1. 8th grade English Language Arts Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School
Curriculum Night
8th grade English Language Arts
Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School

2. Tonight’s schedule: 1st academic core class = 1st period 5:00-5:20
2nd academic core class = 2nd period :23-5:43
3rd academic core class = 5th period :46-6:06
4th academic core class = 6th period :09-6:29
1st elective = 3rd period :36-6:50
2nd elective = 7th period :53-7:06
Parents will not be attending advisory class or
4th period, teachers will explain.

3. Zeros Aren’t Permitted
Assigned by teachers for missing assignments
Every Wednesday afterschool from 2:00-3:30
Parents will be notified ahead of time & will need to pick up child promptly at 3:30

4. myPerspectives by Pearson
Newly adopted English Language Arts resource
Adopted to align with the new Arizona State College and Career Reading ELA Standards
Students will have a book that they CAN write in
This textbook will stay in the classroom
Students will have a username/password to access resources online or on their mobile device

5. myPerspectives Design
Broken up into 5 units. Each unit has an essential question that relates to all of the passages
Whole-Class Learning
Read 1-2 passages together as a whole class
Small-Group Learning
Students work together in a group of 3-4 to read passages and complete assignments
Students will also work on a Performance Task with their group. This is usually a presentation of some kind
Independent Learning
Students are assigned 1-2 passages to read and complete assignments individually
Performance-Based Assessment
Students will individually produce a paper, presentation, or both.

6. 8th grade units and essential questions
Unit 1: What are some milestones on the path to growing up?
Narrative Non-Fiction Writing
Unit 2: How do we remember the past?
Explanatory Writing
Unit 3: When is it right to take a stand?
Argument Essay Writing and Presentation
Unit 4: In what different ways can people be intelligent?
Informative Writing and Speech
If time allows:
Unit 5: Are inventions realized through inspiration or perspiration?
Argument Essay Writing and Speech

7. Tradebooks ALA Tradebooks: Same as ELA in addition to:
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A Mighty Long Way by Carlotta Walls LaNier
The Diary of Anne Frank
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Among the Hidden by Margret Peterson Haddix
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
ALA Tradebooks:
Same as ELA in addition to:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Night by Elie Wiesel
Animal Farm by George Orwell

8. Grades
Grades will be posted on ParentVue regularly. Please check student grades there on a regular basis.
Found on Kyrene.org, Parents, ParentVue
In 8th grade the students grades are weighted.
80% of your child’s grade will be assessments, projects, and writing.
20% of your child’s grade will be practice work which is classwork and homework.
Rounding:
Students grades can be rounded up if they are .5% away from the next letter grade and they have NO missing assignments.

9. Materials Two-Pocket folder to keep assignments
Spiral Notebook with 70+ pages
Lined Paper
Pencils (Replenish frequently, please!)
Colored Pens
Highlighters
Colored pencils/markers
Reusable water bottle

10. Donations – Thank you in advance!
Clorox Wipes
Tissue
Hand Sanitizer
Printer Paper
Lined Paper
Pencils
Colored Pencils/Pens/Markers
Jolly Ranchers
Students will earn LiveSchool points for donated items!