1. 8th grade English Language Arts Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School
Curriculum Night
8th grade English Language Arts
Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School

2. About Mrs. Rij
Attended Akimel A-al Middle School & Desert Vista High School
Graduated from NAU in 2012
7th year teaching at AMS – taught 7th grade for 5 years
(best method):
Website: good for weekly agenda, resources, and homework

3. myPerspectives by Pearson
Newly adopted English Language Arts resource
Adopted to align with the new Arizona State College and Career Reading ELA Standards
Students will have a book that they CAN write in
This textbook will stay in the classroom
Will rip out pages for any homework
Students will have a username/password to access resources online or on their mobile device

4. myPerspectives Design
Broken up into 5 units. Each unit has an essential question that relates to all of the passages
Whole-Class Learning
Read 1-2 passages together as a whole class
Small-Group Learning
Students work together in a group of 3-4 to read passages and complete assignments
Students will also work on Performance Task with their group. This is usually a presentation of some kind
Independent Learning
Students are assigned 1-2 passages to read and complete assignments individually
Performance-Based Assessment
Students will individually produce a paper, presentation, or both.

5. 8th grade units and essential questions
Unit 1: What are some milestones on the path to growing up?
Narrative Non-Fiction Writing
Unit 2: How do we remember the past?
Explanatory Writing
Unit 3: When is it right to take a stand?
Argument Essay Writing and Presentation
Unit 4: In what different ways can people be intelligent?
Informative Writing and Speech
If time allows:
Unit 5: Are inventions realized through inspiration or perspiration?
Argument Essay Writing and Speech

6. 8th Grade GATE ELA
GATE = Gifted and Talented Education for English Language Arts
GATE is the new reconfiguration of the advanced ELA course
It address challenge, complexity, choice, control and provide extension and enrichment
Students are identified in one or more areas of giftedness and/or multiple measures of high ability (e.g. AzMerit, classroom grades, teacher recommendations)
Kyrene.org/AdvPlacement
4:02 AM

7. Tradebooks The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Diary of Anne Frank play adaptation
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Among the Hidden by Margret Peterson Haddix
Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
4:02 AM

8. GATE Tradebooks The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Diary of Anne Frank play adaptation
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Night by Elie Wiesel
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Shakespeare Unit
Classical Roots Vocabulary
Syllabus will be sent home on Thursday. Please sign and return on Monday
4:02 AM

9. Grades In 8th grade, the students grades are weighted.
80% of your child’s grade will be assessments, projects, and writing.
20% of your child’s grade will be practice work which is classwork and homework.
Points will be deducted on a daily basis for late work. One day late will earn up to 80%. Two days late – 70%. Three or more days – 50%.
Every assignment in ELA will be graded on a 4 point scale. This avoids assessments being double weighted.
Rounding:
Students grades can be rounded up if they are .5% away from the next letter grade and they have NO missing assignments.
Grades will be posted on ParentVue regularly. Please check student grades there on a regular basis.
Found on Kyrene.org, Parents, ParentVue
4:02 AM

10. Materials Two-Pocket folder to keep assignments
Spiral Notebook with 70+ pages
Lined Paper
Pencils (Replenish frequently, please!)
Pens
Hi-liters
Reusable water bottle (optional)
Mrs. Rij Classroom Donation List:
Kleenex
Extra Spiral Notebooks
4:02 AM