1. English 8 Centennial Middle School Mrs. Ferguson
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2. Conference Period: First Hour
Mrs. Ferguson
Room 227
ext. 3259
Conference Period: First Hour
Contact Information

3. Class Website www.mrsfergusonatcms.weebly.com
For all the latest information from room 227 visit:
Site will be updated each week as part of Website Wednesday.
Class Website

4. Assorted short stories and poems from The Language of Literature
Independent Pleasure Reading
One hour a week required
Reading Flip Cards
Novels
The Glory Field
The Outsiders
The Giver
Unsung Heroes
Love That Dog
Literature Circle selections
Reading

5. Writing Common Core State Standards Writer’s Notebook
Writer’s Workshop
District Writing Rubrics
Writing

6. Class Information Skyward updated regularly Grade Calculations
* vs. 0 and “Missing”
Check in assignments = “V”
Grade Calculations
Formative work (homework, classwork - work that forms our understanding of the concepts) = 30% of the final grade
Summative work (test, projects, formal writing pieces – work in which students demonstrate their mastery of the concepts) = 70% of the final grade
Paper Pass Back Day
Once per week
Organization and Accountability
CAB – Classroom Activity Binders – will always remain in the classroom
TAB – Traveling Activity Binders – will travel with students
No Name Board
While You Were Out Bin
Class Calendar
Late Work
Class Information

7. Scholastic Next Due Date: Friday, September 19, 2014
Classroom Access Code: H7C24
Storia - eBooks now offered by Scholastic
More information at: scholastic.com/storia-clubs
Next Due Date: Friday, September 19, 2014
Scholastic

8. A Sample of What Your Child Will Be Working on in 8th Grade
Citing the evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what is explicitly stated and/or implied from a book, article, poem, or play
Analyzing the purpose of information presented in diverse media (e.g., print, TV, web) and evaluating its social, political, or commercial motives
Presenting findings and claims to others, emphasizing key points with relevant evidence and sound reasoning, adapting speech to the audience and the formality of the setting, and responding to questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas
Analyzing where materials on the same topic disagree on matters of fact, interpretation, or point of view
Learning how authors support their ideas through word choice, sentence and paragraph structure, and other methods
Using strong, active verbs to create a clear picture for the reader (e.g., walk, skip, meander, lurch, limp)
Building writing around strong central ideas or points of view; supporting the ideas with sound reasoning and evidence, precise word choices, smooth transitions, and different sentence structures
Interpreting figures of speech (e.g., irony, puns) and developing a large vocabulary of general academic words and phrases
Planning and conducting research projects that include several steps and use many credible and documented print and digital sources
Source:
A Sample of What Your Child Will Be Working on in 8th Grade

9. Concept/Skill Grades 6-8 Identify & Research a Topic Lesson Title
Determine Purpose & Identify a Research Question
Understand a Writing Prompt
Identify Audience & Medium
Identify a Topic
Generate a Research Question
Activate Prior Knowledge
Activate, Organize, & Review Prior Knowledge
Identify Gaps in Knowledge
Find & Evaluate Sources
Select a Search Engine
Perform Key Word Searches
Analyze Search Results
Select Sources: Evaluate Websites – How & Why
Evaluate Websites: Organization & Accessibility
Evaluate Websites: Authority and Purpose
Evaluate Websites: Accuracy and Currency
Determine Relevance of Source to Topic/Research
Generate & Evaluate Data
Gather/Generate Data
Evaluate Relevance of & Analyze Data
Develop An Informed View
Process, Sift & Sort
Analyze Info to Generate a Claim or Central Idea
Develop a Claim
Develop a Central Idea
Synthesize & Organize to Draft a Product
Text Structures
Draft Argument Body Paragraphs
Draft Informational Body Paragraphs
Create a Product to Inform an Audience
Reflect & Revise
Publish & Self-Assess
Finalize & Publish the Product
Reflect on the Process (Self-Assessment)

10. Common Core Shift in Lexile Levels
Former lexile levels (a scale of reading ability) for Grade 8 began at 750L and ranged through 1040L
Common Core Shift in Lexile Levels
Grade Band
Current Lexile Band
"Stretch" Lexile Band*
 K–1
 N/A
N/A
 2–3
 450L–725L
420L–820L
 4–5
 645L–845L
740L–1010L
 6–8
860L–1010L
925L–1185L
9-10
960L–1115L
1050L–1335L
11–CCR
 1070L–1220L
1185L–1385L

11. Helpful links to Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts:
Common Core Resources

12. If you would like a copy of the English 8 Curriculum Map, please me and I will send one home with your child.
Curriculum Map