English & Literature

8th-Grade English Language Arts

Mrs. Kate Curley

[email protected]

Welcome! I am excited to get to know your students and help them become life-long learners. If at any time this year you have questions about curriculum or your child’s progress, please do not hesitate to contact me. Email is the best way to reach me. My email address is [email protected]

Reading

• The goal is to increase students’ motivation and love for reading while teaching the literacy skills necessary to more fully understand and appreciate what they are reading.

• Reading material will be taken from a number of sources, including Holt’s anthology, Elements of Literature, novels, and resources such as ReadWorks and commonlit.org. In addition, other relevant and appropriate teacher-curated materials will be shared.

• Students will read a variety of texts and will learn to analyze, make inferences, and draw conclusions based on evidence in the texts.

• Students will have an opportunity to read, discuss, and analyze literature as a whole class and in smaller groups. 

• Units of study will include Short Stories, Drama, Non-Fiction, Poetry, and Novels.  

Writing & Grammar

• The goal is for students to learn essential writing skills that are important for academic and future professional success. 

• By frequently engaging in the writing process, students will polish and expand these essential writing skills. Students will learn how to use these skills in their own writing. This will include lessons in narrative, expository, and persuasive writing in addition to creative writing.

• Grammar will be both explicitly taught and reviewed, and closely tied to reading and writing. 

Spelling & Vocabulary

• The goal is to engage students in thinking about word meanings, the relationship among words, and how words can be used in different situations. 

• Vocabulary instruction includes the study of roots, prefixes, and suffixes in Vocabulary From Latin and Roots workbook. Students study the words, roots/prefixes/suffixes, part(s) of speech, and definitions. Tests are given at the conclusion of each lesson. Vocabulary words found in the context of reading are also studied.   

Grading

• Quizzes, tests, projects, in-class assignments, and homework are part of student grades. 

• Please review the Saint Mary School Student Handbook regarding policies for makeup work due to illness or absence.