1. Who is Mrs. Trueman? Where did Mrs. Trueman Teach Before Sears? Sears School: 7 th Year Wilmette Junior High School: 8 th Grade LA and Literature Lake Bluff Junior High: Writer in Residence North Chicago High School: English: 10 & 12 Faith, Hope, and Charity School: Writing Specialist Osaka, Japan: English to Japanese Businessmen National Board Certification : English/Language Arts 13-18++

2. English Language Arts Common Core Writing Shift: Increase Writing from Sources CCSS Writing Instruction Emphasizes: Use of evidence to inform or to make an argument. Includes short, focused research projects. Students develop college and career-ready skills through written arguments. Respond to the ideas, events, facts, and arguments presented in the texts

3. Key Reading Shifts in English Language Arts Common Core Standards 1. Regular practice with complex texts and their academic language Rather than focusing solely on the skills of reading and writing, the ELA/literacy standards highlight the growing complexity of the texts students must read to be ready for the demands of college, career, and life. 2. Reading, writing, and speaking grounded in evidence from texts, both literary and informational The Common Core emphasizes using evidence from texts to present careful analyses, well-defended claims, and clear information. Rather than asking students questions they can answer solely from their prior knowledge and experience, the standards call for students to answer questions that depend on their having read the texts with care. 3. Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction Students must be immersed in information about the world around them if they are to develop the strong general knowledge and vocabulary they need to become successful readers and be prepared for college, career, and life.

4. 8 th Grade ELA Curriculum 2015-2016 Trimester 1: No Limitations: An examination of perseverance through character study. Students will build upon their study of character by examining those who persevered in a variety of challenging circumstances. Literature choices: Variety of short stories, poems, non-fiction texts, and anchor novels such as: The House on Mango Street and And Then There Were None. Trimester 2: Taking A Stand: An exploration of identity, discrimination, and tolerance through fiction and non-fiction texts. Students will evaluate intricate arguments by interpreting words and language and analyze how it creates specific effects that impact the meaning and the tone. Literature choices: Variety of short stories, poems, non-fiction texts, and anchor novels such as: Fahrenheit 451, To Kill A Mockingbird, and Of Mice and Men, and The Pearl. Trimester 3: Making Discoveries: A study of real and make believe worlds to understand how point of view impacts texts. Students will assess how point of view shapes the content and the style of a text. Literature choices: Variety of short stories, poems, non-fiction texts, and anchor novels such as: Night, “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “Flowers for Algernon”.

5. Preparation for High School Township Language Arts Articulation Committee 9th Graders Need to Be Prepared to: Be able to write a thesis statement. Be able to read, comprehend, and analyze NON-FICTION text. Be able to annotate text. Be able to find a variety of resources as references. Be able to summarize text for analysis. Be able to think critically and to make personal connections as written through text. Be able to write an essay that can prove research, formulate and discuss an argument, and to explain a complex idea into simplistic terms while making literary connections. Be able to avoid plagiarism. Be able to make quotations from research and simple text within paragraphs and throughout papers. New Trier Test Date: December 5, 2015

6. Language Arts / Writing Based on the 6 Traits of Writing: ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, voice, and conventions Formal essay assignments are about 2-4 typed pages except for the 8 th grade research project: 5-10 pages typed. All units of study have at least five writing assignments All CCSS standards are taught and mastered by 8 th Grade Project. All writing products are housed in personal portfolios and shared at conferences. Grading rubrics are used for every assignment and are the same for both the rough draft and for the final assessment. Grammar and mechanics are taught through mini-lessons and practiced through IXL program.

7. Independent Reading Students will be required to read approximately one book a month within the curricular genre/theme. Mrs. LeBris will give “ book reviews ” and suggested bibliographies at the start of every month. We are encouraging the students to familiarize and use the school and the public libraries. Students are required to complete a project for each trimester. Projects will include creative writing, art, and oral presentations. Due dates for this project will be given one month ahead of time.

8. Questions or Concerns? How to contact me: 847-256-5006 ext. 3845 or 847-853-3845 atrueman@kenilworth38.org