Language Arts 8 Mr. McKee

Course Objective: This course is designed to enhance students’ abilities to communicate through- reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will integrate each of these tools into thematic units. In addition, students will be responsible for a seventh grade grammar and spelling.

Recommended Materials: 1 composition/spiral notebook Organization system that works for you (i.e. binder OR folders OR accordion files) #2 pencils or erasable pens

What You Need in Class Every Day: Writing utensil (pencil/pen) Notebook (spiral or composition) Organization system (folder/binder) Independent reading book (the novel you are currently reading) Planner

Academic Expectations: Late Assignments Late work will be accepted until the last week of each marking period. Grades for assignments turned in late will be penalized 20%. Extra Credit: There will be some extra credit offered from time to time, but please don’t rely on it to boost your grade. When extra credit is offered, it is suggested students take advantage of such generosity. Quality Standard: All students are welcome to revise and resubmit most assignments for a higher grade. Cheating: Any students found copying answers from one another will receive a zero on the assignment. Any student found plagiarizing will receive a zero and will be immediately referred to the office for step placement.

Independent Reading Requirement: Reuther has looked at a great deal of research (Atwell, Fletcher, Caulkins, Fountas & Pinnell) that illustrates the importance of both frequent reading and student-selection in reading. For this reason, Reuther students will be reading many novels. The majority of their reading curriculum will be based on student-selected texts. Reuther kids will read 15 (or more) books this school year. I will provide lots of time during the day to read and lots of guidance on book selection. I will hold the kids accountable for their reading in a variety of ways throughout the school year. Students will be selecting their own independent reading books. I have a large library in my classroom that accommodates my 7th and 8th grade readers. I shelve material appropriate for all of these abilities and interests. Parents: Please be sure to scan the book selections your child makes to check that they meet the values and morals of your home and your child’s reading level.

Reading/Watching List We may read or watch these books, stories, movies in their entirety. We may read or watch certain parts of these books, stories, movies We may not get a chance to read or watch these books, stories, movies this year.

Historical Fiction April Morning by Irene Fast Words by Heart by Ouida Sebestyen Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson Pearl Harbor (2001/PG-13) Titanic (1997/PG-13)

Science Fiction The Giver by Lois Lowry Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry I, Robot by Isaac Asimov Downsiders by Neal Shusterman Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman Twilight Zone episodes Signs (2002/PG-13)

Non-Fiction Rosie the Riveter by Penny Colman The Great Fire by Jim Murphy An American Plague by Jim Murphy Kennedy Assassinated: The World Mourns by Wilborn Hampton

Realistic Fiction Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie The Pearl by John Steinbeck When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt Finding Forrester (2000/PG-13)