Welcome to 8 th Grade Literacy with Mrs. Jurczak & Mrs. Ewoldt We are the 8A Alphacats!

Welcome to 8 th Grade Literacy with Mrs. Jurczak We are the 8A Alphacats!

Changes This Year Students and Teachers placed on Teams New Building Schedules: 9 Periods/No Take 10/ Wildcat Days Skyward Report Card

B.A. in American Studies from Dominican University with Concentration in Elem Ed. M.Ed. In Reading and Literacy from Benedictine University/Reading Specialist Certification-IL 12 years in South Berwyn District 100 teaching 7 th /8 th Grade Language Arts 1 year in Maywood District 89 teaching 7 th /8 th Grade Language Arts Other Work History:  Arthur Andersen, S.C.  Sachs and Drake  Fuji Film  First Chicago Bank Education: Teaching Experience

Education: B.S. in Education at Illinois State University M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction at National Louis University Type 75 Certificate from Aurora University Teaching Experience: Barrington School District 220 Argo-Summit District 104 East Aurora District 130

Units of Study Read AloudsFormal Papers: Independent ReadingPurpose of Public Education Problem Based Learning I-Search Class presentations Creative Writing Q or Q’s MLK/Children’s March Socratic Circle This I Believe Book talks/reviewsGreat American Teen Novel Annotation / Analysis of textEdgar Allen Poe Reflection /Self-assessments Vocabulary – DailyFormal Assessments: Grammar-DailyMAP E-PortfoliosPARCC Explore Test (GWHS) Literacy Common Asmt Weekly Vocab Quiz

Reading Workshop Independent Reading: To foster the love of reading; to build their personal vocabulary; to develop the strategies to think critically; to strengthen their personal reading identity. * Almost all of their independent reading will be choice; done outside of school (at home) Guided Reading: Strategies that will build comprehension including making connections, synthesizing, repair strategies, determining what is important, making inferences, and questioning skills Teacher selected materials Read Alouds

Reading Workshop Teacher/student conferencing: Student involvement in the learning process by sharing goals based on MAP and ISAT data Practice reading aloud with fluency and expression Choral Reading Book Reviews/Book Talks

Word Study To build vocabulary through reading, speaking and direct vocabulary instruction of roots, suffixes and prefixes. Variety of resources: lexicon/quizlet/study guides/in class practice Academic vocabulary Prefixes, suffixes, and root words Strategies: substitution/context clues/ decoding Understand meaning Parts of speech Sadlier-Oxford (ISAT/PARCC vocabulary terms)

Writing Writing Process and Writing Products Narrative Expository Argumentative Poetry Reflective Six + 1 Traits: Voice, Ideas, Organization, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Presentation Self and Peer Editing Multiple Drafts

Writing/Listening & Speaking Q or Q’s: (Question or Quotation) To analyze text for meaning; to actively listen to other points of view; to critically discuss ideas and understandings; to practice the process of rewriting for clarity. To learn and practice the hierarchy of talk.

Speaking and Listening During class, students are expected to speak in small and large group activities and in oral presentations. These are daily expectations.

Class Structure Warm up/ Independent Reading time (5-10 mins) Vocabulary/Grammar practice (10-20 mins) Reading Workshop (20-25 mins) Writing Workshop (20-25 mins) Brain Breaks (usually 2 per class) Wrap Up/Review (make sure homework is recorded in assignment notebook/shutting down and putting computers in cases)

Homework Mrs. Jurczak’s Website: 30 minutes of independent reading every night Mon-Thurs – and once over the weekend Q or Q Vocabulary review Any additional work for essay writing

Assessment 2 Grades: Work Habits and Academic All Gradebooks are on Skyward = Quarterly grades vs. Trimester 8 th Grade Homework Policy: (3) Three late or missing assignments = Homework Club A “3” Work Habits = Turned in on time & good quality work A “2” Work Habits = 1 day late but good quality work or not complete A “1” Work Habits = 1 day late & poor quality or more than one day late A “0” Work Habits = Assignment not turned in

Hadley Building Specialists Literacy Specialist: Judy Heller Math Specialist: Amy Irvin PBL Coach: Hillary Shumate The specialists support teachers in the development and implementation of District #41 curriculum. This includes co-planning and co-teaching in various classrooms throughout the building. Please stop by the LMC tonight if you have any questions!

An opportunity for you… Thank you for joining me in what will be a wonderful journey of learning for your child in literacy. Before you leave, please fill out the “A Note From Me/Us” for your student and turn it in to me. Thank You for coming this evening!