8th Grade Language Arts

This course integrates reading, writing, language skills, speaking, and listening. Students refine comprehension and summarization skills, analyze writer's craft and structure, and create original works.

Reading

Students read and understand a wide range of literature, including stories, plays, poems, essays, speeches, biographies, and historical, scientific, and technical texts. They analyze themes, symbolism, mood, tone, and point of view.

Writing

Students use the writing process to create original works, including poems, autobiographies/biographies, cover letters, informational reports, short stories, and position papers. They practice various writing styles and refine their grammar and mechanics.

Language Skills

Students develop vocabulary, grammar, and mechanics skills. They learn to analyze sentence structure, identify parts of speech, and use correct punctuation.

Speaking and Listening

Students practice effective communication skills, including active listening, public speaking, and participating in discussions. They learn to present information clearly and persuasively.

Example Curriculum

• Unit 1: Everyone Loves a Mystery: Focuses on fictional mysteries and explores the elements that attract us to the mysterious.
• Historical Fiction: Explores historical events and themes through fictional narratives.
• Narrative Nonfiction: Examines real-life stories and events using narrative techniques.
• Traditional Literature: Studies classic stories, myths, and folktales from various cultures.
• Fictional Narrative: Develops skills in creating and analyzing fictional stories.
• Poetry: Explores various forms of poetry, including analysis and writing.