8th Grade Syllabus

Department of Education
Specialized Regional Bilingual School
Sergio Ramírez de Arellano-Hostos
Añasco, Puerto Rico

Syllabus

Title Course : Middle School English Eight
Grade : 8th
Credit : 1 credit = 1 academic year
Academic Year : 2010 -2011
Period : 50 minutes
Days : Monday to Friday
Teacher : Prof. Leroy Alicea Cabassa, B.A., M.A., Cert. Bilingual Educ., Ed.D c
Room: : Main Building # 7
Office Hours : 9:50 - 10:40AM & 12:30 – 1:20PM
School Phones : 787-826-2260 / 787-826-2210 / 787-826-2230
E-mail : prof_leroy_alicea@yahoo.com
Blog : http://bongy-leroyaliceacabassa.blogspot.com/

I. Course Description:
Emphasis is given on strengthening the reading comprehension and writing skills. A Balanced Literary Approach will be used in order to obtain the total integrations of the language arts. The ability to organize one’s thoughts, to express them simple and clearly, and to observe the standards of oral communications, written communication, reading comprehension, literary appreciation as well as the conventions of language usage developed through the integration of technology, individual, pair, or group work.

II. Rationale:
The English program at the Regional Bilingual School Ramírez de Arellano-Hostos is devoted to encourage and ease the development of creative and critical thinkers. Within the English class the teacher will provide a comprehensive, challenging, and enriching curriculum that will take into account the students’ social, economic, cultural, and personal backgrounds as well as their knowledge and skills.
In order to ensure the effective acquisition and development of the English language the school has adopted from the English Curriculum Framework (2003) and the Content Standards and Grade-Level Expectations (2007) the following goals:
• Offer students English language experiences that are based on challenging, meaningful and pertinent content together with the use of performance and assessment standards based on the humanistic constructivist paradigm.
• Prepare all students to reach their potential through the development of their abilities in the four strands of the English program: writing, reading, listening and speaking.
• Empower students to become competent, knowledgeable, independent, reflective, and self-confident English language learners.
• Prepare students to access, organize, and evaluate information obtained through technological or electronic means for the development of listening, reading, oral, and writing skills.
• Develop students’ critical and creative thinking through the process of English language learning.
• Reinforce and model students’ ethical and moral values, awareness, and cultural repertoire through exposure to a variety of literature.
• Encourage all students to become informed and responsible citizens in a democratic society.
• Provide opportunities for the participation of each student in a variety of social and interactive scenarios.

III. Objectives:
1. LISTENING/SPEAKING:
The student uses the English language to interpret oral input, construct meaning, interact with confidence both verbally and nonverbally, and express ideas effectively in a variety of personal, social, and academic contexts.
1.1 L/S.8.1 Listens and responds during a read aloud from a variety of fiction and nonfiction to comprehend, generalize, relate to character and setting, identify tone, voice, and mood; makes connections to text.
1.2 L/S.8.2 Listens, responds to, analyzes, gives, and discusses complex instructions, statements, and directions; answers and formulates closed and open-ended questions.
1.3 L/S.8.3 Uses appropriate language structure to interact in discussions and presentations, to problem solve, explain a process, and express opinions integrating comparison and contrast statements to interact in discussions and presentations.
1.4 L/S.8.4 Applies a variety of language patterns and structures to explain texts, discuss topics and themes, express thought on plot development, identify problem and solution, as well as make predictions, inferences, and draw conclusions from listening to a variety of texts and multimedia sources.
1.5 L/S.8.5 Explains the main idea or topic and important details from learned concepts or read aloud of a variety of expository texts, and applies sequence of events to clarify, discuss, and summarize a topic from a variety of texts.
2. READING: The student uses reading strategies, literary analysis, and critical thinking skills to construct meaning and develop an understanding as well as an appreciation of a variety of genres of both fiction and nonfiction.
2.1 R.8.1 Analyzes the text, establishes purpose, identifies author’s purpose, and distinguishes text features to enhance comprehension.
2.2 R.8.2 Applies context clues, reference sources, and other vocabulary expansion strategies to assess word meaning using prior knowledge to relate to new meaning; uses prefixes, suffixes, and root words to determine the meaning of unfamiliar, multiple-meaning, and compound words.
2.3 R.8.3 Distinguishes main from supporting characters, compares and contrasts characters traits, and explains setting in fiction and nonfiction; distinguishes between first and second person point of view.
2.4 R.8.4 Sorts and organizes relevant events, states cause and effect, makes connections, predictions, and inferences, determines problem and solution, and draws conclusions in narrative, expository, and persuasive texts.
2.5 R.8.5 Distinguishes between fact and opinion in narrative and expository texts; states and paraphrases main idea or topic, and determines important details.
2.6 R.8.6 Uses elements of poetry to identify and interpret genre, imagery, and symbolism.
3. WRITING: The student effectively communicates to a variety of audiences in all forms of writing through the use of the writing process, proper grammar, and age appropriate expressive vocabulary.
3.1 W.8.1 Combines sentences and ideas using simple transitional phrases; applies commas and colons to correctly punctuate sentences; identifies phrases and clauses; applies phrases in writing to construct complex sentences.
3.2 W.8.2 Classifies and applies the parts of speech; uses vocabulary, accurate spelling, appropriate grammar and syntax in writing.
3.3 W.8.3 Applies organizational patterns and the elements of descriptive, narrative, and expository forms to construct a three-paragraph composition.
3.4 W.8.4 Uses poetry elements and imagery to develop and write different styles of poems.
3.5 W.8.5 Uses basic editing marks and reference sources to revise writing; verifies information; writes a final draft using the writing process.
IV. Evaluation
 Portfolio
o 1 evaluation per semester = 2 grades per year. The summative evaluation will be done at the end of each semester. (December and May)
o The binder will include several parts with an individual grade.*
o Areas of the Portfolio
 Cover page
 I. Table of Contents
 II. Introduction
• This introduction should include a brief description or overview of the contents of the portfolio. (This will be done at the beginning of the school year, August)
 III. Photo Essay *
• 1 grade: Significant topic captured by photos, drawing or pictures and explained through a cohesive essay.
 IV. Content standard.
• Listening / Speaking
o This area will include oral reports and oral presentations.
• Writing *
o This part will include different types of writings such as essays, outlines, research, information and news among others.
o Scribe
o Writing Prompts
• Reading
o Reading Logs
o Author’s Chair
 V. My Journals *
• 10 per semester = 1 grade per semester = 2 grades per year
• Each journal is worth 10 points = 100 points per semester
• Each journal has its own due date after that it will become 0/10. Only Medical or Judicial excuses will eliminated or reconsider the 0/10 based on your absentee.
• This section could include prompts for student reflection
 VI. My Outside Class Work / Homework *
• 1 grade per semester = 2 grades per year
• The value of each outside class work or homework will vary according to the content
 VII. My Daily Work *
• 1 grade per semester = 2 grades per year
• Reflection discussion
• This grade will include the formative evaluation of a personal agenda with a calendar
 VIII. My Vocabulary *
• 1 grade per semester = 2 grades per year
• This includes the definition or meaning of each word
 IX. Conclusion
• The student should write a brief concluding statement regarding the entire portfolio. (This will be done at the end of the school year, May)
 Due dates Penalties: Your jobs must be handed in according to the due date. If you do your work in class, you lose half of the total score. Doing your jobs in class implies that you did not do your job on time. Getting the same score or grade is not fair for those that work on time.
 Quizzes
o 10 per semester = 1 grade per semester = 2 grades per year
o The score of 10 quizzes will be added each semester in order to come out with 1 grade.
o Remember that according to the rules of the school quizzes will NOT be repeated if your are absent and the score will be [0]. You need to present a valid justification.
o Only Medical or Judicial excuses will eliminate or reconsider the [0] based on your absentee.

 Oral Reports
o 5 per semester = 1 grade per semester = 2 grades per year
o Each oral report is worth 20 points
o The score of 5 oral reports will be added each semester in order to come out with 1 grade.

 Reading Comprehension test
o 2 grades per semester = 4 grades per year
o Reading comprehension will include the reading of novels, stories, essays and articles.

 Sci Fi Story
o Creative Writing = 1 grade
o The creation of an original story using the elements of science fiction

REMEMBER
* Grades will ONLY be based on the criteria mentioned above. Neither BONUS nor EXTRA POINTS PROJECTS will be considered for the final grade.
* Only Medical or Judicial excuses will eliminate or reconsider a [0] based on your absentee.
*Remember that the summative evaluation will be done at the end of the year during the month of May and that the grades for the 10th, 20th and 30th weeks will reflect an estimate percentage of your grade till that moment, a grade may vary according to your performance during the following weeks.
*According to rules of the D.E., the parents and the students will ONLY have 20 days after the grades have been given in order to make any type of allegations.

V. Academic honesty:
Lack of honesty, fraud, plagiarism, and any other inappropriate behavior related to academic work, or any action intended for that purpose. Fraud is considered to be the unauthorized use of material, and to give or receive non authorized assistance during an exam or other academic exercise. Plagiarism and cheating will negatively affect your grade as well as punish by law. Score will be [0] and no possibility of makeup will be given.

VI. Assessment Strategies:

• Anecdotal records
• Checklist
• Comic strips
• Graphic organizers
• Journals
• K – W – L charts
• Peer assessment
• Portfolios
• Rating scales
• Reading logs
• Rubrics
• Self-ratings
• Writing logs
Grade
%
A 100-90
B 89-80
C 79-70
D 69-60
F 59-0
• Writing prompts
VII. Writing Assignments Guidelines
• Neatly stapled, in the left corner
• Neatly handwritten on white standard paper
• Place your name and date of submission in the top right corner
• Margin should be 1 inch
• Works will not be accepted computer.
• Having your work in a USB or Pen Drive does not count as having your work done.
• Avoid plagiarism. No copy and paste from the Internet
VIII. Basic Classroom Rules
1. Absentees – If the student is absent for any reason he or she will be totally responsible at all times for their material, information and jobs.
2. Tardiness will not be allowed. Everybody should attend on time to each course or class.
3. Homework, oral reports, test make-up or special project replacements have to be justified by an adequate medical or judicial excuse.
4. Uniform should be correctly used at all times.
5. Listen and pay attention to the teacher at all times. This will help you to succeed in your class.
6. Respect other peoples property. Stealing and robbing is unacceptable according to the school rules and punished by law.
7. Mutilation and the damaging of private as well as public property are not acceptable. This includes writing on tables, walls among others.
8. Coping “copy and paste” or cheating is not acceptable and therefore consider a zero ( 0 ) or F no possibility for a redo or makeup.
9. Be polite and raise your hand before speaking. Screaming, running, the use of obscene words (bad words) or acting out of place inside the classroom is unacceptable.
10. Work should be hand in on time. The student will lose 10 points or a 10% of the total among the work’s worth for every day that it’s in delay. Medical or Judicial tardiness does not apply.
11. Test make-ups are due after the 5th day after a justified excused.
12. Avoid the use of unnecessary equipment or materials while the class is conducted (No i-pods, MP3’s, PSP or other electronic devices). Ask the teacher first.
13. Cellular phones should not be use during class unless indicated by the teacher in a case of emergency.
14. Keep the classroom as well as the outdoors clean and neat.
15. Eating inside the classroom should be consulted with the teacher. If eating is allowed, you have to throw inside the garbage container any leftover, paper or gum.
16. Each student should be responsible for their own grade record. They should write their grades in a place such a the subject notebook for keeping record of their performance.
17. Students should follow and respect the teacher’s rules at all times.

IX Textbooks
 Series Scholastic Read XL (green)
 Choices: The Me You See, You are the Solution)
 Other books and reading could be included at any moment according the academic needs.
X. Online Resources:
Activities for ESL Students: http://a4esl.org/
ESL Resources for Students: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslstudent.html
Learning Oral English Online: http://www.rong-chang.com/book/index.html
Scholastic: www.scholastic.com
ESL Resources: http://www.eslmonkeys.com/student/books/free_esl_book.php

This syllabus is tentative and will be change according to the needs of the group or any other situation that will affect the process of the class.