Process, collaboration, and authentic experiences are emphasized throughout each unit. Writing skills are taught and practiced through the use of mentor texts, mini lessons on both writing strategies and conventions, and peer editing. Literature circles focus on further exposing students to diverse writers and diverse characters while developing their group discussion skills and use of annotation and text evidence to enhance academic discussion. Beyond learning to use text as evidence to support claims and arguments, students also develop personal reading habits and goals throughout the year as well as participate in literature circles. In seventh grade, students use diverse texts to respond critically, interpret messages, and analyze author’s purpose.

All skills are taught through thematic units currently the thematic units in eighth grade include Building Bridges Our Odyssey, Our Journey and Stirring Up Justice. The instruction advocates techniques for students to become analytical readers and effective communicators, and students will have multiple opportunities to practice these techniques throughout the school year. Classroom instruction will include strategies, techniques, and procedures for helping students develop as readers and writers. Throughout the year, students will read a variety of high-quality fiction and nonfiction texts including but not limited to poetry, mythology, plays, articles, and novels.

These skills are essential to a student’s ability to be informed and productive members in our society.

In eighth grade English Language Arts, students are provided with opportunities and resources to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The goal of the English Language Arts department at Hershey Middle School is to develop critical thinkers, effective communicators, analytical readers, and informed consumers of media,

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