Who is Ms. T?
Before coming to Francis Parker, Ms. T taught closest to which ocean?
A. Atlantic Ocean
B. Pacific Ocean
C. Arctic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
A farm rebellion, a mysterious prince, a family feud, and a fight for justice all appear in the reading list for which class?
English 8
Our reading list takes students across different time periods, cultures, genres, and perspectives.
“We got out of our seats in English today!”
What were students probably doing?
A. Avoiding their work
B. Participating in an active learning experience
C. Preparing to leave early
Participating in an active learning experience
Students will certainly read and write, but they will also move, collaborate, debate ideas, and participate in activities that help them approach a text from different angles.
An eighth grader takes a clear position on an issue. What turns that position into a convincing argument?
Strong evidence and thoughtful explanation
Complete the two commitments that guide our classroom:
Respect everyone’s right to __________.
Respect the teacher’s right to __________ that learning.
Word bank: guide, learn, grade, assign
Respect everyone’s right to learn.
Respect the teacher’s right to guide that learning.
Rather than creating a separate rule for every possible situation, we connect our classroom expectations to these two commitments.
True or false: Ms. T has worked as both a classroom teacher and an instructional coach.
True
Why do such different books belong in the same English course?
A. They all take place during the same historical period.
B. They explore questions about people, society, power, and belonging.
C. They all have similar characters and endings.
They explore questions about people, society, power, and belonging.
Our grade-level theme is global awareness. Students will encounter experiences and perspectives that differ from their own while also considering questions that cross cultures and time periods.
“Someone interpreted the passage differently than I did.”
What might happen next?
A. Students examine the text and discuss their reasoning
B. One student automatically changes their answer
C. The discussion ends
Students examine the text and discuss their reasoning.
Different interpretations often create our best discussions. Students learn to support their thinking, listen closely, and remain open to ideas that differ from their own.
Which major project combines personal narratives, family artifacts, research, and storytelling?
The Family History Project
One of the major experiences of English 8!
What does a colored pom-pom represent in English class?
A. Perfect grades
B. A class that fulfilled its shared expectations
C. A completed homework assignment
A class that fulfilled its shared expectations
Each class co-creates expectations that students believe they can uphold in order to create a productive learning environment.
Ms. T earned her undergraduate degree from TCU and her master’s degree from a university in which state?
A. California
B. Texas
C. Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i
Developing which habit prepares students to contribute meaningfully to discussions, analysis, and reflection?
A. Memorizing every literary term
B. Reading what is assigned
C. Writing extremely long answers
Reading what is assigned
Completing the reading gives students the foundation they need for the deeper work we do together.
“We got to choose how we approached the assignment!”
What does that choice help students develop?
A. Ownership of their learning
B. A way to avoid the learning target
C. A completely different assignment for every student
Ownership of their learning
When it supports our learning goals, I offer meaningful choices in topics, texts, partners, or formats.
True or false:
Every analytical essay in eighth grade must follow exactly the same paragraph structure.
False
Building on seventh-grade learning, students will develop more flexibility in organizing their writing.
A student rereads the directions but still feels unsure about an assignment. What should the student do next?
A. Complete it based on their best interpretation and explain afterward
B. Ask a classmate to show how they completed it
C. Identify what is confusing and contact Ms. Thornton before the deadline
Identify what is confusing and contact Ms. Thornton before the deadline
I encourage students to learn to recognize what they don't understand and communicate openly and proactively (during/after class, by email, during office hours).