1. Welcome to Freedom English ! Ms. Rogers As You Come In… *Please take a handout and an index card from the front table. Then, have a seat and make yourselves comfortable.*

2. Index Cards Please Record: Your name. Your child’s name. The best way to reach you. Something that you would like me to know about your child academically. Something that you would like me to know about your child non- academically. Anything else that you may wish to share! Materials At Your Table (feel free to peruse!): Grade 8 Writing Guide “The Most Dangerous Game” (the story we are currently studying)

3. Tonight’s Agenda Welcome! Course Overview A Day in the Life of Your Scholar Literary Works and Range of Assignments Currently… Communication A bit about Ms. Rogers and the English Classroom

4. On your Handouts Course Overview Types of Assignments

5. Academic Goals Students Will Strive To: Read Closely (make inferences and connections ) Cite evidence from the text to support claims and conclusions Determine central ideas or themes within a text Analyze the developmen t of this theme ! Broaden vocabulary and maste r specific aspects of mechanics, usage, and grammar Become more confident readers, writers, thinkers, and speakers!

6. A Day In The Life Of Your Scholar Daily Journal Prompt and/or Warm-Up Skills Focus (Mini-Lesson) Pair/Small Group Work Cooperative Group Work Literature Analysis and Discussion Groups Discussion Exit Card

7. Literary Works To Be Enjoyed This Year! Short Story Unit “The Necklace ” (Guy de Maupassant) “The Tell-Tale Heart ” (Edgar Allan Poe) “The Most Dangerous Game” (Richard Connell)* Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck) Animal Farm (George Orwell) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (William Shakespeare) To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

8. Range of Assignments Nightly Homework Reading Quizzes Writing Assignments Most Recently: Mood Analysis of “The Tell-Tale Heart” Literary Analysis / Argumentative Writing Tests and Projects Upcoming: Short Story Movie Posters ! (Mid October) Insightful Reading Unit Test ( End of October ) Socratic Discussion / Skits / Debates / Oral Presentations

9. Currently… Recently: “The Tell-Tale Heart” (The Great Sanity Debate!) “The Most Dangerous Game” Mood Analysis Group Work S.T.E.A.L. Method of Indirect Characterization Symbolism: The island Identifying Irony Literary Analysis and Argumentative Writing Pioneering new territory! Works in progress Final drafts

10. Communication TeacherWeb Site (Announcements, Homework, Long-term ) http://teacherweb.com/MA/WilliamDiamondMiddleSchool/ Diamond-Rogersj/apt1.aspx Extra Help (During Planning Periods/After School) Email jrogers@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us Phone Ext. 1100

11. Classroom Spaces Materials Table Absence Folders Writing Portfolios Freedom English Think Tank!

12. A Bit About Ms. Rogers