STAR Team Language Arts

Mrs. Sayeed and Mr. Klein-Collins

Welcome to the new school year, and welcome to the STAR Team language arts page.  Our language arts philosophy is quite simple - you become a better reader and writer by reading and writing.  Practice is the key, and we will practice in a variety of contexts.

You will read and write in different genres (persuasive, expository, narrative, fiction, non-fiction).  As a team, however, we've made it our policy not to assign a novel to an entire class.  You should be able to choose what you read.  Read what you prefer, not what someone else prefers for you.  If mysteries are your thing, go for it.  If non-fiction is your thing, go for it.  If gritty, realistic fiction draws you in, we have plenty of that.  If you want to taste the classics, that's awesome!

Writing, read alouds, and silent reading time will be a primary focus.  Writers' workshop will be employed to renew, strengthen, and introduce techniques and skills that are certain to make you a more focused and dynamic writer.  We will conduct writers' workshop using the  Six-Traits of Writing philosophy. 

We will supply you with class time to read silently because for some, it's the only reading time that can be carved out.  Some of our lives probably can't get much busier.  If it's not school, it's some sort of extracurricular activity, traveling team sport, dance rehearsal, riding lesson, piano recital, community service activity, or family obligation demanding our time.  All of those things make you well-rounded individuals.  That's why we'll devote some time to reading silently in class. 

Based on the previous paragraph, you might be left with the impression that you'll have no homework.  Making that assumption would be a miscalculation of monumental proportions.  You will have homework.  You just won't have busywork.  Anything assigned for homework will have significance.  Therefore, if something is assigned, please give it your all, first using supervised study to work on it, then completing the remainder at home.  

This eighth grade year will be full of good times and tough times.  Just remember that tough times don't last, tough people do.  We're here to help you get through any of the aspects of language arts that might bug you.  All you have to do is ask for help. 

Click on their last names to view the friendly letters from Mrs. Sayeed and Mr. Klein-Collins.