Welcome to 8th grade Language Arts!

About Me

• Ms. Claire Kelly• Ramapo College of NJ (B.A. Literature,

Philosophy minor)• Work experience• Continuing education

Useful Information

• SchoolWires• Genesis Parent Access• Email: claire.kelly@woodbridge.k12.nj.us

• *Extra help before school (7:45-8:10 am), after school (3:05-3:45 pm), and during lunch with prior notice. (There are no after school activities on Fridays).

Supplies

• 1 binder• 1 pack of loose-leaf paper• dividers (at least 3)• 1 pack of index cards (any size)• something to write with

Rules• Respect• Be prepared• Participate• Be on time• Ask permission before leaving room• Food• Electronics• Borrowing materials

Grading• Major Assessments (about 4-5 per MP): tests,

essays, projects• Minor Assessments (about 20-25 per MP):

homework, classwork, quizzes, participation• A: 92-100 Performance significantly above

curriculum standard• B: 83-91 Performance above curriculum standard• C: 74-82 Performance at curriculum standard• D: 65-73 Performance below curriculum standard• F: 64 or below Performance significantly below

curriculum standard (failure)• Bell curve/high expectations

Syllabus• Short Story/Narrative (Sep-Oct)

• PARCC practice, original scary stories• Argument (Nov-Dec/Jan)

• PARCC practice, original argument paper• Information/Research (Jan-Feb)

• PARCC practice, original research presentation• Literary Analysis (Jan-Mar)

• PARCC practice, original literary analysis paper• Drama (Apr)

• Write/perform short plays in groups• Poetry/Memoir (May-Jun)

• Write original creative poems and personal non-fiction

Do Now Schedule

• Mon: Vocabulary• Tues: Current Events• Weds: Grammar• Thurs: Reading Skills• Fri: Poetry/Creative Writing

What have we done so far?• Review class rules and expectations• Collect summer reading• Icebreakers/getting to know you• Review reading strategies/active reading:

inferences, predictions, connections, questions, summaries• Last Friday’s HW (due today): Read a short story

and practice taking active reading notes• Current Events: U.S. presidential elections,

characteristics of Republican vs. Democratic parties• Introduction to short story elements and the

Narrative Writing Task on the PARCC

Any Questions?