Welcome to
English 8:
American
Literature
A little about Mrs. Zaldana
▶
Background
• Texas
• Stanford University-B.A. and M.A. English
• Notre Dame de Namur-Single Subject Teaching Credential
▶
Professional Experience
•
•
•
•
Peninsula Covenant Church
Ralston
Summit Denali
TKA
Overview of English 8
● Students connect literature to history and their lives → see common themes
across centuries
● Focus on American literature aligned with their US history studies
○ Personal narrative
○ Dystopian novels (The Giver, The Maze Runner, and Legend)
○ Chains
○ The Crucible
○ Hamilton: An American Musical
○ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
○ Social justice project
Focus for the year
Reading
● Close reading & analysis of character development, theme, central idea,
figurative language, and tone
○
○
Small and large group discussions of the text
Fiction, nonfiction, drama, poetry
Focus for the year
Writing
● Revising and editing for conventions
● Detailed analysis supported by textual
evidence
● Tone and style
○
○
○
In-class essays, timed written assignments,
group projects
Small group workshops targeting skills
Teacher feedback
Focus for the year
Speaking & Presenting
●
●
●
●
Group and individual
Persuasive speech
Slam poetry
Sharing work with class
Dystopian Novel Unit
●
●
●
●
The Giver, The Maze Runner, and Legend
Focus on theme
How are these texts commentaries on society?
How do these texts compare to God’s plan for creation?
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
●
●
●
●
Drama
Salem Witch Trials
Argumentative writing (put the characters on trial)
Focus on integrity and forgiveness
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
●
●
●
●
Historical fiction
Revolutionary War
Compare/ contrast characters and their experiences
Coupled with nonfiction texts
Hamilton: An American Musical by LinManuel Miranda
● Inspired by the 2004 biography of Alexander
Hamilton (Chernow)
● Slam poetry
● Poetic elements and figurative language
● Write their own slam poetry
● How do poets use word choice and structure to
convey their message?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark
Twain
●
●
●
●
American classic
Focus on satire and social commentary
Reconstruction Era
Analytical writing
Social Justice Project
●
●
●
●
●
Research skills
Persuasive speech & presentation
Student passions and interests
Actionable!
God’s calling to serve others
How can you help?
● Encourage reading for fun
● Check parent portal
○ Assignments-posted by Mon 3:00pm
● Ask about current projects
● Encourage students to meet with Mrs. Zaldana fo
writing conferences
Mrs. Sarah Zaldana
Email: sarah.zaldana@tka.org
You are dismissed for your next class!