8TH GRADE LITERACY CONNECTIONS/ESSENTIALS INFORMATION SHEET
Students will be graded in Language Arts in several areas. The grade is based on total points earned on assignments for the following areas:
Tests/Papers/Projects
Quizzes
Classwork/Homework
Participation
2. All late work may be subject to a point deduction. Please note that many classwork activities will become homework if they were not completed in class. Participation grades will include having an independent reading novel daily, participating in class paideia and literature circle discussions, student learning reflections, meeting daily reading requirements, and notebook checks. 3. We will begin each class with independent reading. Students should be at their seat with an independent reading novel when the bell rings each day. Students will be required to set quarterly reading goals and complete a book review or a project of their choice. (based on the needs of the students in this class, accommodations will be in place for book projects/reviews) 4. In addition to whole class readings, we will be implementing literature circles as a major part of the curriculum. Literature circles offer students the opportunity to read current, engaging texts on a variety of topics and levels. Students will have regular, focused discussions on what they are reading with their peer groups and become more comfortable speaking on an academic level. This is a wonderful opportunity to help all students develop as readers with their comprehension and fluency. 5. Students will be required to keep a 5 subject spiral learner notebook. Students will be responsible for keeping up with a table of contents and insuring all assignments are completed and in the correct location. This opportunity will provide students with a study guide resource that will be beneficial for unit tests and end of year testing. It is also a valuable tool in teaching organizational skills.