1. APRENDE 8th Grade Language Arts 2018-2019
Mrs. Strength

2. My Education
Graduated from Geneva College (Beaver Falls, PA) with a BA in Writing.
Received M.Ed in secondary education from GCU
Certified for English secondary education (grades 6-12)
Expected completion of full Gifted endorsement by 2020

3. Teaching Experience This is my 1st year at Aprende Middle School.
Previously, I have taught:
ESL in South Korea ( )
8th and 10th grade ELA at Marion Center Jr./Sr. High School ( )

4. Who am I?

5. Supply List Notebook (no perforated pages)
Highlighters: blue, pink, yellow, green (no color substitutions)
1 pad of Post It notes
Any color grading pen (except black)
Pencils and erasers (if mechanical, please purchase extra lead; if traditional, please purchase hand held pencil sharpener)
Loose leaf paper (can donate to classroom supply instead of carrying around)
1” flexible poly binder (for myPerspectives units)
Pocket folder (buy a back-up to keep at home?)

6. Suggested Donations Post It Notes
Paper (lined or printer paper—white or color)
Pencils. Lots and lots of pencils!
Coloring supplies
Highlighters
Index Cards
Dry erase markers/erasers

7. Mrs. Strength’s Classroom
Shout Out Wall!
4-Corners and Philosophical Chairs
AVID Wall
Outside Bulletin Board

8. Reading
Four thematic myPerspectives units that include various reading selections such as short stories, informational text, poetry, novels, and more: Rites of Passage, Holocaust, What Matters, and Human Intelligence.
Accompanying novels for each unit (tentative): The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki, and A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass.

9. Writing Narrative, argumentative, and expository pieces.
Strong focus on refining all the essay skills students have learned in middle school thus far: incorporating and explaining textual information, analyzing arguments and crafting counter- arguments, organizing information, proper MLA format, etc.

10. Language
Vocabulary: Determine the meaning of an unknown word using context clues and Greek and Latin roots.
Grammar: Dissecting sentences in writing in order to analyze verbals, verb mood, as well as active and passive voice.

11. Speaking and Listening
One-on-one, group, and teacher-led discussions in the form of Philosophical Chairs, Socratic Seminars, and other AVID strategies
Presentations of work, including visual displays and/or multimedia components
Interpretation of speeches and multimedia presentations
Adaptation of speech appropriate to context

12. GATE: What to Expect
Courses are taught by a content specialist (GATE teacher)
Updated curriculum guides for all GATE courses
address challenge, complexity, choice and control
provide extension and enrichment
consistency across schools
collaboration between teachers
Syllabus for each course showing expectations and learning outcomes
Learning compacts are in place for participation in GATE courses to ensure courses are rigorous

13. Criteria for Placement
Initial placement of students as they transition into 6th grade includes
Identification in one or more areas of giftedness AND/OR
Multiple measures of high ability (e.g., AzMERIT proficiency, classroom grades, teacher recommendation)
Full criteria available at
Subsequent course placements are defined by the course of study

14. Why read 20 minutes at home every day?
Student A
Student B
Student C
Reads 20 minutes per day = 3,600 minutes per school year = 1,800,000 words per year
Reads 5 minutes per day = 900 minutes per school year = 282,000 words per year
Reads 1 minute per day = 180 minutes per school year = 8,000 words per year
     
Scores in the 90th percentile on standardized tests
Scores in the 50th percentile on standardized tests
Scores in the 10th percentile on standardized tests

15. Why read 20 minutes at home every day?
Assuming these students started reading each day in kindergarten, by the end of 6th grade:
Student A will have read for the equivalent of 60 school days,
Student B will have read for 12 school days, and
Student C will have read for 3.
Want to be a better reader? It’s easy: just read.

16. Text Reminders Sign up for language arts text reminders!
If your child is in...
1st Period GATE ELA: to 81010
3rd Period ELA: to 81010
5th Period ELA: to 81010
7th Period ELA: to 81010

17. Potential Expenses for 8th Grade
Yearbook
The cost of a standard yearbook is about $30 – the price goes up towards the end of the year.
Baby Ad is available for $25. This would allow you to submit a baby or childhood picture of your child and a personalized message to be included in the yearbook. The deadline to order a Baby Ad is early January – more info will come out when school begins. (Baby Ads are only available to 8th grade students.)
8th Grade Promotion Dance
The fee for this dance ranges from $5 to $10.
Big Surf
This 8th grade field trip will be the last week of school.
The fee is $20 and includes lunch.
Disneyland for choir and band students
The trip is in early February
Ms. Figueroa and Mrs. Werner will provide information about the requirements for the trip and the fees.

18. Potential Expenses for 8th Grade cont.
Mini Town
This is a leadership training camp held in Prescott in February.
All students are welcome to apply to this incredible opportunity.
Applications available in November
The fee is $185 and are due in January.
Living History Trip
Mr. Furman will be providing information about trip.
The trip will take place second quarter
The fee will be $297 and will be due two weeks prior to the trip.
Sports
Fall sports: cross country, boys soccer, and volleyball
Winter sports: girls soccer, wrestling, boys basketball, girls softball, and spiritline.
Spring sports: boys baseball, girls basketball, track & field.
Fees range from $100 to $150 depending on the sport and are due when your student makes the team.

19. Meet and Greet Breakfast
The Aprende Parent-Teacher organization will be sponsoring a meet-and-greet breakfast for all 8th grade parents on:
Wednesday, August 15th
7:45 am to 8:25 am
Please join us for a continental breakfast and a chance to socialize with other 8th grade parents!

20. Questions?
Please me at with any questions you may have that we didn’t get a chance to answer tonight! Please include:
Your name AND your student’s name
Your question(s)