ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS FOR 8TH GRADE ENGLISH
Course Description:
Eighth-grade English focuses on strengthening students’ reading, writing, critical thinking, research, and communication skills. These skills are fundamental to your student’s success in high school and beyond. Students will be exposed to a variety of high-quality texts including, but not limited to, novels, myths, plays, and poetry. Students will practice the writing process in order to improve their writing abilities. According to the Common Core Standards, students will “produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.” Students will be expected to define, identify, and evaluate the usage of literary terms within texts being studied. Students are also expected to have a solid base knowledge of grammar which will aid them in their reading, writing, and communication.
Parent and Student Handbook:
Handbook and JBMS policies will be followed.
Grade:
Tests, Projects 30% Writing 25%
Quizzes 20% Participation/Classwork 10%
Homework 15%
Homework:
Homework should be expected and will include things like reading, writing responses, grammar exercises, etc. Other times, projects and essays will be assigned. Completing the homework is very important – otherwise it will be difficult to participate in class discussions the following day. Unless absent, homework must be turned in on the day and class period it is due to receive credit.
Quizzes and Tests:
Frequent assessments will be given to help the teacher keep track of students’ grasp of the knowledge that will be needed for success in the high school. Retakes of tests or quizzes will not be provided. Following the guidelines of the Student Handbook, academic dishonesty, including plagiarism of any kind, on any assignment, test, quiz, etc. can result in an automatic "0".
Classwork and Class Participation:
Students will be expected to thoroughly complete all assigned classwork and turn it in when it is due. Students are also expected to be active participants in class which includes participating in class discussions, working with peers, presentations, etc. Disrespect and/or inappropriate conduct will result in a detention.
Essays, Projects, Journals:
Essays, projects, and journals will be assigned. It is the responsibility of the students to keep track of, and meet, deadlines for essays, projects, and journals. Failure to meet deadlines on assignments will negatively affect the grade per the Student Handbook.
Reading Journals:
Each student will have a reading journal. The reading journal is used to check reading comprehension, knowledge of literary terms and their application, and to give students an opportunity to make a personal connection to the material being studied.
Writing Portfolio:
Each student will have a folder in which to keep completed writing assignments. This allows students to keep track of progress, and areas that still need improvement, in their writing. The portfolio is kept in the classroom. (At any point in the year, if you wish to see the portfolio sent home, please send in a note with your student.)
Research:
Each student will be required to apply research skills during the year. Students will work on finding reliable sources for their research, and they will also work on organizing new information. According to the Common Core Standards, students will “conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.” The Common Core Standards also state that students will be expected to “gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources … assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.”
English Binder:
Literature: Students will need to keep a separate
space in the binder for literature. This will include notes, handouts, literary
devices, etc.
Grammar:
Students will need to keep a separate space in their binder for work in grammar. This will include notes, handouts, grammar exercises, work in the grammar text, etc.
Writing:
Students will need to keep a separate space in their binder for their writing and writing resources.
Absences, Due Dates, and Late Work:
It is the student’s responsibility to: check the website, check with a peer, and if there are still questions, check with the teacher about missed assignments.
If the student is absent the day homework is due – it is his/her responsibility on the day of return to hand in the work promptly during the homework check
Late homework assignments are accepted for excused absences only.
The Big Picture:
All students are expected to be respectful to the teacher, the classroom, their classmates, and to try
their best. Students are also expected to come to class with the required text, completed homework, 3-ring binder with paper, pencil or pen (blue or black), and an agenda. Students are expected to study as there will be no retakes for any tests or quizzes. Meeting these expectations will bring all of us a successful year.
Grades will be updated regularly through PowerSchool. Class announcements, grading policies, and homework assignments can be found on Google Classroom.