"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way….” Charles Dickens
If I didn’t know better, I’d say Dickens was describing the 8th grade. As we read this year, we will be exploring how authors see the world and how we often share the same vision. We will be using our readings as models to develop our writing skills. My goal is for all students not only to appreciate the power of reading and writing well, but to love doing their best in both. Naturally, we’ll be prepping for two key 8th grade assessments – Middle Grades Writing Assessment and the CRCT in Reading and Language Arts. My goal is to let the students know how the test works and to provide the information they need to succeed. I try to blend this into the course, so it’s not all about test prep. I truly believe that if we focus on the skills for reading and writing well and master them, the CRCT will be a breeze.
Georgia Studies lets me indulge in my love of history and current events. There’s lots of history out there, so be looking for your student to read and study vocabulary every night. I want every student to come to appreciate the forces that shaped modern Georgia. Only by knowing the past, can we shape the future. Consider what Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, has said, “The charm of history and its enigmatic lesson consist in the fact that, from age to age, nothing changes and yet everything is completely different.” Plus, I want my students to feel the joy that comes with exceeding on the CRCT!