Reading/Language Arts Literacy Curriculum

Overview for Grade 8

The acquisition of reading skills is a developmental process. The Reading/Language Arts Literacy curriculum for Grades 6, 7, and 8 is designed to build upon and continue developing and refining student skills. Reading instruction will continue to meet the needs of the individual reader. Differentiated instruction, materials, and strategies will be employed that address students at their instructional level and maximize their potential. Students will be supported in their continued efforts to become active, self-directed readers and writers who can respond to a variety of texts in various ways.

Introduction to the Literature will provide instruction and strategies for pre-reading, vocabulary and word study. Activating prior knowledge, brainstorming, predicting, skimming/previewing, posing pre-reading questions and making connections personally and cross-curricular will be supported. Vocabulary, spelling and word study are taught as integral parts of reading and writing.

Through the Literature will support students in the acquisition of fluency and comprehension. Students will continue to be encouraged to choose from a wide variety of literature available as well as presented with genres that they might not typically select. Explicit strategies at the middle school level will include strategies such as monitoring and adjusting speed and intonation, rereading, skimming and scanning, retelling, summarizing, make textual connections, and determining themes.

Beyond the Literature will assist students in developing oral and written expression skills. Students will be instructed in inferential, evaluative, literal and creative questioning to stimulate discussion. They will be provided with opportunities to express themselves orally in one-on-one conversations, small group, and/or large group. Speaking may be in an informal or a formal presentation format. Appropriate speaking and presentation skills, and giving and receiving feedback will be modeled.

Students will reflect upon literature in written formats. They will be exposed to and experiment with a variety of forms. Writing tasks will help them gain a fuller understanding of the uses and misuses of punctuation and how skilled writers manipulate grammar to create desired effects in their writing. They will begin to create fluent and cohesive works of writing such as narrative, memoir, and research. Students will review an array of texts and films to examine how authors develop characters. Through their reading they will identify the elements of different genres, and make connections through their writing. The writing process and specific rubrics will be utilized for pre-writing strategies, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.

The specific skills of listening will be addressed and practiced throughout each activity and modeled during instruction. Looking at the speaker, taking notes, maintaining focus, listening for specific information will be fostered for this critical life skill.

Study skills will be integrated in all units (Intro, Through, and Beyond). Students will have exposure and time to utilize skills with various resources and reference materials that will assist them in making connections. It will also enable them to expand upon their responses both written and orally. Essential skills of highlighting, note-taking, outlining, using graphic organizers, and accessing electronic information sources will be presented.

Technology, its influence and impact, are important to present as well. Promoting careful and critical viewing of everything from television to internet is essential. Students will engage in teacher-guided experiences for accessing, viewing, evaluating, and responding to print, non-print, and electronic texts and resources.