English 8 AS Syllabus and Pacing Guide 2016-2017

Mrs. K. Smith
This following syllabus and pacing guide is a general overview of what we will cover this year in English 8. Please realize this is
general and is subject to change throughout the year.
Weekly Assignments
I dont believe in giving homework each and every night, but you most likely will always have something that you need to be
work on. This could be studying for Latin roots quizzes, reading chapters for your novel circles, etc.
Bell Ringers
A bell ringer will be on the board when you come in to class each day. When you enter the class you should get out all
your materials, prepare yourself for class, and begin working on the bell ringer. We will review the bell ringer as a class
and you will need to be ready to share at that point. Bell ringers will be collected on Friday of each week to be graded. If
you are absent, you will need to get the bell ringer from the day before off of the board. All of the bell ringers will add up
to one test grade at the end of each 9 weeks. Bell ringers should be an easy way to earn a 100 test grade. This grade can
often help to bolster your grade, but it can have the opposite effect if you choose not to do them or be responsible and
organized and keep up with them.
Latin Roots
You will be assigned Latin Roots weekly. Latin Roots quizzes will be administered on TUESDAY of each week. After
every three lessons of Latin Roots there will be a cumulative test on all three sections of the root words. For example you
will have a quiz on lesson 1, lesson 2, and lesson 3. On the fourth week you will have a test reviewing words from all
three lessons. Latin Roots quizzes are cumulative throughout the year. You could take a quiz on lesson 10 and still be
asked roots from lesson 1. You should constantly be reviewing the roots to keep them fresh in your mind.
SOLs
Both reading and writing are tested during 8th grade and the approximate dates are listed below!
Writing SOL- March
Reading SOL- May

1st Nine Weeks

Bell Ringers
Latin Roots
Novel Circles
Story Elements
Figurative Language
Persuasive Writing
Short Story Unit
Treasure Island
2nd Nine Weeks
Bell Ringers
Latin Roots
The Diary of Anne Frank
Holocaust Unit
Injustice Essay

SOLs Covered
8.8
8.4
8.5
8.5
8.5
8.7
8.5
8.5
SOLs Covered
8.8
8.4
8.5
8.9
8.7

3rd Nine Weeks

Bell Ringers
Latin Roots
Novel Circles
Nonfiction Unit
Honing in on Writing

SOLs Covered
8.8
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.7

4th Nine Weeks

Bell Ringers

8.8

SOLs Covered

Latin Roots
Novel Circles

8.4
8.5