8th Grade Language Arts

Teacher: Ms. Mary Ellen Harmeyer, mharmeyer@stclarepdx.org

Daily Oral Language/Vocabulary/Language Arts/Writing/Literature
 Language arts is a comprehensive and integrated subject. We cover grammar, punctuation, writing, vocabulary development, and literature analysis. We complete a daily practice of grammar and punctuation exercises on the Smartboard and everyone gets a chance to correct on the Smartboard. We currently are utilizing the Literature: Reading with Purpose series from Glencoe for the basis of our literature reading and analysis. We will study literary elements and traits. In addition to the anthology, we also read several novels a year.

Every month we will complete a “Quick Write,” a creative writing exercise. We will use these pieces to practice our 6+1 Writing traits, peer proofreading, editing, and rubric scoring skills. We will take the monthly writing piece to a final writing piece.

We will spend some time in the fall preparing for the Catholic High School Placement exam in December.

8th Grade Syllabus

1st Trimester

Sept. 6 – Dec. 2

 

MAZE comprehension testing #1

 

High School Placement Test preparation – test date: Dec. 2 or 3

 

Literature Anthology: Unit 2 “Which is More Important, the Journey or the Destination?”

 

Novel: Romeo and Juliet to coordinate with the visit from the Oregon Shakespeare School visit program on Nov. 21

 

Literary Elements: conflict, protagonist, antagonist, mood; analysis

 

 

 

Vocabulary Units: 1 - 6

 

Grammar: modifiers, prepositions, adjectives, adverbs

 

Writing Assessment #1

 

Writing Traits: ideas, drafts

 

Monthly Quick Writes

 

Library/Computer Lab – some of our library time will be utilized for literature circles with Mrs. Napoli

 

2nd Trimester

Dec. 5 – March 9

 

MAZE comprehension

testing #2

 

 

 

Literature Anthology: Unit 1 “Reading: What’s In It for You?”

 

Novel: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas to integrate Art and the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center writing and art competition

 

Literary Elements: point of view, tone, foreshadowing

 

 

Valley Catholic Speech Tournament: Feb. 25, 2012

 

Vocabulary Units: 7 - 12

 

 Grammar: common, proper nouns, pronouns

 

 Writing Assessment #2

 

Writing Traits: voice, revision

 

Monthly Quick Writes

 

Library/Computer Lab – some of our library time will be utilized for literature circles with Mrs. Napoli

 

3rd Trimester

March 12 – June 8

 

MAZE comprehension testing #3

 

 

 

 

Literature Anthology: Unit 5 How Do You Stay True to Yourself?

 

Novel: Of Mice and Men, The Old Man and the Sea, or Animal Farm

 

 

Literary Elements: theme, symbol

 

 

 

 

 

Vocabulary Units: 13 - 15

 

 Grammar: clauses, phrases, compound and complex sentences

 

Writing Assessment #3

 

Writing Traits: comparing literature

 

Monthly Quick Writes

 

Library/Computer Lab – some of our library time will be utilized for literature circles with Mrs. Napoli