1. Mrs. Neary 8th grade 2018-2019 Language Arts

2. Materials Behavior Expectations Discipline
Materials: (every day)
Reading notebook
Writing notebook
Independent reading book (students’ choice)
Post-it notes
Writing utensils
Behavior expectations:
Be kind.
Tell the truth.
Appropriate language.
Don’t give up.
Raise hands.
Discipline:
Three warnings: 3rd – contact home

3. Every day...
Students enter class and have two-three minutes to get started:
Write down or take a picture of day’s homework (on HW board) on Monday/first day of week
Take out necessary materials for the class
Begin “do now” activity on whiteboard
Be seated, quiet, and working when timer rings

4. Syllabus and Grading Grading Class participation 15%
Participating in discussions, completing assignments, teamwork, engagement
Homework 15%
Class work 15%
Completion and quality of in-class assignments, reading/writing workshop
Quizzes 20%
Tests/Performance Tasks 35%
Post-tests, group projects, independent projects, participation in writing workshop
*Extra help is available during lunch or select Friday afternoons.
Unit
Readings
Genre
Required Task 1
Assorted short stories
Fiction
Short story 2
House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
TBA 3
Assorted speeches and articles
Non-fiction 4
Assorted fiction and non-fiction readings
Multi-genre 5
Getting Away With Murder: The True Story of the Emmitt Till Case by Chris Crowe 6
Monster by Walter Dean Myers

5. Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)
-students tested 3x/year: fall, winter, spring
-a computer-adaptive assessment designed to measure how well students read literature and expository texts of varying difficulties
-test adapts to student’s level

6. A Sampling of Skills/Concepts
Text analysis
Author’s craft
Author’s purpose
Literary devices
Main idea and theme
Making inferences
Close reading/reading for information
Note-taking
Formulating and supporting
arguments
Summarizing
Word study
Text evidence
Researching
Citing text (MLA format)
Lesson preparation follows the NHPS
Language Arts curriculum with supplemental materials chosen by the instructor.

7. Reader/Writer Workshop
Each day is broken up by workshop:
Reading: -core novel
-independent reading
-text connections (fiction and non-fiction)
Writing: -mentor texts and examplars
-free writes; focused writing
-write to learn
-writing fluency
Mini-lessons are followed by student practice in groups, pairs, or independently
Homework is typically given 3-4x/week. Reading and responding, vocabulary, or skill practice can be expected.

8. Common Core State Standards
Writing:
Narrative
Informational
Argumentative
Speaking and Listening:
Comprehension and Collaboration (discussions, questioning, justification of ideas, arguments, claims)
Presentation of knowledge and ideas (coherence, technology, speech/writing adaptation to task)
Reading:
Close analysis of text
Higher text complexity
Increased focus on informational text (non-fiction)

9. Important Info – Mrs. Neary
Instagram
@mrs.neary
Remind.com
See attached paperwork to sign up – homework notifications, announcements
To reach me via
To check a book’s lexile level/search for books based on lexile:
For more information about Common Core Language Arts and Literacy Standards: