English - 8th Grade

Fall

• Discuss summer reading literature choices and create project based on those books
• Begin our comprehensive, year-long vocabulary units that integrates both literature-based vocabulary and vocabulary from our sourcebook
• Begin our year-long grammar course with a diagnostic assessment of 7th grade concepts and review of subjects, predicates, direct and indirect objects
• Themes such as Self vs. Group Identity woven throughout
•  Begin unit on Lord of the Flies by William Golding including discussions, note-taking and small group work
• Identification and analysis of symbols and themes in the novel, culminating in a formal written assessment including quotations from the literature.   
• Outside Reading projects introduced; students read first of three outside reading books and complete a project based on their book
• Begin to read second novel and focus on identity formation, being the "other", and group dynamics

Winter

• Finish reading and analyzing second novel and focus on identity formation, being the "other", and group dynamics
• Themes such as self vs. other, perspective, sense of belonging and one's role in a neighborhood woven throughout

• Continue work on note-taking and discussion
• In-class writing assessments based on quotations from literature incorporated
• Analytical, creative assessment that compares art and music to the novel.
• Begin third novel with focus on close-reading, inference and perspective.  
• Continue vocabulary program.  
• Continue grammar program. 
• Students begin Automated Wax Museum project, based on a book of the student's choice

Spring

• Students present Automated Wax Museum to RDS community, and hand in written monologues.
• Students embark on Short Story unit including analysis of stories, learning the story arc, understanding voice, perspective and dialogue and culminating in creative short story project. 
• Begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the final novel of the year.  
• Themes including gender stereotypes, racism, classism and courage woven throughout
• Students continue discussions, note-taking and in-class close readings and writing about quotations from the novel
• Students create paper topic based on To Kill a Mockingbird 
• Vocabulary units continued
• Grammar units continued
• Prepare for formal final examination