Complete Homeschool English/Language Arts for 7th/8th Grade, Fall Semester

Welcome to Semester 1 of Seventh or Eighth Grade English/Language Arts! This class covers grammar, writing, reading, and vocabulary, speaking, and listening.

WHAT TO EXPECT EACH WEEK
Each lesson starts with a quick icebreaker, so learners can get to know each other a little and feel more comfortable speaking up during academic discussions. 

First Meeting of the Week (Monday or Tuesday):
These sessions focus on reading. In the first week, we’ll get to know each other, discuss procedures, and dive into our first book. From Week 2 onward, we’ll explore story elements (plot, characters, setting), reading comprehension, and vocabulary through meaningful discussions. To get the most out of class, learners should complete the assigned reading before each session.

Second Meeting (Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday):
These sessions focus on writing. Lessons will include direct instruction, guided practice, and lively discussions. Homework will be assigned to give learners a chance to practice and apply their new skills.


OVERVIEW OF TOPICS COVERED
Semester 1 covers grammar, sentence writing, paragraph writing, and basic essay writing. (Additional essays will be covered in Semester 2 of this class.) Semester 1 also includes reading comprehension, some vocabulary, and story elements (plot, characters, setting). Reading will take place outside of class, and we will discuss the assigned chapters each week. 

REQUIRED BOOKS
1. City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
This dystopian novel is set in the future.  The characters live in an underground city and have no knowledge of the outside world until the main characters discover the truth about their city. The city was originally built to escape some catastrophe on earth, with the intent that the survivors would eventually return to the surface. Now the city is falling apart and supplies are running low. Worst of all, the power generator that creates energy to light up the city is going out. It is up to Lina and Doon to find a way out of the city of Ember.


2. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
This is a fun adventure/mystery where three kids are playing a game called Book Scavenger while searching their city for clues to a mystery surrounding the game's founder, Mr. Griswald.  It includes themes of good v. bad, making friends, and surviving middle school. If you liked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, then you are sure to love this book.

Books can be borrowed from the library, purchased, or accessed via eBook or audiobook. If your learner uses audiobooks (which is perfectly fine!), they will improve their reading skills more rapidly if they also follow along in a print copy. Annotation is an important part of the course, so sticky notes or flags can be helpful if writing in books isn’t an option. We will often do “scavenger hunts” in the book, so having a print or electronic book handy during class is extremely helpful as well.

HOMEWORK
Homework will be posted in the Assignments tab and should be submitted as a Google Doc, PDF, JPEG, or Word document. For handwritten assignments, a photo or scanned copy is perfectly fine! If your learner uses Google Docs, please ensure sharing is set to “Anyone with the link.”

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Please do not use AI on any writing assignment. If you need additional clarification or resources, please ask! I am happy to help!

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
This class is designed for 7th and 8th graders, and I’ll adapt lessons to fit the needs of each learner. Differentiation might include extra challenges, modified assignments, or adjustments to the class pace. My goal is to provide just the right level of challenge for everyone. If your learner needs additional support or enrichment, let me know—I’m here to help!

Any class slides that are relevant to the homework assignments will be made available after the class when they are shared. These slides and the notes on them will help your learner remember what to do on the upcoming homework assignment. In addition to defining key terms, I will often include an example of what I’m looking for on these slides. If you have any questions about an assignment after viewing the slides, please do not hesitate to ask.

I may also occasionally provide optional extra resources for your convenience. This will include links to additional free resources (such as websites and educational videos) to help your child master the content of the course.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please see Syllabus for an agenda of weekly topics.

You can follow up with my Complete Homeschool English/Language Arts Curriculum, 7th/8th Grade, Semester 2 class.