Welcome to Fall Open House
Welcome Back!
Fall Open House
2013-14
2014-15
Maria Brittingham
mbrittingham@methacton.org
Honors 8
Red Team/Grade 8
8th Grade English
Welcome parents! Thank you for joining us on this educational evening.
My goal, as an English educator, is to provide my students with the educational
opportunity to become life-long readers, writers, and communicators.
Please visit my website for all assignments.
Methacton webpage: Select Arcola. Select
Teacher Pages. Select Brittingham.
Also: Check the Community Portal
Frequently.
A little about Mrs. Brittingham…
Billy~Junior and Matt~Eighth Grade
Above: Matt Meets
Author Lupica
Tonight? Curriculum Overview
Student’s Progress? Options below:
• Arcola’s 8th grade Guidance
Counselor, Mr. Mueller.
• mmueller@methacton.org
• She will assist in
establishing a time to meet
so we can help your
son/daughter with any
academic or social
concerns.
• RED Team Communicator
• mbrittingham@methacton.org
• I can also set up a time to
discuss concerns that may be
affecting your son/daughter’s
academic progress.
The English/8 curriculum consists of the following:
Literature:
This area incorporates authors such as O’Henry, W.W. Jacobs,
Daniel Keyes and Edgar Allan Poe, including stories and poetry such as “The Tell-Tale Heart”,
“Flowers for Algernon”, and “The Bet.” Students will also read the classic novel, The Pearl by
John Steinbeck. Literary units will also consist of group and individual assignments, writing
activities, quizzes, and tests. Plot development, character analysis, setting, vocabulary, and theme
will be discussed.
Grammar:
This year’s grammar study is preparing the students
for their high school study of writing and grammar. It is essential that the students understand
this information---as it will frequently be applied to their writing in eighth grade and at the high
school level. Students are expected to have a solid background in the study of their language at
the middle school level
This year students are using the Vocabulary Workshop
book Level D to enhance the correct use of words in both the oral
and written form. Students are encouraged to work carefully
through the exercises. Activities include using words correctly in
sentences as well as identifying appropriate synonyms and
antonyms. This book offers an excellent source of vocabulary since
most of the words on the high school level are found on SAT study
lists. Page 8 is very beneficial. In addition, your child can enhance
his/her knowledge of the words by practicing on the interactive
website www.vocabularyworkshop.com at any time.
Special Assignments: This area incorporates a variety of different skills, including writing,
independent reading, and researching, and addresses a variety of subject areas and interests.
NOTE: DIFFERENT FORMAT TO JOB SHADOWING PROGRAM THIS YEAR
*Job Shadowing:
promotes career awareness as part of the eighth grade
curriculum. The purpose of this assignment is to put students in contact with the world of work.
This project gives the students a firsthand look at careers of interest to them. Observation time
should not be scheduled during the school day, but rather on vacations, in service days, or
weekends.
This year our job shadowing program has been slightly altered. Although the changes have been
clearly laid out in our shadowing packet sent home during the first week of school, feel free to
contact me with any questions regarding our new format (esp. if you have had children in my
classroom and they followed our old format). The final due date is February
Feb. 20th21 of this school
year. Late projects will be penalized. Please encourage your child to plan ahead with this project
as quality work is expected.
Independent Reading Assignment:
promotes independent reading habits outside the classroom.
PLEASE NOTE: SET UP DIFFERENTLY THAN IN THE PAST.
Students will read seven books. Students will be tested after completion of the
reading.
Our guidelines have also changed this year with regard to our
requirements. Each marking period there are different types of genre that will be
required for the student to read. This allows great opportunity to get exposure to
different types of genre and authors. Check the handout from the beginning of school
for specifics.
Selection of books can be school library, public library, classroom library, home
collection/library, book store purchase, swap with a friend, etc. As you can see,
there are many options for your children to find a good book to read.
November
7
Due Date (this marking period): October
22, 2013.
It is worth 50 points.
Students are asked to make a book selection that falls within their ZPD range which
results from their STAR reading test taken in September.
*Research Paper:
promotes the research process and is of value
for the students as they progress into the high school and later years of
schooling/college. Students will be taught the proper method of writing a bibliography,
note taking, outlining, and writing a rough draft and final draft of the paper. The
teacher will work with the students on each step of the process.
The grading system includes the following: homework, quizzes, tests, essays/compositions,
the independent reading assignment, writing activities and prompts in both the areas of reading
and writing based on our PA state standards and domain scoring, special assignments, and unit
tests. Grades are based upon a total point scale. No assignment is weighted more than another.
Homework:
Two types of homework. Grades vary depending on such. For
example, next day (immediate) homework and then essay/project (long term) homework. A
student can only receive a late grade or lower letter grade for the long term homework and not
the next day assignments.
Friendly Reminders:
 Checking the Agenda as the student enters the classroom and being ready when class
begins is extremely beneficial.
 Checking the MISSED CLASS/ABSENT folder to find out the day’s agenda and retrieve
any missed handouts from the day(s) before is also beneficial.

Participation counts! Quality, not quantity, however.
 Checking my website for test/quiz announcements is also beneficial.
 Students were told on the first day of school as well as orientation that a 3-ring binder
was a requirement along with plenty of paper, black/blue pens, pencils, a highlighter, etc.
Unfortunately, some students have not established this requirement yet. Please check
with your child about this classroom procedure.

Text Reminder Alert was established a week or two ago. Ask your child about the
paper to set it up for yourself as well. These text reminders are short and simple and help
when a student or parent cannot get to the computer to check the website for friendly
reminders. They are NOT every night, however.