1. Middle School English Sherry Adams Johnson
Middle School English Department Chair

2. “The more you read, the more things you will know
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.”- Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut

3. English 7 English 8 Courses offered Honors General Education
Special Education (TT/SC)
Read 180
Action Literacy
English 7
Responsive Writing
English 8

4. General education vs. Honors
Students are automatically placed in the 4 core classes of Math, English, Social Studies, and Science.
Students and parents may select honors classes based on a student’s academic strengths and interests.
Will take grade level VA SOL
Emphasis on demonstrating and developing comprehension and application skills
Emphasis on demonstrating and developing critical and creative thinking skills
Well timed pace of curriculum with instruction that incorporates scaffolding, review, and practice
Rigorous, fast paced curriculum and instruction.
POS and SOL standards create a framework for the course
POS and SOL extension lessons provide Ascending Lessons of Intellectual Demand
Emphasis on development of responsibility with guidance from teacher
Emphasis on development of emerging autonomy and independence

5. Reading strategies Synthesis of information
Inferences and drawing conclusions
Visualization
Asking questions
Making connections
Determining importance
Repairing comprehension or re reading

6. Summer Reading Assignment
All students are expected to read an age appropriate book off the summer reading list
A summer reading assignment will be handed out to all current Hayfield students and posted on the Hayfield website.
Assignment is due within the first two weeks of school year.

7. Quarterly Reading Projects
In addition to literature circles students are required to read one book per quarter and complete an independent reading assignment

8. 7th grade Program of Studies
Oral Communication
Media Literacy
Vocabulary
Fictional texts, narrative non-fiction, and poetry
Writing
Editing
Research

9. Specific novels and assignments
Novels that have been read in past English Classes:
Freak the Mighty Rodman Philbrick
Countdown Ben Mikaelson
The Outsiders S.E. Hinton
Love that Dog Sharon Creech
The Giver Lowis Lowry
Blackwater Eve Bunting
The Hobbit J.R.R Tolkien
The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman

10. 8th grade Program of Studies
Non Fiction
Expository and Persuasive Writing
Elements of Fiction
Grammar Rules
Vocabulary
Research
Media Literacy
Oral Presentations

11. Novels, projects, and assignments
Touching Spirit Bear
Monster
The Pearl
Bird
To Kill a Mockingbird
Chew on This
Many articles, poems, and short stories
Informational pamphlets/posters
Literature Circles

12. Student assessments Journals Binders or Interactive notebooks Quizzes
Tests
Group Assignments
Independent Reading Projects
Presentations
Class work
Essays
Homework

13. SOL Information
Both 7th and 8th grade students will take a Reading SOL in May.
8th Grade Students will take a two day Writing SOL in March. One day will consist of grammar questions, and one day will be writing either a persuasive or expository essay.

14. SOL Information The SOL Reading Test Reporting Categories include:
Word Analysis and Word Reference
Comprehension of Fiction
Comprehension of Nonfiction
There will be more nonfiction than fiction questions
Vocabulary will be tested in passages and stand-alone items
Students will be asked to draw connections between fiction and nonfiction texts (paired passages)

15. Then and Now. ..

16. An old 7th grade SOL Question

17. A New 7th Grade SOL Question:

18. Then. . .An 8th grade reading question

19. Now. .. An 8th Grade Reading Question

20. Writing sample multiple choice
Then and Now. ..

21. Then. …

22. Sample Writing SOL Question NOW

23. Writing sample prompts
There is a common saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Think of something that has an unattractive appearance but that has special meaning to someone for other reasons. It might be an old car, a well-used toy, a faded photograph, or something else. Identify the object and explain why it has special meaning.

24. Encourage them to read, read, read!!
The NUMBER 1 thing you can do to help your child be successful in English
Encourage them to read, read, read!!

25. If your child needs extra assistance:
Read 180
Action Literacy
Responsive Writing

26. Enjoy English next year!!
Thanks for coming!
Enjoy English next year!!