1. Mrs. Heather Gribble 8th Grade Language Arts
Welcome to Curriculum Night!
Mrs. Heather Gribble
8th Grade Language Arts

2. Mission Statement
The mission of the language arts department it to equip students with effective reading and communication skills through creative, challenging and engaging lessons.

3. Course Overview
Students will be reading for both enjoyment and for analysis during guided class instruction.
Students will learn how successful readers think and visualize when they read, interact with, and examine text. We will explore language and literature through a variety of approaches including music, drama, film, presentations, projects, and written assignments.

4. Novel Studies
1st Quarter: The Outsiders or Lord of the Flies 2nd Quarter: Nonfiction Unit (Various Texts) 3rd Quarter: Night 4th Quarter: And Then There Were None or Macbeth

5. Writing
Our primary focus will be on constructing explanatory and argumentative/persuasive essays.
Additionally, we will learn how to cite text references and effectively use MLA formatting on all papers.

6. The “Reading Challenge”
Philosophy: The philosophy behind the outside reading requirement is quite simple:
The more students read, the more they know.
Reading is fun, especially if students choose what they read.
Students need to choose their own books whenever possible, guided by their level, interests and needs at the time.
The more students read, the better their vocabulary, the higher their test scores, the better they think in all their classes and situations.

7. Reminders:
Students should be reading from their O.R.R. novels every day/night for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Reflective responses must be completed thoroughly as assigned by the classroom teacher. These will be evaluated using a 5 point rubric.
A reading log located in the Interactive Notebook is used to log progress toward reading goal. A parent signature acknowledges that you approve of the book selection.

8. Key Points
If your child does not meet the 20 or 30 book (accelerated) goal, his/her grade will not be lowered.
What will negatively impact your child’s grade is inconsistency with completing reflective responses and/or poor quality responses.
If your child is reading a larger novel then it will be counted as two books.

9. *Homework is regularly updated on my teacher webpage.*
Homework load may vary at times based on student progress toward completion of long-term assignments and class work.  Homework assignments are for enrichment, exercise, practice, and review. I allot time during each class period to have students copy the assignments and to review the directions and expectations.
*Homework is regularly updated on my teacher webpage.*

10. Grading /Weighting Scale
Assessments (Tests/ Projects/Essays/Quizzes) = 60%
Assignments (Homework/Class Activities/Interactive Notebook) = 20%
Final Exam/Benchmarks = 20%
Grades will be updated and available online using the Synergy gradebook system.

11. Communication Information
Please visit my teacher webpage for regular updates.
Thank you for taking an active role in your child’s education!