8th Grade E.L.L. English
Monica Mobrici
[email protected]
Meeting place: Room 008
Meeting time/block:
A Block, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
B block on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Course overview
The main focus of this course is to provide students whose first language is not English with the
satisfactory academic skills and strategies to be integrated in regular English classes as soon as possible.
Students will work on the four macro skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing, which will enable
them to achieve the proficient level for academic success. Students learn English at their own pace in a
low stress environment. Tasks and expectations are differentiated according to their skill level.
Course objectives/goals
•
Integrate the basic principles of the language system to apply them in academic contexts.
•
Employ conversational and speaking skills to express their own views, and to achieve both
informal and academic communication.
•
Expand semantic fields and vocabulary.
•
Interpret a variety of different texts by means of different reading skills and strategies.
•
Develop productive skills and strategies of the writing process to produce different types of
writing.
Scope and Sequence :
1st Trimester: Truth and Conflict
Is truth the same for everyone?
Can all conflicts be solved?
Reading Passages
Girls and Sports: Levelling the Playing Field
Movie Ratings: Debating Ratings
American Dreaming
Electronic Games: Games People Play
Text Messages: Text Talk
Privacy vs. Safety
Character Education: Learning Character
Vocabulary in context
Word categories and family words
Synonyms and antonyms
Compare and contrast words
Characteristics
Connecting words
Reading Skills
Using background knowledge to understand the reading
Making connections and predictions
Understanding author’s purpose
Comparing and contrasting
Making inference and providing support
Grammar in context
Common and proper nouns
Plural nouns
Personal pronouns
Reflexive pronouns
Action and linking verbs
Principle parts of regular verbs
Verb tenses
Writing skills
Process writing
Paragraph organization
Journal writing
Opinion and journal writing
Compare and contrast writing
Projects
School issue discussion and presentation
Cartoon brochure - Guide to conflict resolution at school
Trimester 2: Information and Communication
How much information is enough?
What is the secret of reaching someone with words?
Reading Passages
Youth Sports: Kids Just Want to Have Fun
People’s Arts
The Internet: Net Smarts
Information and Imagination: Too much Information!
Imagination and Creativity: Rapping about Poetry
Advertising and Messages: City Spam
Poetry Slams: Performing Poets
Poetry and Healing: Writing that Heals
Vocabulary in context
Vocabulary words
Using accurate vocabulary depending on context and register
Clue words
Unfamiliar words
Synonyms, antonyms and paraphrasing
Reading Skills
Finding key details, main ideas.
Identifying fact and opinion
Using context clues to understand main ideas
Paraphrasing and clarifying main ideas
Grammar in context
Adjectives and articles
Adverbs
Conjunctions
Prepositions and prepositional phrases
Subject complements
Direct and indirect objects
Prepositions and prepositional phrases
Infinitive phrases
Writing skills
Main idea outline and paragraph
Fact and opinion writing
Process writing
Context paragraphs
Simple and complex paraphrasing
Poetry writing (attempt)
Projects:
Report writing - Suggestions to users on critical use of television or radio station, or social media to become
critical/well informed users
Song, poem or rap about a school issue (video)
Trimester 3: Dignity and Heroes
Is it our differences or our similarities that matter most?
Are yesterday’s heroes important today?
Reading Passages
Gender and the Workspace: Mr. Mom and Madam Speaker
Teens and Work: Work Law for Teens
Survivors: Holocausts in Rwanda and Darfur
Dignity: A Meaningful Life
Heroes without Haloes
Cultural Heroes: Larger than Life
Natural Disasters: The Kindness of Strangers
Special Heroes: Heroes of 9/11
Vocabulary in context
Using synonyms and antonyms
Question words
Cause and effect words
Sequence words
Reading Skills
Drawing conclusions
Making connections
Identifying cause and effect
Understanding graphics
Identifying the purpose for reading
Grammar in context
Participles and participial phrases
Independent and subordinate clauses
Sequence words
Sentence structure
Using punctuation marks: commas, semicolons and colons, capitalization
Writing skills
Cause and effect paragraph
Opinion writing
Narrative writing
Simple and complex summary writing
Expository writing
Project
Presentation based on narrative writing to show what makes them feel good about themselves
Video or magazine article: an interview with my hero
Required materials/Resources:
Notebook
Student’s own device, charger and headphones
Pearson English Central, ELD, Grade 8
Online sources: http://wordgen.serpmedia.org/
Literature for intermediate/transition groups: Inside Series (2014)– Book C,
NGL, Cengage Learning
Digital version: http://www.myngconnect.com
Course communication:
Students: Our class will use Google Classroom. This site is a place to communicate and to check on
homework and assignments. Students should check Google Classroom daily. Digital assignments and
homework will be passed between teacher and student using Google Drive. Lincoln provides the account;
however the student must manage their own folders to maintain organization.
Parent Communication: All messages to parents will be handled through email. Parents are encouraged
to communicate through email as well. Through this medium, meetings can be scheduled and
informational updates, i.e. behavior, assignment completion, or science fair, will be communicated.
Grading:
Homework and classwork 20%
Complete and organized notes and classroom activities in a paper or digital notebook. Active participation
and cooperation in class activities. Homework is considered part of the learning process as follow-up or
starter of tasks that are done in class.
Reading 20%
Complying with the reading program which consists in reading two books a month, filling in the reading
log and doing the Scholastic Reading tests online.
Projects and presentations 30%
Research, individual or group work, oral and sometimes written production.
Writing 40%
Use of the writing process at each of the stages.
Policies and Additional Teacher Specific Information Lincoln Homework and Absence Policy:
Please see student/parent handbook on the Lincoln website
Behavior Guidelines:
Students are expected to behave respectfully towards their peers and teachers. Students should take full
advantage of the English learning environment, so they are not to use their native language. All the rules
stated in the Lincoln Student handbook will be enforced in class.