8th grade English and Language Arts helps students continue on their journey towards college and career readiness. We will work on developing and sustaining foundational language skills by focusing on listening, speaking, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Students will work through analyzing multiple texts at deeper levels to understand items such as literary elements and author's purpose and craft. Advanced Language Arts classes help prepare students for Advanced Placement English courses in high school. 

Accelerated Reader 

Students will be expected to read daily to earn AR points. We will spend every Monday in the library where students will be able to check out, read books, and take tests as needed. Reading should also be a part of their homework routine. With their AR points/test scores, students will earn two test grades during each six weeks. One grade will be based on the amount of points they earn (see the rubric below). The second grade will be the overall average of their AR test scores. For example, if a student takes three test during a grading period and receive a 100, 90, and 80, they will receive a 90 for that test grade (the average of those three grades). Bonus points can be earned for points earned over the expected 10 points. For example, if a student earns 15 points during a grading period, they will receive a 105 for their AR point grade. The highest a student can earn is 105. Below is the rubric for AR points.

Grading Period/Due Date for AR Points

***Please note the due date is two days prior to the end of the grading period.***

1st Six Weeks - August 17-September 21

2nd Six Weeks - September 26-November 2

3rd Six Weeks - November 7-December 16

4th Six Weeks - January 10-February 15

5th Six Weeks - February 21-April 4

6th Six Weeks - April 11-May 19

8:10-8:59      1st Period         Conference Period

9:03-9:52       2nd Period       Advanced Language Arts

9:56-10:45     3rd Period        Advanced Language Arts

10:49-11:38   4th Period        Language Arts

11:38-12:08    Lunch

12:12-1:01     5th Period        Language Arts

1:05-1:54       6th Period        Language Arts

1:58-2:47       7th Period        Language Arts

2:51-3:40       8th Period        Language Arts

* 1/2 Inch or 1 Inch Binder (Must be brought to class daily)

*Set of dividers (5 tabs)

*Pencil/Pen (blue or black ink)

*Notebook Paper (please keep some in your binder)

*Box of Kleenex

*One pack of lined note cards

Grades

Grades will be broken down in the following way: 50% will be daily grades, 30% will be test/quiz grades, 20% will be AR grades. No late work will be accepted. Students will be notified of a clear due date either verbally, visually, and/or both. Students in regular reading classes will have one daily grade dropped at the end of the grading period. Extra credit is not offered. The one exception is AR. Students are expected to earn 10 points per grading period. If you earn more than the required 10 AR points, you can receive a higher grade for that test grade. For example, if a student earns 14 points, they will earn a 104 for their grade (105 being the highest grade you can receive). Test corrections are not given. All tests will be announced with enough time to prepare for each test/quiz.

“Go Pass”

Each student will get one “go pass” per week. They may use it to leave the room for whatever reason (bathroom, locker, water fountain, ask another teacher a question, etc.). Once that pass is used, they will no longer be allowed to leave the room during class time unless it is an emergency (teacher discretion). 

Behavior Chart

*Level 1 Behavior - morning detention (each offense)

*Level 2 Behavior - formal written office referral

Morning detention will be served in the library OR with the teacher that assigned the morning detention. If you are late, you will receive a second morning detention. If you skip morning detention but are at school 1st period, you will receive another morning detention. An absence does not excuse a morning detention.

AR Points/Grades

AR will count for 20% of your final average each grading period. Two grades will be taken for AR: (1) Amount of points earned (See the grading rubric below) (2) Overall average of your AR test scores. For example, if you take three tests during a grading period and earn a 100, 90, and 80, you will receive a 90 for this test grade. 

AR Window/Due Dates

  1st Six Weeks - August 17-September 21

  2nd Six Weeks - September 26-November 2

  3rd Six Weeks - November 7-December 16

  4th Six Weeks - January 10-February 15

  5th Six Weeks - February 21-April 4

  6th Six Weeks - April 11-May 19

Contact Info

Brandy Pritchard

bpritchard@jimned.esc14.net

325-554-7870

Conference Period: 1st period (8:10-8:59)

***Please make an appointment***