on any of these comprehension techniques, please visit the documents folder on the front page of my blog.
*Throughout the semester, students will take a series of three comprehension (MAZE, STAR) and word-per-minute (WPM) assessments, which are documented within their portfolios.
Writing:
Students will be asked to write a series of 5-paragraph essays throughout the semester. Emphasis will be on the writing process: pre-writing, draft, editing, and final. They will learn the structural differences among different types of essays: narrative, argumentative, explanatory, and response to literature. Eighth grade creates a research paper using parenthetical citation and documenting their resources correctly (bibliography). Final essays are graded with a writing rubric, giving a score out of 24 points. These essays are saved and scores are documented within their portfolios.
*Students free-write in their journals daily. This is simply practice taking thoughts from their head and putting them on paper. Frequently, students read their journal entries aloud to practice speaking and listening skills with familiar text.
Each year we create a classroom journal, where students each get a turn to write an entry in an ongoing story. As a culminating project, the students will edit and illustrate their entry. All entries will be put together and published as a final book for each student to take home.
Language (consists of grammar, conventions, and vocabulary & spelling):
Students practice grammar, spelling, & convention skills daily through D.O.L. (Daily Oral Language). Written within their journal books, students edit sentences for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.
In addition to D.O.L., students receive direct instruction in language through the literature curriculum:
7th grade:
Pearson Literature 2015
8th grade:
Pearson Literature 2015
*Each textbook is also available online. Students can read passages, listen to audio versions of the passage, highlight, take notes, and turn in assignments using this online resource.
Spelling (7th) or Vocabulary (8th):
Starting second semester, students will have daily spelling/vocab. homework and a spelling/vocab. test on Friday. On Monday, students receive their word list and worksheet. Then throughout the week, they choose different activities to practice their words. Each day’s activity results in 25% of their spelling/vocab. homework grade. Here’s the breakdown:
Monday - worksheet 25%
Tuesday – practice 25%
Wednesday – meaning 25%
Thursday – context 25%
All due Friday 100%
If a student does not complete one item of his or her spelling work, he or she would receive 75%. If he or she does not complete two items, the resulting grade would be 50%, and so on.
*For a complete list of the activities students may choose from for spelling/vocab. work, please refer to the documents folder on the home page of my blog or the resources on StudentVue or ParentVue (this will be visible 2nd Semester).
Students will have a copy in their English folder as well.
Students will have a copy in their English folder as well.
Class work/Homework Policy:
AR is worth 10% of the overall English grade. Students are expected to reach an AR goal each semester. The % of the goal reached translates into the semester AR grade. This will be entered into the grade book starting week 6 of each semester. It is a 'progressive' grade, meaning that the grade will be changed/increased as a student takes AR quizzes and increases his or her "% of goal."
Class work is generally assigned daily and due the next day. If students do not finish their assignment in class, it becomes homework. If students are absent, they have one day for each day absent to make up absent work. Daily assignments are written on the board.
Missing and Failed Work: Students may turn in missing or late assignments for reduced credit (Spelling homework or credit/participation assignments may not be made up or turned in late unless absent on day due).
If a student does not have any missing assignments, they may re-do any F’s for increased credit. I will average the scores of the two assignments for the new grade. *Tests may not be re-done.
