Curriculum Presentation to Parents

Dear 8th Grade Parents:

Here is a detailed overview of 8th Grade ELA:

General Communication:

• Contact me at dgalang@k051.org with any questions or concerns. When students need help with their work, they can email me and/or make an appointment to see me (during lunch or Wednesday mornings 8:05-8:40). Please send me an email with your child’s name and class in the subject heading; I will use your email address to send notices and to communicate with you directly about your child.
• Check my blog for assignments and lessons: msgalangenglish.blogspot.com.
• All students now have an academic email that they can use in all classes; their email addresses follow this formula: 16firstinitiallastname@k051.org.

• All students will be writing a blog for this class. This has been set up for them. The URL for each blog follows this formula: 16firstinitiallastname.blogspot.com. This is where many of their reading and writing assignments will be published.
• Register at Skedula to view your child’s grades: https://pupilpath.skedula.com/register/parent/. Please be aware that the grades fluctuate throughout the year based on scores and assignments. Use this as a way to see where the students excel and what they need to work on. Encourage the students to talk to me about their grades as well.

8th Grade ELA Curriculum

I. Reading and Responding to Fiction (September)

a  Establish reading rituals: choosing books in a creative way,stopping, thinking, and annotating as we read, discussing books, writing thoughtfully about what we read through notebook entries and published reading responses

b. Read short fiction: "Am I Blue?" by Bruce Coville

c. Learn how to notice and analyze important details; focus on analyzing character, structure, and theme; begin to think more critically about social and controversial issues in texts

d. Create blogs for reading responses; teach and model strategies for writing reading responses

II. Reading and Responding to Nonfiction (October)

         a. Annotate and notice important details; make connections between texts

         b. Plan and write a debate and argument essay on the topic of banning books

         c. Read and respond to Upfront magazines

III. Reading and Writing Picture Book for Social Action/Justice (November-December)

a.  Read a variety of texts and genres that expose students to social issues

b.  Read and understand structure of picture book

c.  Write a picture book on a social issue

d.  Learn how to research

e.  Write research-based foreword on the issue for picture book

IV.  Reading and Writing Poetry for Social Action/Justice (January)

a.  Read a variety of poetry on social issues

b.  Write a short anthology and foreword

c.  Learn/review figurative language and other poetic devices

V.  Romeo and Juliet (February-March)

a.  Learn critical reading skills for reading difficult texts including Shakespeare sonnets

b.  Learn/apply drama skills

c.  Prepare for high school English

d.  Write literary essay

VI.  Test Prep (March)

a. NYS ELA Test: Tues April 5-Thur April 7.

b. Become familiar with the test structure and how it is evaluated; practice test-taking skills

c.  Learn and apply reading and writing skills for test

VII.  Coming of Age (April-June)

a.  Read texts and watch films that follow journey of characters going through coming of age

b.  Write a multi-genre paper around this theme

VIII.  Other requirements of the class:

a.  Independent reading –

i. Students must read at least 2 hours every week – book of student's choice and at appropriate level; they should also log the books that they read on their blog.

ii. Students must be prepared with their independent reading books every day and must read during Project REAL.

iii. Please encourage your children to read nonfiction as well as fiction. Do book clubs together whenever possible. Also, order books from Scholastic catalogs - we get lots of bonus points and free books this way. I have the catalogs though you can also order online. I also have a link to an Amazon book wish list on my blog.
iv. REQUIRED: Each student must have a valid, up-to-date Brooklyn Public Library Card + PIN number by September 25. This can be done by going to any branch; bring proof of address. If the student is not yet 13, a parent/guardian must be present.

b.  Language Study –

As part of our writing units, students will learn vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and mechanics; students will have quizzes on the content taught. They will also have spelling bees to prepare for the school-wide bee on November 9.

c. Other focuses:

• Critical thinking, reading, writing, and speaking
• Fostering identity, community, and responsibility
• Preparing for High School English and beyond…

IX.  How you can help:

a. Encourage your children to get excited about reading and writing; take them to book stores, libraries, etc. Read your child's blog and have discussions about books:-)

b. Please volunteer to chaperone on trips! More information to come...

Curriculum Night Quiz:

1.     What is the minimum requirement for independent reading per week?

2.     What should students be reading for independent reading?

3.  What is your child’s school email address?

What is your child’s blog URL?

4. What is my email address? Please make sure to send me an email with your child’s name and class in the subject.

Thank you for coming. I hope you have a better understanding of what your child is learning in my class.  

Sincerely,

Denise Galang