Welcome to Walker's Class 2022-2023
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I am very excited about the 2022-23 years. We are going to have a lot of fun and hard work combined! This is my blog to communicate with students and families and I will do my best to update it as much as possible. Ultimately this is just one more more way to help students be successful, but it is the student's responsibility to check any and all due dates and to use their planner and Canvas!
In eighth grade we will study a variety of subjects and topics that deal specifically with the American Experience.In Literature we will study some American Authors like Ray Bradbury, Langston Hughes, Jason Reynolds, John Steinbeck, and get at the heart of story telling by the masters themselves! Reading is cool, at least I think it is, and more than anything want them to develop that love and passion for really sweet books!
I think it is very important to read a lot at this and any age but I am also a realist and understand for some juggling schedules and sports can be quite daunting. Please know that if the classic line comes up, "I don't have any home work", have them read anything. Effort follows interest so if they love it they will read it!
In Language Arts we write. We will write a lot in a writing journal provided by the student. The writing journal is used to work on a variety activities from basic sentence structure to elaborate five-paragraph essays discussing character change. Writing is such an intimate look into our own private little worlds it is a very cool way to share our thoughts, and it is one of the main vehicles for students to share theirs without criticism of their peers. This is private between myself and the student.
Topics we write about: Three act structure, character change, show don't tell writing, five paragraph essay format just to name a few.
One of the main ideas covered is thesis writing, or how to write an argument and then prove your argument with facts.
In Social Studies we will study all things American! We discuss, argue, converse, debate about what it means to be American and our American Dream. The students begin with the Colonies and study our way through Reconstruction after the American Civil War. History Alive is the text book we use and there are some cool activities like; Colonial Town Hall, Constitutional Convention, Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, and many more. Eighth grade is also where we will learn about law and the US Constitution and where students learn all about civics.
This is really a snap-shot of what we will do this year. I love the kids and have made some amazing connections over the years. Once you are one of my kids you are ALWAYS one of my kids and have helped out many students beyond their middle school years! Feel free to contact or call and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Phil Walker ------------------- plwalker@pps.net
