1. WELCOME TO EIGHTH GRADE ELA!!

2. Who am I? Ms. Becky Osterfeld
Mother of two (junior in high school and daughter in the working world)
Teacher
Reader
Baker
Joker
Camper
Football mom

3. What makes me a good teacher for your child?
I have felt called to be a teacher since I was about ten years old
I have a degree in elementary education with a minor in English
I have a master’s degree in reading
I am a National Board Certified Teacher and an Ohio Master Teacher
I have been teaching for twenty years, fifteen of those at Ferguson and now four at Coy
I have eleven years of experience with honors/advanced classes and have applied to become a College Credit Plus adjunct instructor
I love what I do!

4. What do we do for 90 minutes each day, anyway?
Mastering Common Core Standards in:
Literature
Informational Text
Writing
Speaking and Listening
Language

5. What does this mean in class?
Four modules developed around an extended text (two fiction texts, two informational texts) which also include:
Short texts (fiction and informational)
Text-dependent questions
Extensive analysis of meaning and craft
Varied writing practice
Collaborative and individual work
Short research projects
Vocabulary study
Greek and Latin word parts
General academic-level vocabulary
Content-specific vocabulary
Grammar review
Oral presentations

6. What makes the honors class different?
Using advanced curriculum
Working towards a more sophisticated understanding of literature
Developing increasingly mature writing style and voice
More challenging, not “more”

7. What about the semester choices?
Students were given three choices in the spring of thematic semester-long classes:
Discovering Your Inner Hero
Being a Friend
Leadership at Home and in the World
Each student will have one theme first semester and one theme second semester.
All classes will still be with me.
Classes continue to cover eighth grade standards and materials, but through selected works centered around each course’s theme

8. Leadership at home and in the world
Periods 1/2 and 3/4 during first semester
Anchor text is A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansbury
Optional texts include:
Gone by Michael Grant
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

9. Being a Friend Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Period 5/6 during first semester and period 1/2 during second semester
Anchor text is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Optional texts include:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

10. Discovering Your Inner Hero
Periods 3/4 and 5/6 during second semester
Anchor text is Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Optional texts include:
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

11. Other “fun” stuff that you might want to know…
Visit my website for links and resources
All homework will be posted in ProgressBook on the Class Information Page

12. How to reach me: Rebecca.Osterfeld@bea vercreek.k12.oh.us
“Staff” section of Coy website
Phone: ext
Notes with your child
Planning period 7th (2:11-2:55)