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ENGLISH 8

With Ms. Wasserman

Contact Info:

Email is the best and quickest way to reach me. I will do my best to answer you within 24 hours on business days.

Email: wassermana@

wellesleyps.org

Phone:

781-446-6250

Extension 3216

Year at a Glance

In 8th grade ELA, we will focus on reading deeply and writing purposefully. In reading, our focus will be on moving from analysis of text to evaluation of craft. In writing, we will be applying these authors’ craft moves to better tailor our communication to different genres, audiences, and contexts. The curriculum is aligned to state curriculum standards. Units of study are subject to change. Units of study include but are not limited to:

READING UNITS:

    • Launching Independent Reading
    • Animal Farm by George Orwell Reading Unit
    • Dystopian Book Clubs
    • All American Boys by Brendan Kiely & Jason Reynolds Reading Unit
    • Nonfiction Book Clubs

WRITING UNITS:

    • Memoir
    • Literary Analysis
    • Argumentative Writing
    • Book Reviews

Materials

For my class, you will need the following every day:

    • Digital ELA Notebook
    • Independent Reading Book
    • A folder
    • A pen or pencil

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet” - Jhumpa Lahiri

Year Long Goals

  • Grow stronger and more confident as a reader and a writer.

  • Find books you love and read a lot.

  • Understand and use the power of your voice. Find topics you care about.

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ENGLISH 8

With Ms. Wasserman

Grading Policy

Grades range from 0%-100%. For ELA, some of your assignments will be graded on google classroom, but not all. Please do not look to google classroom for an accurate representation of your grade. Rather, check in with me regarding any grade related questions. While I do not offer extra credit, you can always meet with me for extra help and/or to discuss your grade. I appreciate your efforts and understanding in this process.

Grades will be based on the following:

60% Writing and Reading Projects

20% Classwork

10% Homework

10% Participation

Late Work

If you miss a deadline, you can still hand in your work. It will be subject to point deductions each day that it is late. I will only accept work up until 2 weeks before grades are due. Thank you for respecting this deadline.

Extra Help

I am available for extra help. I am here after school until 3:15 p.m. on Mondays, and am also available by appointment.

Class Rules

It is very important to me to have a supportive and positive classroom environment. Here are some rules that if we all follow, can help us form a trusting and encouraging environment:

  1. Be supportive
  2. Remain positive
  3. Work together
  4. Voice your opinion
  5. Be Kind

Reading policy

Reading is a way to learn about ourselves and the world around us. Therefore, it is expected that every student reads for 30 minutes per day. This is a time when students are learning about the world around them and are going to have questions about what they are reading. Students: we encourage you to talk to parents/teachers about your questions. Our library mimics what is available at a public library and students have choice over what they read. Parents, if you have concerns about what your child is reading, please review their library choices once they select a book, and reach out with questions prior to their start of reading. We also always welcome students to purchase or borrow their own books from the public library.