8th Grade English
Six Weeks Overview
Literature Focus: Students will focus on the elements of non-fiction, poetry, and fiction. We will
focus on making inferences, connections between texts, author’s purpose, and persuasive
techniques. Students will read to research a historically significant figure.
Vocabulary Focus: Students will study analogies.
Writing Focus: Students will write a persuasive essay using the R.A.F.T. writing technique.
Students will work in groups to write and informative essay about a historic figure.
Grammar Focus: Students will review parts of speech using sentence diagramming. Students
will improve writing using sentence combining strategies.
Listening and Speaking Focus: Students will participate in academic discourse and present their
information about their historic figure.
5th
Major Grades
Reader/Writer Notebook Entry #1 – 20 points
Reader/Writer Notebook Entry #2 – 20 points
Biography Essay (Group and Individual Components) – 60 points
Historic Figure Presentation – 60 points
Major Dates
(These dates are subject to change, however, if changes are made students will be given ample notification.)
February 23/24 – Book Check
February 26/27 – Library day for biography project research
March 9/10 – Write biography essay with group in class
March 31 – 8th Grade Reading STAAR Test
April 1/2 – “Dress Like Your Historical Figure” Day/ Presentations
STAAR Test Preparation
This six weeks, we have planned lessons which will focus on reading skills which test data shows
us that many students struggle with. We will be building test preparation strategies into our
lessons. The week of March 23-27, each 8th Grade English teacher will prepare activities which
will focus on students’ individual needs.
Independent Reading
Genre- P.Y.O.B.- Pick Your Own Book! You may choose any genre you wish to read this six
weeks. You may want to choose to read a biography or autobiography about your historic figure
for your research project.
On the book check day, you will write three options for “Big Questions” for you book.
You will use your Reader/Writer Notebook to complete TWO entries (20 points each) using your
book and the 5th Six Weeks R/W Notebook Instructions.
Due Dates for the R/W Notebook Entries:
March 2/3 – RWNB #1 Due
March 25/26 – RWNB #2 Due
Extra Credit Opportunity:
MyON.com Reading Challenge – 240 min (5pts.), 360 min (10pts.), 480 min (15pts.)
Vocabulary.com Challenge – 1 pt. for every TWO words mastered (maximum of 20 pts.)