Countdown to NYS ELA

A Great Reminder!

Poetry Analysis

Students can use the roadmapping directions below to help them break down poems on the NYS ELA and any time they read poetry.

Middle School Authors and Mentors

The eighth grade AVID students researched non-fiction topics, created children's book based on those topics, and then shared them with the students in Mrs. Saether's class.  It was a great opportunity for learning, collaboration, and mentoring.

 

Non-Fiction Passage Analysis

Students often have trouble analyzing non-fiction passages on the NYS ELA assessment.  Students have been reviewing how to use roadmapping to help them better understand non-fiction passages.

College Visit

    

       
          On Monday, April 7th, all 8th grade students at HW Smith will be taking a field trip to visit the campus of the prestigious Rochester Institute of Technology.  Students will tour the campus and learn about the exciting learning opportunities that RIT has to offer.  Students will leave school right after arrival and will return to school at 2:30 PM.  Lunches will be provided by the school, but students are welcome to bring their own lunch.  The field trip is open to all eighth graders.  However, students that are absent during the NYS ELA assessment will not be allowed to attend if they have not made up the exam.  Signed permission slips are due to Mrs. Earl by Tuesday, March 25th.

Analyzing Fiction

In less than a month, all eighth grade students will take the New York State ELA assessment.  To help students remember the best way to analyze fiction passages, we have continued using the roadmapping technique to pick relevant information as we read.  Students then use their road maps to answer the questions in the test.

Roadmapping Directions for Fiction

End of Unit Project