1. Back to School Night Annette Verge Stopka 8 th grade Language Arts Annetteverge@ccusd.org

2. All for One: Donate! Culver City Education Foundation Donated over $336,000 to our schools. CCEF helps fund art, music, science, math and technology programs. Comedy Improv program Front and Center Theatre

3. Common Core Standards http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/documents/g lcgr7to8april2012.pdfhttp://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/documents/g lcgr7to8april2012.pdf http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/practicetest.asphttp://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/practicetest.asp

4. Reading of Literature The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers The Giver by Lois Lowry The Diary of Anne Frank The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Literature Circles for Book Projects

5. Reading of Informational Texts Common core standards: Cite textual evidence Determine central idea Determine author’s point of view or purpose

6. Reading Book Projects Four projects: Free choice of books at student’s reading level. Newspaper Historical Perspective Newscast Movie Story Board Diary Game Board Tour of the Setting

7. Students will write: Responses to Literature (Prove It!) Persuasive/Argumentative on non-fiction Short Research Projects on a focused question Expository/Informative texts (e.g. simple business letter and job application) Narratives

8. Benchmark I Now until Dec. 1st Literary terms Response to literature: focus on theme and citing textual evidence. Narrative/Descriptive Writing Capitalization Writing conventions Writing strategies Vocabulary

9. Benchmark II December -March Research and persuasive Non-fiction Spelling Writing conventions Writing strategies Vocabulary

10. Benchmark III April to June Technical document Nonfiction writing Business letter Resume Job application Presentations/Speeches

11. Homework See ccms.ccusd.org for daily homework

12. Grades 24 hours at the parent portal. Yes- it’s been graded No- patience Check the due date.

13. Late work One late assignment will be taken with a parent note with in 48 hours. 50 extra credit points at the end of the semester if a parent note is not submitted.

14. Make up work Make up work is the responsibility of the student. Full credit will be given only in the case of an excused absence. If you are absent more than one day, please email me at: annetteverge@ccusd.org

15. Grades Go to ccms.ccusd.org

16. Parent Access Portal

17. Tardy policy Be in your desk when the bell rings. 3 tardies = N 5 tardies= U

18. Homework help 2:20-3:00 room 222

19. Portfolio due in June Exit interview