Departments → English Department → Mr. Ehrhardt's Webpage → Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Welcome to 8th grade English!
I am thrilled to meet the 8th grade students and their families, as we begin our year at Newport Mill MS. Many questions and concerns surface whenever people enter a new grade or system; if I can help address any of these, my inbox (and classroom door) is always open: Scot_Ehrhardt@mcpsmd.org
Students will need the following items each day to ensure their preparedness and success in my classroom:
- Binder (most students use one three-inch binder for all classes)
- Folder
- Notebook or Composition book
- Looseleaf paper
- Pencil
- Whatever books or handouts are given (One classroom novel each quarter and one sideline reading of choice each quarter serve as our textbooks)
In the first quarter of English 8 (all levels), the theme of Journeys takes central focus. We explore physical and psychological journeys, paying particular attention to the context of the stories. Texts such as Amy Tan's "The Rules of the Game," Adeline Yeh Mah's Chinese Cinderella, and Joseph Cambell's The Hero with 1000 Faces give us varying perspectives on elements of journeys. Throughout the quarter, vocabulary and grammar lessons enhance students' syntax and usage skills. While single paragraph responses are still valid in answering questions, the class will rely on multiparagraph essays and multimedia presentations to demonstrate mastery of the text and related ideas.