Mrs. Tara Nielsen: 8th Grade ELA/SS Core

The educational goal of this year is to maintain educational learning and rigor regardless of what curveballs may come. In order to make this happen, we will all need to be prepared to be flexible. With the many ups and downs and challenges as we exit the COVID-19 pandemic, we can expect that we may find ourselves at times needing to adapt. We will do our best to make any transitions, should they come, be as seamless as is possible. It will not be perfect. Nothing ever is, but we will do our best and ask that you do the same.

 

It will be a memoriable year - and it will be one we successfully complete together!

Both ELA and Social Studies involve lots of discussion, developing clear support for reasoning, making modern connections, and building depth of both understanding and communication. As such, students can expect that they will need to do prep work in order to adequately participate in class. More information on what that looks like will come home in the parent-student letter and the syllabus for each class. (Please note that the syllabi for these classes will come home during week two so that I will have time to adequately go over them with students.)

8th Grade is a wonderfully exciting time for students as it is the capstone of their elementary educational journey! This year will be full of ups and downs, memory making, skill building, anxiety and relief. It's a growing year - that means challenges and pushing hard to overcome them.

 

By 8th grade it is expected that students will be their own primary advocates. It's important for parents and guardians to still be involved, but students will be encouraged and expected to speak up, seek out help, and communicate directly with their teachers as the need arises. This important skill will provide them with confidence and the ability to be successful throughout the remainder of their educational careers and into the workforce.