Sept., 2012 (Forsythe Middle School, Ann Arbor, MI)

1. Welcome
8th grade Language Arts
Mrs. Walsh
Mr. Brady (student teacher-MAC
Program: Univ. Mich)
Contact info-
walshjen@aaps.k12.mi.us
994-1989 ext. 32430
(direct message line)
645-2567 (cell #)

2. Language Arts
Curriculum
• Taught in a workshop style with time, ownership
and response at center
• Genre studies: science fiction, realistic fiction,
technical writing, research (Capstone), historical
fiction, holocaust, newspaper
• Vocabulary: Word Generation (interdisciplinary)
• Grammar weekly
• Article of the Week- Stresses informational reading,
critical thinking and persuasive writing techniques.
• I want students to ULTIMATELY LOVE READING
AND WRITING…..This is achieved (usually) through
the CHOICE aspect of Workshop.

3. Genres Covered
in 8th grade
• Persuasive Writing
• Realistic Fiction
• Science Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Research
• Technical Writing
• Journalism/
Newspaper
• Compare/Contrast
Essay
• Holocaust

4. Writing Workshop
• Will write 3-5 pages • Revision is stressed
of rough draft • Grammar is
writing each week.
addressed through
• Will revise and write Writing/Revision,
final draft of self-
selected piece for Grammar Punk and
each genre study. Daily Language
• Digital Portfolio of Review materials.
examples of each • Lots of work on
genre sentence structure
• Informational and sophistication of
writing through language.
vocab study.

5. Reading Workshop
• Choice: Students will
choose most novels they • Should read for 30
will be reading. We will minutes each night or 3
also have book groups 1/2 hours total per week
and a whole class novel. OUTSIDE of class. Novels,
not magazines
• Will read most of the hour
on Fridays • Please sign reading
calendars. You should
have seen them already!
• Will be required to
DO NOT sign if student
respond to their reading
isn’t reading! Please
in writing each week in a
make them responsible
Lit. Log-this is where they
learn application of
literary terms • Will cover same genres as
writing

6. Homework Policy
• All work is due by 3:00 • All students who are
p.m. on the date due. absent will have two days
for each day absent to
• Students can use an make up work. It is the
Oops Coupon for full STUDENT’S responsibility
credit on one late to ask for the work.
homework assignment
each quarter. Must be
turned in, with the signed
coupon, within a week of • PLEASE Check Power
the due date. School for grade info.
Late work takes longer to
• All grading is done get in there.
on straight points.
No weighting.

7. Fall Conferences
• Thurs., Oct. 11,
4-7 p.m.
• Thurs., Oct. 18,
5-8 p.m.
• Thurs., Nov. 15,
5-8 p.m. (by
invitation)
ALL CONFERENCES
ARE ARENA STYLE
FOR 7TH AND 8TH
GRADE

8. Website Info
• Grades are updated WEEKLY on Power School.
Late work may not go in immediately.
• Website:
http://www.teacherweb.com/MI/AnnArbor/Walsh/t.
aspx
• Homework is posted here each Monday or
Tuesday for that week.
• Big projects/assignments will be uploaded
to this site as well.

9. Your Homework…
• Please write me an email about your child
as a learner. Tell me anything you’d like
about what you’ve observed over the past
13 years or so. It is so important to get
information I need at the beginning of the
year in order to be the best teacher I can
be for each student.
• Due date: October 31st. Thanks!