Welcome to Grade 8 ELA!

"There is divine beauty in learning... To learn means to accept the postulate that life did not begin at my birth. Others have been here before me, and I walk in their footsteps."  -  Elie Wiesel

Updates from Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • ELA Assignments for the Last Two Weeks of School

    • Independent reading: Select something to read this summer!
    • Vocab: Quiz on lessons 16-20 on Thursday, 6/14. Study! ​
    • Essay: Work on at home as needed. Due 6/14. Will not accept after 6/15.​
    • Extra credit: WriteSource Grammar Workbook pages 5-18 and 53-62. Complete all or some by 6/18.​
    • Reflection letter: Due Monday, 6/18.
    • ​Late assignments: All late work must be submitted by 6/15. The only exceptions are the extra credit and reflection letter assignments, both of which must be turned in on Monday, 6/18.
    • Return books: Check at home, in your locker, your school bag, etc. for ELA books you may have forgotten to return.

     

    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • Upcoming Assignments: Week of June 4

    • The Cage: Quiz on Part Two Wednesday, 6/6.​
    • Independent reading: Final reading response & updated reading log due Tuesday, 6/4.
    • Vocab: Quiz on lessons 16-20 on Thursday, 6/14. Study! ​
    • Essay: Work on at home as needed. Due 6/14. Will not accept after 6/15.​
    • Extra credit: WriteSource Grammar Workbook pages 5-18 and 53-62. Complete all or some by 6/18.​
    • Reflection letter: Due Monday, 6/18.
    • ​Late assignments: All late work must be submitted by 6/15. The only exceptions are the extra credit and reflection letter assignments, both of which must be turned in on Monday, 6/18.
    • Return books: Check at home, in your locker, your school bag, etc. for ELA books you may have forgotten to return.
    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • Upcoming Assignments: Week of May 29th

    • Vocab: Quiz on lessons 16-20 postponed to Thursday, 6/14. All lessons must be completed by 5/30. No credit will be given for lessons completed after 5/30.
    • The Cage: Quiz on Tuesday, 6/5.
    • Independent reading: Next reading response and updated reading log due Tuesday, 6/5. Next novel should be finished by Monday, 6/4.​
    • Book project: Due Wednesday, 5/30.
    • Extra credit: WriteSource Grammar Workbook pages 5-18 and 53-62. Complete all or some by 6/18.​
    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • Upcoming Assignments: Weeks of 5/14 & 5/21

    - Wordly Wise: Quiz on Friday, 6/1, lessons 16-20. All lessons must be completed by Wednesday, 5/30. No credit will be given for lessons completed after 5/30.

    - Independent reading: Reading response #21 due Tuesday, 5/29. Next novel should be finished by Monday, 6/4.​

    - Book project: Book project due Wednesday, 5/30. See attachment for the three options.

    - Extra credit: WriteSource Grammar Workbook pages 5-18 and 53-62. Complete all or some by 6/18.

    Additional assignments may be given throughout the week. Students are responsible for copying down their homework at the start of class each day.

    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • Upcoming Assignments: Week of May 7

    - Vocab: Wordly Wise Lesson 20 due Wednesday, 5/9. Quiz on Thursday, 5/31, lessons 16-20.

    - Quiz: Study for The Cage quiz on Thursday, 5/10.​

    - Independent reading: Update log by Friday (paper or Padlet), 5/11. All reading responses due Friday, 5/11. I will return journals soon. Next novel should be finished by Monday, 6/4.​

    ​

    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • Upcoming Assignments: Week of April 30

    • Reading Response Entry #19: Due Wednesday, 5/2 (periods 3, 6) and Friday, 5/4 (periods 8, 9)
    • Grammar Workbook: Pages 51, 52, 71-74 due Monday, 5/7
    • The Cage Quiz: ​Thursday, 5/10
    • Wordly Wise: Lesson 20 due Wednesday, 5/9. Quiz on Lessons 16-20 on Thursday, 5/31
    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • Upcoming Assignments: Week of April 23

    • Constructed response due Tuesday, 4/24
    • Grammar workbook pg. 67-70 due Tuesday, 4/24
    • Reading response due Wednesday, 4/25 (per. 3/6) and  Friday, 4/27 (per. 8/9)​
    • Wordly Wise Lesson 19 due Monday, 4/30

    Additional assignments may be given throughout the week. Students are responsible for copying down their homework at the start of class.

    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • Upcoming Assignments: Week of 4/16

    • Reader's Response Entry #17 -– Due Thursday, 4/19.​ Log format or written response. Have novel in class daily.
    • Wordly Wise Lesson 18 -- Due Monday, 4/23.
    • Grammar Workbook -- Pages 67 - 70 due Tuesday, 4/24. Have book in class Tuesday, 4/15 and Wednesday, 4/16.
    • Book Club Novels -- Please return your book club novel.

    Additional assignments may be given throughout the week. Students are responsible for copying down the homework at the start of class each day.

    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • Assignments: Week of 4/9 (Updated 4/11)

    • Book Clubs – Group PowerPoint presentation due Thursday.​ Be certain your document is shared with Ms. Kuhlmann.
    • New independent reading book – Due Wednesday. Must have in class. 
    • Wordly Wise Lesson 17 – Due Friday.​
    • Revised Essays – Due Friday. Original must be stapled to the updated version.
    • Grammar Workbook – Pages 65, 157 and 158 due Monday, April 16.

    Additional assignments may be given throughout the week. Students are responsible for copying down the homework at the start of class each day.

    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann

  • Upcoming Assignments: Week of 4/2

    • Prepare for final book club meeting (Thursday, April 5​)
      • Finish novel​
      • Complete handout (table + constructed response)
      • Work on PowerPoint presentation (due April 12)​
    • Wordly Wise Lesson 16 is due Thursday, April 5​
    • Write Source Grammar workbook pages 153, 155, 156 are due Monday, April 9 ​
    • Return Inside Out & Back Again  novels

    Additional assignments may be given throughout the week. Students are responsible for copying down their homework at the start of class each day.

    ELA Grade 8 - Mrs. Kuhlmann
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Resources

  • Wordly Wise (weekly vocabulary assignments) may be accessed here.  
  • Home Access (for updates on student grades) may be accessed here. Grades are updated daily.
  • The list of reading response options for weekly entries may be found here: Reading Response Ideas.pdf.  Each entry must be at least one page.  This is a standing assignment, due Wednesdays for periods 3 and 6, and Fridays for period 8 and 9.

     

 

Important Reminders

 A reminder to students: If you are absent from school, it is your responsibility to complete any work missed and to submit any assignments collected while you were out. Please see the daily folders on my rolling cart for handouts you may have missed, and please use the gold bin to submit late work. I am available during (periods 4, 5, and 7) and after school for conferencing and extra help. Please see me so we can find a time that works for you, or email me (akuhlman@carmelschools.org). 

A reminder to parents and students: In order to be successful in English Language Arts, it is imperative that students complete assigned reading. This includes independent reading (30 minutes daily) and any additional reading assigned in class. 

 

Per. 3 Classroom Community

Student Expectations

The following expectations were generated during our class discussion. They reflect student opinions on the tone of our classroom community and the mindset of all community members:

  • Have an open-minded attitude
  • Work with peers sometimes and work independently other times
  • Feel comfortable and have fun
  • Help others to succeed
  • Be prepared
  • Be accessible
  • Be respectful
  • Work hard
  • Think critically

Teacher Expectations

The following expectations are outlined in Mrs. Kuhlmann's welcome letter to students.

  • Act appropriately. For you to have a successful learning experience, it is essential that we all show kindness and respect to one another. Together, we are a classroom community. I expect you to display behavior that aligns with our school’s ROCK values (respect, organize, cooperate and keep safe) and reflects the school district’s commitment to the 6Cs (compassion, creativity, communication, citizenship, collaboration and critical thinking). There is no room for inappropriate behavior. I trust you to take this seriously.
  • Come prepared. You will need to bring your supplies (ELA binder, Reader-Writer's Notebook, independent reading novel, class text, sticky notes, highlighter and pen or pencil) to class daily. This is your responsibility. Students who are unprepared for class and need to visit their locker will have points deducted from their weekly preparation grade.
  • Participate. The more voices we hear, the more interesting your experience will be in eighth grade ELA. I will ask for your thoughts, reactions, interpretations and ideas every day. We will also read aloud often, a practice that will help you to improve your oral reading skills. Please give your best effort each day.

Per. 6 Classroom Community Expectations

Student Expectations

The following expectations were generated during our class discussion. They reflect student opinions on the tone of our classroom community and the mindset of all community members:

  • Help others
  • Diverse learning activities 
  • Varied routines for classwork
  • Listen to others when they are speaking
  • Participate

Teacher Expectations

The following expectations are outlined in Mrs. Kuhlmann's welcome letter to students.

  • Act appropriately. For you to have a successful learning experience, it is essential that we all show kindness and respect to one another. Together, we are a classroom community. I expect you to display behavior that aligns with our school’s ROCK values (respect, organize, cooperate and keep safe) and reflects the school district’s commitment to the 6Cs (compassion, creativity, communication, citizenship, collaboration and critical thinking). There is no room for inappropriate behavior. I trust you to take this seriously.
  • Come prepared. You will need to bring your supplies (ELA binder, Reader-Writer's Notebook, independent reading novel, class text, sticky notes, highlighter and pen or pencil) to class daily. This is your responsibility. Students who are unprepared for class and need to visit their locker will have points deducted from their weekly preparation grade.
  • Participate. The more voices we hear, the more interesting your experience will be in eighth grade ELA. I will ask for your thoughts, reactions, interpretations and ideas every day. We will also read aloud often, a practice that will help you to improve your oral reading skills. Please give your best effort each day.

Per. 8 Classroom Community Expectations

The following expectations are outlined in Mrs. Kuhlmann's welcome letter to students.

  • Act appropriately. For you to have a successful learning experience, it is essential that we all show kindness and respect to one another. Together, we are a classroom community. I expect you to display behavior that aligns with our school’s ROCK values (respect, organize, cooperate and keep safe) and reflects the school district’s commitment to the 6Cs (compassion, creativity, communication, citizenship, collaboration and critical thinking). There is no room for inappropriate behavior. I trust you to take this seriously.
  • Come prepared. You will need to bring your supplies (ELA binder, Reader-Writer's Notebook, independent reading novel, class text, sticky notes, highlighter and pen or pencil) to class daily. This is your responsibility. Students who are unprepared for class and need to visit their locker will have points deducted from their weekly preparation grade.
  • Participate. The more voices we hear, the more interesting your experience will be in eighth grade ELA. I will ask for your thoughts, reactions, interpretations and ideas every day. We will also read aloud often, a practice that will help you to improve your oral reading skills. Please give your best effort each day.

Per. 9 Classroom Community Expectations

Student Expectations

The following expectations were generated during our class discussion. They reflect student opinions on the tone of our classroom community and the mindset of all community members:

  • Respect one another
  • Get along and work together
  • Work efficiently
  • Be cooperative
  • Be respectful

Teacher Expectations

The following expectations are outlined in Mrs. Kuhlmann's welcome letter to students.

  • Act appropriately. For you to have a successful learning experience, it is essential that we all show kindness and respect to one another. Together, we are a classroom community. I expect you to display behavior that aligns with our school’s ROCK values (respect, organize, cooperate and keep safe) and reflects the school district’s commitment to the 6Cs (compassion, creativity, communication, citizenship, collaboration and critical thinking). There is no room for inappropriate behavior. I trust you to take this seriously.
  • Come prepared. You will need to bring your supplies (ELA binder, Reader-Writer's Notebook, independent reading novel, class text, sticky notes, highlighter and pen or pencil) to class daily. This is your responsibility. Students who are unprepared for class and need to visit their locker will have points deducted from their weekly preparation grade.
  • Participate. The more voices we hear, the more interesting your experience will be in eighth grade ELA. I will ask for your thoughts, reactions, interpretations and ideas every day. We will also read aloud often, a practice that will help you to improve your oral reading skills. Please give your best effort each day.