Mrs. Ernst’s 8th Grade English Class

A-2

2015-16

Common Core Standards*Focus: Group-work, Informational Texts, Annotation-

Evidence Citation, Valid Connections to Real-World Issues, Technology integration

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

- Benjamin Franklin

Common Core Standards

UNITS: Each category is integrated into every semester of the year

*Literature R.L.*Writing W.*Speaking & Listening S.L.*Language L.*Informational Texts I.T.

Unit Work

• Journals (daily)

• SAT (every other week) -words, online activities

• Novels /Non-fiction Informational Texts -packet work, essays, annotation,

evaluating texts

• IPad-research, annotation, Google Drive folders, Notability & Pages, Various App use

• Poet of the Month -biography, poem, write poem, presentation

• Grammar reinforcement -packets,worksheets,notes

Novels…. (all classes)

Novel: The House on Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros

FALL*Common Core Based

• Packet work (common core based)• Narrative Papers: “Me” narrative, “A Time in My Life”

narrative, and “Mango Chapter” narrative• Poetry (Poet of the Month, and integrated into packets)

Novels continued..Fall/Winter

*Common Core Based

HonorsNovel: To Kill a Mockingbird

By Harper Lee-Packets (common core based)-Research Paper

-The Great Depression-Jim Crow Laws

-Poetry (Poet of the Month / integrated into packets)

ProficientNovel: The Outsiders

By S.E. Hinton-Packets (common core based)-Research Paper

-Gang Violence-The Vietnam War

-Poetry (Poet of the Month / integrated into packets)

Novels continued….Winter/Spring*Common Core Based

HonorsNovel: A Separate Peace

By John Knowles-Packets (common core based)-Conflict Essay Paper-Poetry (Poet of the Month/ integrated into packets)

ProficientNovel: The Giver

By Lois Lowry-Packets (common core based)-Conflict Essay Paper-Poetry (Poet of the Month/ integrated into packets)

Novels continued….Spring

*Common Core Based

Honors

Novel: HamletBy William Shakespeare

-Packet work (common core based)

-Argument Paper on Nobility*Is Hamlet noble?

-Poetry (Poet of the Month)-Soliloquy

Proficient

Novel: Speak By

Laurie Halse Anderson-Packet work (common core based)

-Argument Paper on Nobility*Is Melinda noble?

-Poetry (Poet of the Month)

Informational Texts/Non-fictionThroughout School Year

During Novel Study• Informational Texts (articles, current event

topics, historical topics, biographies) are all integrated into the units. Students will evaluate evidence, annotate, and form educated opinions. They will work independently, in small groups, and discuss as a class.

(Group annotations, Chart A entries, Socratic Forum, Dialectical Journals)

*R.I. 8.1-8.8

Post Novel Study• Argument Articles are discussed

and debated after finishing each novel. These are real-world topics connected to the themes of each of their books.

• The Melting Pot (4-6 days)

-Informational Text (Annotation/Group-work Activities/Essay)

District Assessments

Fall Spring• Evaluation of Lying

(7days)-Informational Text(Annotation/Group-

work Activities/Essay)

• Smarter Balanced Assessment

-Online Review (link on Ernst website)

Spring Book Groups(if time )

*Spring Book Groups (Common Core Based)

Novel Choices:Oliver Twist by Charles DickensThat Was Then This is Now by S.E. HintonThe Glass Castle by Jeanette WallsMake Lemonade by Virginia WolffThe Lord of the Flies by William GoldingSpeak by Laurie Halse AndersonLyddie by Katherine PattersonThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

-Packet work, discussion and presentation in groups

Last Week of School…..(all classes)

Novel: The Little Prince By Antoine de Saint-Exupery

*We read The Little Prince the last week of school because it’s a wonderful life-lesson book to send students off to high school with!

Extras

• Portfolios-Student work is kept in a portfolio in class. -Students will keep work in a digital folder on Google Drive as well

• Discipline-Tracking List /every 5-week grading period

-Happy Face /Sad Face *Naughty Behavior = Jupiter referrals / Student Services referrals/ “U” in Cooperation

Ernst Information

• www.paulreverems.com -Teacher Pages – Ernst-

*Homework Link* SAT Word/Activity Link

Email: hle6401@lausd.netErnst CLUBS

*Poetry Club: Thursdays at lunch

Thank You!