WELCOME TO EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH!!

“T HE OBJECT OF EDUCATION IS TO PREPARE THE YOUNG TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.” ~R OBERT M AYNARD H UTCHINS

W HO AM I? Ms. Becky Osterfeld Mother of two (8 th and 11 th grade) Teacher Reader Baker Joker Camper Football mom

W HAT MAKES ME A GOOD TEACHER FOR YOUR CHILD ? I have felt called to be a teacher since I was about ten years old I have a degree in elementary education with a minor in English I have a master’s degree in reading I am a National Board Certified Teacher and an Ohio Master Teacher I have been teaching for sixteen years, fifteen of those at Ferguson I have nine years of experience with honors/advanced classes I love what I do!

“O FTEN, WHEN I AM READING A GOOD BOOK, I STOP AND THANK MY TEACHER. T HAT IS, I USED TO, UNTIL SHE GOT AN UNLISTED NUMBER.” ~A UTHOR U NKNOWN

W HAT DO WE DO FOR 43 MINUTES EACH DAY, ANYWAY ? Mastering Common Core Standards in: Literature Informational Text Writing Speaking and Listening Language

W HAT DOES THIS MEAN IN CLASS ? Four modules developed around an extended text (two fiction texts, two informational texts) which also include: Short texts (fiction and informational) Text-dependent questions Extensive analysis of meaning and craft Varied writing practice Collaborative and individual work Short research projects Vocabulary study Greek and Latin word parts General academic-level vocabulary Content-specific vocabulary Grammar review Oral presentations

O THER FUN STUFF THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW … Visit my website for updated assignments, blogs, Scholastic book ordering, website links worth checking out Cool new tool this year: Remind101. Text your class code (on my website homepage) to and receive any reminders/announcements that I text. Open to parents and students! Trip to Gettysburg and Washington DC will be June 9-12, 2014; info coming home soon

“E DUCATION IS NOT FILLING A PAIL BUT THE LIGHTING OF A FIRE.” ~W ILLIAM B UTLER Y EATS

A RE YOU IN HONORS ? W HAT MAKES THE HONORS CLASS DIFFERENT ? Using advanced curriculum Working towards a more sophisticated understanding of literature Developing increasingly mature writing style and voice More challenging, not “more”

H OW TO REACH ME : vercreek.k12.oh.us vercreek.k12.oh.us “Staff” section of Coy website Phone: Notes with your child Planning period 7 th (2:12-2:55)

HOW TO SPOT A TEACHER: She walks into a store and hears the words "It's Ms. O!" and knows she has been spotted. She has 160 people that accidentally call her Mom at one time or another. She can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes. She can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside. (This is actually true!) She believes that unspeakable evils will befall whoever says "Boy, the kids sure are mellow today." She feels the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when she is out in public. She thinks caffeine should be available in intravenous form. She spends more money on school stuff than she does on her own children. She asks her friend if the left hand turn he just made was a "good choice or a bad choice.“ She is secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.