“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” -Paulo Coelho
 

1. Writing- Abydos Writing Pro Grade Level 8   (This is a spiraling curriculum which builds and reviews upon previously taught skills. Each level is more complex than the level preceding it.)

   1. 4 major essay assignments:

      1. Narrative and Expository (Quarter 1)

   2. The Writing Process

      1. Stage 1-Priming the text

      2. Stage 2-Prewriting

      3. Stage 3-Composing

      4. Stage 4-Revising

      5. Stage 5 -Writing Conferencing

      6. Stage 6- Peer Editing  

      7. Stage 7-Publishing  

   3. Focus books (Analysis on format and writing style only)

      1. Shelf Life: Stories of the Book by Gary Paulsen

2. Independent Reading-Accelerated Reader Program (All 4 Quarters)

1. Independent reading practice

2. Reading comprehension assessments

3. Vocabulary book-Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level C (This is a spiraling curriculum which builds and reviews upon previously taught skills. Each level is more complex than the level preceding it.)

Example of Level C word list- abandon, abstract, accelerate, accentuate, adaptable, adjust, administration, advocate, agency, ammunition, apparel, appreciate, array, assemble, asteroid attainable, behalf, bond, bondage, brace, calamity, campaign, capital, captivity, captured, celestial, chamber, chasm, civil, civilian, clarify, coincide, combustion, commotion, compound...

1. Units 5-7 (Quarter 2)

2. Topics covered in vocabulary program
    1. Greek and Latin roots

   1. Antonym

   2. Synonyms

   3. Analogies

   4. Denotation

   5. Connotation

4.  Shurley Grammar Level 8 (This is a spiraling curriculum which builds and reviews upon previously taught skills. Each level is more complex than the level preceding it.)

Quarter 1

Preposition

Object of the preposition

One part of speech

Subject pronoun

Understood subject pronoun

Possessive pronoun

5. Literary Analysis and Appreciation
Identify defining characteristics of a variety of literary forms and genres  

Understand elements of plot development

Identify cause and effect relationships  

Identify conflict and resolution  

Understand elements of character development  

Identify character traits and motivations   

Describe characters based on speech, action, and interactions with others  

Make inferences and draw conclusions  

Recognize effect of setting and culture on a literary work  

Compare and contrast works from different time periods  

Identify and interpret specific literary techniques  

Understand and interpret point of view  

Understand use of language to convey mood  

Understand use of dialect  

Interpret symbolism  

Recognize and analyze use of irony  

Recognize and explain poetic devices  

Identify and discuss theme  

Compare and contrast literary selections and characters

6. Reading selections from Prentice Hall Literature Silver Level include BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

7. Speaking  (All 4 Quarters)

1. Enunciation/Clarity

2. Rate of speech

3. Volume

4. Eye Contact

5. Posture

6. Gestures

7. Articulation