Welcome to English 8!

Mrs. Lee Slusher

(Assignments posted are subject to change)

Parents/Students may contact me at lslusher@rcps.org or by phoning 731-3651, extension 6655.

Students must bring their library book to class daily. 

Field trip form signed on both sides and $6.00 (or partial payment) due a.s.a.p.

Congratulations to Michael Akers, our DIS runner-up in the school spelling bee!

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Mon. Feb. 8th - 1st and 2nd periods did not meet. For zero, 3rd, and 5th, each class is working on developing an introduction for their writing topic. With so many days missed, it is very important that your child attend school regularly. The Writing SOL is just three weeks away, and we have lots to cover!

Thurs. Feb. 4th - 1st and 3rd did not meet. For Zero, 2nd, and 5th, decide if the writing prompts (sheet from class) need reasons or examples for support of thesis statement. In addition, 5th period needs to write 3 reasons/examples for their chosen writing prompt.

Jan. 25th, 26th, 27th - No homework this week. Six-weeks ends on Wed., Report cards come home next week on Thurs. Feb. 4th.

Jan. 21st

I apologize for no updates until today. I was out of school Tues. and Wed. with a virus. We completed our class spelling bee in 0,1,2, & 3 today. 5th period will have theirs tomorrow. Zero period will make their high school schedules for next year on Friday with Mr. Cormany. Parents will sign a sheet for final approval of classes chosen before the selected schedule is sent to RHS. Vocabulary List #5 Test has been rescheduled to the following days:

2nd, 3rd, 5th periods: Friday, Jan. 22nd

Zero, 1st periods: Mon., Jan. 25th

Other changes will be determined if inclement weather causes cancellation of classes or entire school days.

Fri., Jan. 15 - Vocab. List #5 Test next Thurs., 1/21. Also next week -Students will receive information about requirements and electives at RHS for ninth graders and complete a schedule. Discuss this info. with your child.

Wed., Jan. 13th - Vocab. List #5 Test next Thurs., Jan. 21st. Test will cover part of speech, definition, and use of word in a sentence.

Tues., Jan. 12th - No additional homework; book talks continue.

Mon. Jan. 11th - No additional homework; book talks continue.

Thurs., Jan. 8th - Vocabulary List 5 homework due tomorrow. Book Talk due Monday even if school is closed due to inclement weather. Students may have 1 page of notes or note cards for this presentation. Guidelines for grading rubric at attached.

Tues., Jan. 5th - Thurs., Jan. 7th -Vocab. List #5 part of speech and original sentence per word due Friday. Book talks begin Monday. Midterm signed and returned by 1/12 for extra credit.

Mon., Jan. 4th - Happy New Year and welcome back to English 8! Vocab. List #5 homework due Friday - part of speech and one original sentence for each of the 12 words. Only zero and 3rd period students have received their word lists due to the late opening today. Book talks will begin next Mon. the 11th.

Wed., Dec. 16th - Jan. 3rd  - Color poems are due no later than Fri., Dec. 18th. I will grade the poems and post these scores over the break. Students have no homework over the holidays other than novel reading. The Book Talks begin on Jan. 11th. I have attached the guidelines. Scrolldown to "Downloads."Encourage your child to read over the next 19 days. Have a wonderful time with your family over the winter break.                                     Be safe!

Tues., Dec. 15th - Vocab. Unit 1-4 Test tomorrow. Students have selected their new novels. Some reading should be done over the holiday. Book talk is due on Monday, Jan 11th.

Fri., Dec. 4th - No homework. Student progress reports from my class went home today. Not all teachers send them. Please sign and return within one week.

Wed., Dec. 2nd - No homework.

Mon. Nov. 30th & Tues., Dec. 1st - Vocab. Quiz on List #4 on Wed. Review basketball played in class on Mon. 

Tues., Nov. 24th - No homework over the holiday unless students need to review vocabulary sentences and definitions. Quiz on List #4 on Wed., Dec. 2nd. Have a wonderful holiday and enjoy time with family. Safe travels, too!

Fri., Nov. 20th - No homework. Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy time together as a family. :)

Thurs., Nov 19th - Novel PowerPoint Presentations on Friday and Monday. Vocabulary homework for list #4 due tomorrow, too.

Wed. Nov., 18th - Vocab. List #4 part of speech and sentences due Friday. Novel PowerPoint Presentations begin Friday.

Mon., Nov. 16th - Tues. Nov. 17th - Novel finished with completed map - due Wed. Vocab. List #4 part of speech and sentences due Friday.

Fri., Nov. 13th - Novel project map due Wed. the 18th. Students will design a novel project using PowerPoint or Smart Notebook in the computer lab on the 18th and 19th.

Wed., Nov. 11th - Thurs., Nov. 12th - Vocabulary Quiz List #3 on Friday; return signed midterm by 11/17th for extra credit. Novel project map due on 11/18th.

Tues., Nov. 10th - Return signed midterm. Vocabulary Quiz for List #3 on Friday.

Mon., Nov. 9th - I will be absent from school on Monday. Please see last Friday's homework. Also, midterms will be sent home by the substitute teacher. Not completing vocabulary homework is becoming an issue for many students. Zeros on homework can drastically affect a student's grade point average. Please talk with your child, if necessary, about the importance of completing all assignments. Sign midterm and return by Friday, Nov. 13th.

Fri, Nov. 6th - Vocabulary videos (no more than 3 min. max.) due for teacher preview Monday. Vocabulary #3 quiz next Friday, Nov. 13th.

Tues, Nov. 3rd Thurs. Nov. 5th - Vocab. List #3 due Friday (See Mon. assignment). Approved vocabulary videos due Monday.

Mon. Nov. 2nd - Vocab. List #3 - part of speech and sentences due Friday the 6th. For students choosing the vocabulary video, Monday is the due date. Seventeen (17) more days to finish novel. Project will be done in the school computer lab.

Wed., Oct. 28th - Novel reading for the long weekend. Students selected their new novels in the library today for their next novel project. The book must be read by Nov. 18th. Ask your child how many pages he or she must read daily in order to finish the book on time.

Tues., Oct. 27th - Vocabulary Quiz List #2 tomorrow. Library visit to select novel for second project. This project will be done in the school computer lab.

Mon., Oct. 26th - Vocabulary Quiz - List #2 - Wednesday.

Wed., Oct. 21st-Oct.23 - No homework. Public librarian shares book talks with us in clas on Friday.

Tues., Oct. 20th - "A Unique Day" draft due tomorrow. Return signed report card cover and English student grade report as well.

Mon., Oct. 19th - finish reading "An Hour with Abuelo," p. 773 in lit. book. Writing assignment draft, "A Unique Day" due on lined SOL paper due Wed. Please sign report card cover and return to homeroom teacher. Also, sign my student grade report and return to me no later than Wed. for extra credit for your child.

Thurs., Oct. 15th - Fri., Oct. 16th - None - Ask your child about his or her career search in the computer lab this week. Lots of possibilities!

Wed., Oct 14th - None

Mon., Oct. 12th-Tues., Oct. 13th - Vocab. List #2 part of speech and sentences/creative story due Wed., Oct. 14th.

Fri., Oct. 9th - Library on Monday. Vocab. List #2 with part of speech and sentences (or creative story with the vocab.) due Wed., Oct. 14th. Have a great weekend and enjoy the beauty of fall!

Wed. Oct. 7th and Thurs., Oct. 8th - Book Talks in class on Thursday and Friday. Vocabulary List #2 assigned today. Sentences and part of speech due Wed., Oct. 14th. All students were given a creative writing option for the vocabulary; however; students in the gifted program are required to complete that option.

Tues., Oct 6th - Novel maps were due in class today. I will take them Wednesday with a penalty for lateness. No other homework.

Thurs. Oct. 1st - Mon., Oct. 5th - Finish novel and complete map. Due Tues. Oct. 6th

Wed. Sept. 30th - Finish novel and complete map. Due Tues., Oct. 6th.

Tues. Sept. 29th - Vocab. quiz tomorrow. Finish reading lit. story, "The Medicine Bag" on page 758. Story map due next Tuesday.

Mon. Sept. 28th - Tomorrow is the last day to turn in signed midterms for extra credit. Vocab. Test, List #1, on Wed. Seven (7) days left until novel map is due. Bring literature book to class on Tuesday.

Fri., Sept. 25th - Vocabulary List #1 Test on Wednesday, Sept. 30th. Novel finished by Friday, Oct. 2nd. Novel Map due Oct. 6th. Enjoy time with family this weekend while the much-needed rain arrives! :)

Wed., Sept. 23rd - Vocab. Word Maps for List #1 (6 sheets) due Friday. Novel reading, too. Please return signed midterm for extra credit.

Tues., Sept. 22nd - Vocab. due Friday. Return signed midterm for extra credit.

Mon., Sept. 21st - Vocabulary Word Maps for List #1 due Friday, Sept. 25th. Novel reading, too.

Fri., Sept. 18th - Read novel over the weekend. Fifteen days left to finish. Midterms will come home Tuesday, Sept. 22nd.

Thurs., Sept. 17th - Vocab. Test tomorrow. 3rd period only - finish marking subjects and verbs in the 10 sentences we worked on in class.

Wed. Sept. 16th - Vocabulary quiz Friday. Return signed expectation sheet.

Tues. Sept. 15th - Same as Monday.

Mon. Sept. 14th - Practice for Peer Interview Presentations that begin tomorrow. Quiz Friday on 12 Powerful Words. Return signed English 8 Expections Sheet.

Fri. Sept. 11th - Peer interviews are complete and will be presented in class on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Students should read nightly the novel they selected today.

Novels finished by Oct. 2nd. Book Talks begin Oct. 6th. Students will be given a map to complete for this assignment.

Quiz on Friday, Sept. 18th - 12 Powerful Words.

Thurs. Sept. 10th - 12 Powerful Words Vocabulary Quiz next Thurs., Sept. 17th. Library tomorrow. First book talk due Oct. 6th

Wed. Sept. 9th - We are in the DIS Computer Lab on Wed. and Thurs. of this week designing our peer interview powerpoints. First library visit on Friday. Students will select a novel for reading at home as well as in class. Remind your child to bring his or her novel to class daily. The first novel should be finished with the novel assignment sheet completed by October 6th. Hope to see you at Back-to-School Night this evening.

Tues. Sept. 8th - 12 vocabulary sentences due tomorrow.

Please return all forms that require your signature as soon as possible. Thank you for returning them promptly. 

No homework this week; however, students worked on an interview graphic organizer in class. If your child did not complete the assignment, he or she should finish it tonight. Organizer due Thursday.