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Ayres, Mrs. Sheila

Course Outline for 8th Grade Language Arts

This year in 8th grade language arts we will prepare for the writing PSSA test and the reading PSSA test in the spring.  We will work on sentence combining and grammar rules, improve sentence structure, understand and properly use contractions, recognize and correctly use homophones, and expand our vocabulary.  We will read a lot!  We have research opportunities where you will present what you learned with the class.  We will be busy, and you will work hard and learn a lot.  My expectations are high, and you will be proud of all you accomplish as you prepare to move on to high school!
 
**The following outline is under construction.
 
August/September
  • Class-building activities
  • Flipped Classroom overview and expectations
  • Literature & related literary elements
     Unit 1--Plot & Conflict
  • Paragraph writing (Compare & Contrast)
     
October & November
  • Short story & related literary elements
  •  Unit 2--Character & Point of View
  • Grammar & Word Study
    •  comma splices & fused sentences; sentence fragments
    • combining sentences with coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
    • prefixes, suffixes, roots
    • vocabulary
  • Literacy Design Collaborative--Argumentative Essay 

December & January

  • Unit 4--Theme & Symbol
  • Grammar:
    • irregular verbs
    • parallel structures
    • sentence combining with parallel structures
  • "The Diary of Anne Frank" reader's theater & Holocaust background
  • Pre-test for Spelling Bee
  • Word Study:
    • Prefixes, suffixes, roots
    • Vocabulary

February
  • Spelling Bee
  • Unit 5--Poetry & Figurative Language

  • Vocabulary
  • Under Construction from this point
 March
  • Persuasive writing practice prompt
  • "The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln
  • "I Have a Dream"speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Langston Hughes poetry
  • Literary devices:  refrain, allusion, metaphor, theme
  • Theme and purpose
  • Vocabulary & spelling (ongoing)
 
April
  • Begin research project in library (starting date to be announced)
    • Using library reference and nonfiction resources
    • Using on-line resources and databases
    • Evaluation of sources
    • Notetaking
    • Works cited
  • Research project continued
    • Using graphic organizers to plan and outline research
    • Writing topic sentences and a thesis statement
    • Informative paper (5 paragraph minimum)
    • Research presentation (4 - 6 minute speech)
  • Grammar and application to writing
  • Vocabulary & spelling (ongoing)
  • PSSA practice reading passages and writing prompts
  • Non-fiction
May
  • PSSA Writing and Reading tests (dates to be announced)
  • Reading a novel
    • Literature club groups
    • Plot structure
    • Literary elements (symbolism, foreshadowing, flashback, characterization)
  • Vocabulary & spelling (ongoing)
  • Short Stories
  • Narrative Writing with dialogue
  • Grammar & application to writing
June
  • Field Trips
    • Sico Park
    • Hershey Park
  • Year-end evaluation                                      
                                                                   sun