English Language Arts Curriculum (7th/8th Grade)

This entry explores the English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum for 7th and 8th grade students. It covers key skills, learning objectives, example lesson plans and activities, and assessment strategies.

7th Grade ELA

Overview:

The 7th grade ELA curriculum focuses on developing a strong foundation in reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and literary analysis. Students engage with increasingly complex texts and are expected to demonstrate deeper critical thinking skills. Students explore thematic questions related to identity, class, socialization, environment, and community, ultimately seeking to understand how the need to belong drives human behavior.

Key Skills and Learning Objectives:

• Reading: Constructing meaning from unfamiliar words, analyzing elements and style across genres, using text evidence for analysis, inference, and synthesis.
• Writing: Writing longer and more complex texts and essays, using varied sentence structures for different relationships among ideas.
• Language: Understanding and applying standard English grammar and usage in writing and speaking.
• Communication: Developing effective communication skills through speaking and active listening, creating individual and group projects and presentations.

Example Lesson Plans and Activities:

A wide range of resources and lesson plans are available for 7th grade ELA, including those focusing on specific literary texts like American Born Chinese and A Raisin in the Sun. Many resources can be found on platforms like Teachers Pay Teachers.

8th Grade ELA

Overview:

The 8th grade ELA curriculum builds upon the skills developed in 7th grade. Students continue to refine their reading, writing, and analytical skills, engaging with more challenging texts and exploring complex themes related to race, justice, oppression, morality, empowerment, and freedom. The overarching question students explore is how power influences human behavior.

Key Skills and Learning Objectives:

• Reading: Mastering complex passages, comprehending and using figurative language, summarizing complex texts, interpreting information from various formats, and using critical thinking to distinguish fact from opinion.
• Writing: Creating original works in various genres (poems, biographies, cover letters, reports, short stories), using the writing process from prewriting to revision, developing and supporting arguments, using persuasive and creative techniques.
• Language: Expanding vocabulary, using appropriate vocabulary for specific topics, distinguishing between connotations and denotations.
• Communication: Enhancing speaking and listening skills, participating in discussions, presenting information effectively.

Example Lesson Plans and Activities:

Similar to 7th grade, numerous resources and lesson plans are available for 8th grade ELA, often focusing on specific literary texts like All American Boys, Night, and Animal Farm. Teachers Pay Teachers is another valuable resource for lesson plans and activities.

Assessments and Evaluations (7th/8th Grade ELA)

Assessments in 7th and 8th grade ELA utilize various methods to evaluate student progress and understanding. These can include:

• Formal Assessments: Standardized tests, common assessments, weekly quizzes, and unit tests.
• Informal Assessments: Class discussions, projects, presentations, writing assignments, and daily reviews.
• Performance-Based Assessments: Portfolios, presentations, and projects that allow students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in a more comprehensive way.

These assessments aim to measure student growth in reading, writing, language, and communication skills, as well as their understanding of literary concepts and themes. They also provide valuable feedback to teachers for adjusting instruction and meeting individual student needs.