Mrs. Heather Gribble8th Grade Language Arts

Welcome to Curriculum Night!

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.

NOVEL STUDIES

1st Quarter: The Outsiders or Lord of the Flies

2nd Quarter: Nonfiction Unit (Various Texts)3rd Quarter: Night4th Quarter: And Then There Were None or

Macbeth

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.

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.

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.

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.

HomeworkHomework 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.*

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.

heather.gribble@husd.org

Please visit my teacher webpage for regular updates.

http://www.husd.org/Domain/835

Thank you for taking an active role in your child’s education!

Communication Information