I am teaching 8th Grade ELA for the first time this year and I am very excited about it. It's great to have a change of pace from my 6th graders all day and I get to see some of those that I had in class in 6th grade. This class will really delve into how to read and discuss books. Reading is so vital to the humanities and I want my students exposed to different thinking and different experiences through reading.
At home each student can improve their reading skills by... READING! READING!, and READING! We read for 20 minutes in class everyday I highly encourage 20 more at home everyday. They only way to get better is to practice and challenge yourself with new and interesting reads. Parents please still try and find a way to read with your kids.
Building Thinking Skills: It is also critical that students build critical thinking skills. These skills are highly important for readers. Sudoku is a great way to build these skills. Logic Puzzles are also great.
I plan on reading four books this year: The Hobbit, Hidden Figures, The House of the Scorpion, and The Diary of Anne Frank. We will also do lots of writing and even some grammar. I am excited to use The Hobbit to dive into some poetry as well. I love Tolkien's poetry and I can't wait to dive into it!
Please let me know if you have questions or concerns going forward. Please remember to check the homework calendars for daily assignment information.