1. Welcome, Parents! 8th Grade Language Arts Room 310 Heather Foltz
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”  ― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons
“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.”
~Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

2. Welcome, Parents! 8th Grade Advanced Language Arts Room 310 Heather Foltz
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”  ― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons
“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.”
~Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

3. About Me… Loved middle school! Language Arts was my favorite class.
Earned my teaching degree at Montana State University in 2001
13 years of teaching experience in the Issaquah School District
Earned my Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in August 2016
Enjoy reading, playing with my kids, visiting D.C. with 8th graders
Favorite book: Are you kidding, me?! I can’t choose.
Excited for this school year!

4. Classroom expectations (in a nutshell)
Be Safe
Be Kind
Be Respectful
Be Your BEST

5. My Teaching Philosophy
Students learn to read by reading and writing; students learn to write by reading and writing
Students do their best reading and writing when given time, choice, and models (mentor texts)
Questioning and discussion are powerful learning tools (student-centered)
Students’ abilities to write, read, speak, and listen well will offer them the greatest range of choice in life

6. English Language Arts COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
Big Question: How and why is language POWERFUL?! Trimester One: Writing: Writer’s Workshop “How Writers Work”; Multi-genre Memoir Reading: Short Stories; Information Reading Upfront Magazine Grammar/Vocabulary in Context –SAT Word Power Vocabulary Cartoons Speaking/Listening Trimester Two Writing: Research Report Reading: The Outsiders (novel); Information Reading Upfront Magazine; Poetry Trimester Three Writing: Argument Essay Reading: Life Lessons Reader’s Workshop using McDougall Littell Literature Textbook; Information Reading Upfront Magazine

7. What can you expect in Advanced LA?
Advanced reading selections in multiple genres
Open-ended opportunities (design your own projects)
Speaking and listening activities that require critical thinking (debate, Socratic Seminar, etc.)
Held to a higher level of accuracy in writing (grammar)
Sometimes an increased quantity of work, but not always.

8. Advanced English Language Arts COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
Big Question: How and why is language POWERFUL?! TRIMESTER 1 Writing: Writer’s Workshop “How Writers Work”; Multi-genre Memoir Reading: Shared Inquiry--Short Stories; Information Reading Upfront Magazine Grammar/Vocabulary in Context –SAT Word Power Vocabulary Cartoons Speaking/Listening- Shared Inquiry TRIMESTER 2 Writing: Research Report; Author/Genre Study Reading: Warriors Don’t Cry (Memoir); Information Reading Upfront Magazine; Poetry Speaking/Listening- Socratic Seminars TRIMESTER 3 Writing: Argument Essay Reading: Books That Change Lives Reader’s Workshop; Information Reading Upfront Magazine Speaking/Listening- Debate

9. Books That Change Lives
A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman
As You Like It by William Shakespeare and Paul Werstine Ph.D
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
The Return by Sonia Levitin
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

10. Reader’s-Writer’s Notebook (RWN)
A place to collect our thinking
Used in class and at home
“Standing” homework assignment
Read for 7 half hours every 2 weeks
Write 2 pages every 2 weeks
“Liberty is great. I really enjoy all of my classes. We need a Readers-Writers-Notebook for Honors Lit and I immediately thought of your class!. . . I got lots of writing done this summer, which was great. Nora and I are doing a waterfall writing project, and I’m continuing one of the stories I started in my RWN. (Finally.)… I do still have my RWN. Don’t worry, I won’t get rid of it! It’s a treasured memento of 8th grade.”
“I have enjoyed looking back on my RWN; it has helped me remember how I felt last year at this time. Also, I have enjoyed reading classics, which was because of your class too!”

11. Reader’s-Writer’s Notebook (RWN)
A place to collect our thinking
Used in class and at home
“Standing” homework assignment
Read for 8 half hours every 2 weeks
Write 4 pages every 2 weeks
“Liberty is great. I really enjoy all of my classes. We need a Readers-Writers-Notebook for Honors Lit and I immediately thought of your class!. . . I got lots of writing done this summer, which was great. Nora and I are doing a waterfall writing project, and I’m continuing one of the stories I started in my RWN. (Finally.)… I do still have my RWN. Don’t worry, I won’t get rid of it! It’s a treasured memento of 8th grade.”
“I have enjoyed looking back on my RWN; it has helped me remember how I felt last year at this time. Also, I have enjoyed reading classics, which was because of your class too!”

12. Grades (SCORE: 3=consistently; 2=sometimes; 1=rarely)
Categories and Weights
Assessment = 100% (Tests, Quizzes, Presentations, Projects, Essays, Learning Checks, etc.) Retakes and Resubmissions…
Student Success Indicators = 0% (WICC) shown through daily work and homework, these non-achievement skills will not be directly calculated in the student’s grade, but they do have a significant impact on student learning.
(SCORE: 3=consistently; 2=sometimes; 1=rarely)
Work Habits: work quality, work completeness, work punctuality
Initiative: self-advocacy, reflection, persistence (GRIT!)
Collaboration: teamwork, inclusion, participation
Citizenship: integrity, conduct, respect

13. How can you help your child be successful in Advanced LA?
Encourage reading at home
Model reading
Ask questions about his/her reading
Make books available
Encourage your child to self- advocate

14. Book Recommendation…(optional)
On a notecard, please write the following information:
Line 1: Title of book (appropriate for 8th grade students)
Line 2: Author
Line 3: Genre
Line 4: # of pages
With the remaining lines, please write a short (2-3 sentence) summary of the book AND one sentence explaining why you recommend this book.
THANK YOU! YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE THIS!

15. Information/contact me
Web site
(best option)
Telephone
Office Hours
2:40-4:00 M,T,F
3:35-4:30 W
PLEASE LEAVE THE PENS AND PENCILS!