"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use
to change the world."
Nelson Mandela
Syllabus
8th Grade Language Arts
Mr. Alexander, Room 806
Below is my class syllabus for the 2020-21 school year.
Class Overview
Welcome to 8th ELA. This year you will embark upon a new curriculum entitled EL Education. This curriculum will challenge you to become critical thinkers. You will learn to read challenging texts and produce quality writing while at the same time collaborating with your classmates and taking academic risks in sharing your thinking and reasoning about a variety of topics, (Woodfin et. al). This year you will demonstrate your level of achievement through mastery of knowledge and skills, character, and high- quality student work.
You will be reading three novels in addition to other supporting texts this year. The majority of these texts will be read at home. As a result, you will have to develop consistent homework, study, and work habits to keep up with the pace of this course. The expectation is that you will come to class prepared to discuss and work with the text. Procrastination in completing work or not completing the work at home, will cause you to fall behind in this course.
Course Materials
*Access to the online novels will be explained to students once classes begin.
ONLINE
IN-PERSON
1. Internet Access
2. Chromebook
3. Basic understanding of Canvas and Zoom
4. Google Drive
5. Online novels (Available through Sora)
- Summer of the Mariposas
- The Omnivore’s Dilemma
- Farewell to Manzanar
While we are in the remote learning phase, most materials will be accessed digitally through Canvas and Google Drive. Any other digital resources will be explained as they are needed throughout the class.
We will work with students to set up folders through their school based Google Drive to maintain organization for this class.
If you still prefer to use paper to plan, write out ideas, etc., you may utilize the materials listed under “in-person.” You must still submit assignments as described through Canvas. No picture submissions will be accepted.
- 3 or 5 subject Spiral Notebook
- Pens/Pencils/Highlighters
- Tape/Glue Stick
- Sticky Notes
REQUIRED FOR GENERAL USE IN ALL CORE CLASSES:
1. ONE 3 inch Binder (will stay with student, not teacher)
2. Dividers (at least 6 tabs, 1 for each class)
3. Pencil pouch
4. Hand-held pencil sharpener
5. Earbuds for the Chromebooks → NOT WIRELESS/NO BLUETOOTH CONNECTION
6. Tissues (2)
7. Hand sanitizer (2)
8. Clorox Wipes (2)
9. Copy Paper (2)
10. Colored Pencils or Markers (2)
Classroom Expectations
- Arrive to class on time (in person and virtual)
- Come prepared ready to learn and
- Be engaged in the daily lesson (camera must be on, ask questions, answer questions verbally/virtually, complete in-class activities as directed, etc.
- Complete all required assignments
- Use appropriate language and behavior at all times ( in person and virtual)
- Participate consistently:
Remote/Virtual Learning
During remote/virtual learning, students are expected to log on to their class using the links listed below. Please make sure that you are selecting the appropriate class period. All course activities and resources can be found through our course website on Canvas. During online learning, you will participate in a blend of self-paced (asynchronous) and group-paced (synchronous) activities using Canvas such as discussion forums, email, uploading assignments, web posting etc. You will be asked to respond on camera and in the chat box. This expectation is the same as it would be if you were in class. Being PRESENT and ENGAGED is key. Some activities will be completed as a whole group when we meet and some of the learning activities will be completed on your own time. There will be assigned due dates for all assignments.
Class Period
Zoom Links
1st Block
HR begins daily at 9:15am
Class begins daily at 10:00am Click HERE
2nd Block
Class begins daily at 11:20am Click HERE
4th Block
Class begins daily at 1:15pm Click HERE
These zoom links will remain the same for your class period throughout the year. Remember that once you join, you must use your name. No nicknames will be permitted.
Tutoring Times/Office Hours
Online
In Class
The last 45 minutes of our virtual class will be asynchronous learning for students to work on completing ELA assignments in Canvas. I will be available daily during that time for students to email me or ask questions over Zoom.
1st Block: 10:40- 11:10
2nd Block: 11:50- 12:30
3rd Block: 1:45- 2:25
I offer before school tutoring on Tuesdays from 8:00-8:45 am. Students must sign up for tutoring in advance and must adhere to all school and classroom expectations during tutoring sessions. Should students fail to comply with school/classroom expectation they may be denied further access to these learning opportunities.
Grading and AssessmentsStudent achievement of the language arts standards will be communicated to students and parents using the NC grading scale. Additional information about grades can be found in the Parent Handbook.
✓ Grades will only reflect the student’s level of academic achievement.
✓ All students will have multiple assessment opportunities to demonstrate higher levels of achievement.
✓ Students are expected to complete all required work by the due dates. If work is not submitted on time, students will receive a 10% deduction per day the assignment is late.
Grading
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 60-69
F: < 59
Formal Assessments: 65%
(tests, larger writing tasks, individual projects/presentations, etc.)
Informal Assessments: 35%
(classwork, homework, exit tickets, group projects, quizzes, etc.)
Honor CodeAs you know, we value academic integrity very highly and do not permit any form of dishonesty or deception that unfairly, improperly, or illegally enhances a grade on an individual assignment or a course grade.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, copying from others, having or using notes on an assessment when not specifically given permission by the teacher, giving or receiving improper assistance on an assignment meant to be individual work, not citing information you take from other sources, etc. If you have any doubt as to whether a particular act constitutes academic dishonesty, ask a teacher before you do it!
Canvas Instructions
Canvas Tips for Parents
Canvas Tips for Students
Steps to Become a Parent Observer on Canvas
1. Go to → https://cms.instructure.com/login/canvas
2. Click "Parent of a Canvas User?"
3. Enter the following information:
- Enter your name in the Your Name field.
- Enter your email in the Your Email field.
- Enter your password in the Password field.
- Re-enter your password in the Re-enter Password field.
- Enter a pairing code to link your account to your student in the Student Pairing Code field. (Your student can access this under their account settings. If not, email me.)
5. Click the Start Participating button.
Calendar at A-Glance
August- October
October- December
January- March
Module: Folklore of Latin America
Standards: RL.8.1, RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RL.8.4, RL.8.6, RL.8.9, RL.8.10, L.8.5a, L.8.6, RI.8.1, RI.8.4, W.8.3.g
Anchor Text: Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Module Overview: Why do we see evidence of myths and traditional stories in modern narratives? How and why can we modernize myths and traditional stories to be meaningful to today's audiences? In this module, students develop their ability to analyze narratives and create their own stories and to analyze informational essays and create their own as they learn about Latin American folklore.
Module: Food Choices
Standards: RI.8.1, RI.8.5, RI.8.6, RI.8.7, RI.8.8, RI.8.9, W.8.5, W.8.6, L.8.6, L.8.5.b
Anchor Text: The Omnivore’s Dilemma (Young Reader’s Edition) by Micheal Pollan
Module Overview: Where does our food come from? How do we analyze arguments about how food should be grown and processed? What factors influence our access to healthy food? How do we research this? What factors should we prioritize when making choices about our food? How do we share these recommendations with others? In this module, students develop their ability to research, weigh different aspects of complex dilemmas, and formulate opinions supported by evidence and reasoning as they explore the topic Food Choices.
Module: Lessons from Japanese American Internment
Standards: RI.8.1, RI.8.3, RI.8.4, L.8.5.a, L.8.5.b, RL.8.1, RI.8.6, W.8.1.g, W.8.2.a, W.8.2.h, W.8.3.a, W.8.3.g, L.8.2.h, L.8.5.a, L.8.6
Anchor Text: Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston
Module Overview: Students learn about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. They study the experiences of survivors of internment, focusing most centrally on the experiences conveyed in the anchor text, Farewell to Manzanar. This memoir, told through the eyes of Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, chronicles the experiences of her and her family at the Japanese American internment camp Manzanar. Through close examination of this text and of other supplemental texts that provide context about the impact of internment, students deepen their understanding of this dark time in history and of the lessons that can be learned from it.
For more details on individual assignments and due dates, please refer to the detailed calendar on my website.
Now that you have read the syllabus please complete the following form WITH your parents: https://forms.gle/XZGs99dF653hX2t5A (please make a form similar to this one to include)
FINAL NOTE:
I encourage my students to ask questions!! There are no dumb questions– they help you learn and it shows you are thinking, and most likely someone else is wondering the same thing. Also, I am here to help you anytime you need it! Don’t wait unit you get behind to come and talk to me. Pull me aside after class or leave me a note to let me know if you are confused about something or come after school and I will be more than happy to help you. Parents, I would LOVE for you to contact me at any time about anything you would like to talk about regarding your student and my class. Refer to my webpage to find current classroom assignments, homework, vocabulary words, and other information.
WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN HELP YOUR CHILD TO SUCCEED AND HAVE A GREAT YEAR IN LANGUAGE ARTS!
~Mr. Alexander