Pacing Guide: Grade 8 English Language Arts (ELA): Cooperation vs.

Conflict
English Language Arts -Grade 8 Expectations at a Glance Standard
1. Oral Expression 1. Purposeful Talk 2. Presentations/Speeches and Listening
3. Presenting/ Speaking Style

ELA | 8
In eighth grade, the learning of reading, writing, thinking, speaking, listening and researching focuses on the concept of cooperation vs. conflict. Within this overarching theme, students will explore a variety of texts and genres through close reading and will write narrative, argumentative and informative texts. Students will compare and contrast texts and media that connect modern and traditional themes, ideas, and beliefs while focusing on text structures and how each structure conveys meaning. They will make connections between their own lives and the lives of those they read. They will continue to develop their understanding of mood, voice, and verb usage through their reading, writing, and dialoging. Students will develop speaking skills through continued rehearsal techniques and thorough preparation to include central idea, question preparation and paraphrasing of information. Students will continue to research authentic questions so they can orally articulate a claim supported by evidence while differentiating between primary and secondary document sources. They will continue to develop and monitor their own reading, writing, and thinking processes as they read self-chosen texts, write about self-chosen topics, and think about their thinking.

Grade Level Expectation Spiraled Curriculum: The presentation of some concepts, topics and skills again and again in a curriculum with increasing levels of complexity added at each grade level. For each of these Strands, a Concept and Skill Progression articulates the different expectations by grade level. Click here for Progressions.
3rd Quarter
December January

2. Reading for All Purposes

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Key Ideas and Details: Literature Key Ideas and Details: Informational Text Craft and Structure: Literature Craft and Structure: Informational Text Language and Word Study Narrative Writing Informative/Explanatory Writing Argument Writing Writing Process Grammar and Mechanics

3. Writing and Composition

4. Research and Reasoning

1. Research Process 2. Reasoning 3. Multimedia

1st Quarter
August September October

2nd Quarter
November Unit 2: Differences (51 days)

4th Quarter
March April May

February

Unit 1: Launching the Thinkers Workshop (30 days)

Unit 3: Problem Solving (42 days)

Unit 4: Exploring Diversity (46 days)

Unit Plan Unit Resources Assessments

Unit Plan Unit Resources Assessments

Unit Plan Unit Resources Assessments

Unit Plan Unit Resources Assessments

Resources for All Units

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BTK Curriculum Team 2011 Mesa County Valley School District 51