Literature and Language Arts, 8th Grade Assignments
- Instructor
- Mrs. Christene Poteet
- Term
- 2026-2027 School Year
- Department
- 8th Grade
- Description
-
Mrs. Poteet will be teaching 8th Grade Literature and Language Arts. Because these courses are so closely related, all homework will be listed in this class. This will save you and your student time navigating between tabs.One of the things you can do to help your student is watch for projects and due dates. Because literary analysis takes time and students read at different paces, I often give more than 1 day for larger assignments particularly in literature. In Language Arts, grammar assignments will typically be due next day and writing assignment due dates will vary with the idea of 1-2 paragraphs a night being a good way to chunk work.We will send the year focusing on how characters develop and grow over the course of a text with a special focus on writing literary analysis with quality text evidence.
Upcoming Assignments
Due:
Vocabulary - Unit 3 Book work is due
Choose the Right Word
Synonyms & Antonyms
Complete the Sentences (Write out the sentences)
Vocabulary in Context
Due:
Body Biography - Refugee
This is the expected due date for the completed body biography project. It should be completed fully using complete sentences and black pen. It should be fully colored. Include citations for text evidence.
Past Assignments
Due:
Refugee: Ch 31-33 and chapter packet
Recommended: Physical Description Paragraph on Body Biography
Due:
Vocabulary Test - Unit 2
Unit 2
Due:
Refugee: Ch 16-18
Read and complete the chapter response pages from CH 16-18. There will be a short quiz on Ch 7-18 on Friday using the same format at the short quiz today.
Due:
Vocabulary Unit 2
Please complete the HW for Unit 2 for correction on Friday.
Due:
Refugee: Ch 13-15
Read and complete the chapter response pages.
Due:
Write 2 body paragraphs for essay
At this point you should have your introduction and first body paragraph finished from last week. Write 2 more body paragraphs for Wednesday and your conclusion Wed. Night.
Your written draft should be in class on Thursday for editing.
Due:
Refugee: Ch 10-12
Please read and complete the chapter response questions on Ch 10-12.
Due:
Imago Dei Self Portrait
/Students were assigned to draw a self-portrait in the face on style of Frida Kahlo. We talked and read about her contribution to art and also about the concept of Imago Dei which means that everyone is made in the 'Image of God' with unique strengths, talents, and ideas. Students should fill the background of their self-portraits with symbols of what makes them unique - what they love, how they see themselves, what it important to them.
These will be displayed all year in the classroom and go home on the last day of school for students to keep. If doing digital art, PLEASE make sure to bring in a printed copy on Friday 9/25 so I can put it up.
Students have been working on this during study hall or when they have finished other work, but the majority of the work needs to be done at home. I have been watching students work this week - some students have barely started. This is fine because there is a week left, but I would hate for them to be overwhelmed at the last minute when they have had over 3 weeks to work on this.
Students were given a rubric with express directions and scoring when the assignment was given the 1st week of school.
Due:
Refugee: Ch 4-9 and Chapter Response Pages
Please reach Chapters 4-6 and 7-9 and complete associated Chapter Response Pages.
Students should also look out for any parallel plot points in the these chapters and notate that on the Chapter Response Pages.
There will be a quiz next Week on Ch 1-12
Due:
Vocabulary Test - Unit 1
Due:
ELA/Literature Quiz
Comprehension questions on Mrs. Flowers and Ch 1-2 of Tom Sawyer;
ELA: Subject/predicate diagramming, types and kinds of sentences, independent and dependent clause
Due:
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Homework is due every 2 weeks. The test on a unit will be the following week. Students have been encouraged and taught to chunk this work over the week. It becomes too much to do during a single night.
We are currently on Unit 1.
The vocabulary homework is the same each unit, but the words and unit changes.
Choose the Right Word 1-25, Column on the left.
Synonyms 1-10 and Antonyms 1-5, COlumn on the Right, Top
Vocab in Context 1-5, Column on the Right, Bottom (Excluded for 6th grade)
Complete the Sentences, 1-20, Write out the sentences. On the back or a separate piece of paper.
Here is a link to the Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop website which has word lists, practice quizzes, flashcards, and study games. https://www.sadlierconnect.com/vw/vocabularyworkshop.com
6th Grade: Level A
7th Grade: Level B
8th Grade: Level C
Due:
Annotations
Assigned 9/10
Complete 10 annotations about word choice and imagery from "Mrs. Flowers."
Due:
Mrs. Flowers - Short Story
Read pgs 402-408 in the literature book and answer the questions 1-8 on a separate piece of paper.
Due:
Sr. Ines Article
Read and complete the comparison and contrast questions on Sr. Ines and Frieda Kahlo.
Due:
Diagnostic
Students will read a grade-level short story, 'Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes and answer comprehension questions. There are also several pages of grammar questions. This will be graded ONLY on participation and completion and it will let me know where the students are ready to learn as a class. Please do not help students with this assignment - I really need to know what each student independently know.
DUE THURSDAY
Due:
Homeroom - About Me
Students have a figure and an information sheet to fill out about themselves. Parents also have homework on an information sheet about their student.
DUE WEDNESDAY.