District 95 Objectives- Reading Grade 8

Read with understanding and fluency.

The student will be able to…

Apply knowledge of word origins and derivations to comprehend words used in specific content areas (e.g., scientific, political, literary, mathematical).

• Expand knowledge of the origins of prefixes, suffixes, and root words in grade appropriate vocabulary.

Analyze the meaning of words and phrases in their context.

• Analyze context clues and decoding skills to determine an author’s use of vocabulary in grade appropriate selections.

Preview reading materials, make predictions and relate reading to information from other sources.

• Analyze active reading and comprehension strategies grade level selections such as: questioning, connecting, predicting before reading.

Identify text structure and create a visual representation (e.g., graphic organizer, outline, drawing) to use while reading.

• Determine and create the most appropriate visual representation to clarify the understanding of text while reading.
• Evaluate the information in charts, graphs, diagrams, maps, and tables to help understand a reading passage.

Continuously check and clarify for understanding (e.g., in addition to previous skills, draw comparisons to other readings).

• Evaluate text supported by evidence and experience.

Read aloud grade appropriate selections with appropriate expression, accuracy, fluency, speed, and volume.

Use information to form, explain, and support questions and predictions.

• Defend inferences using textual evidence.

Evaluate the author’s use of plot, theme, characterization, setting, and point-of-view in grade appropriate narrative selections.

Compare, contrast, and evaluate ideas and information from various sources and genres.

• Explore the connections between main ideas in multiple grade level sources and genres by comparing and contrasting content

Summarize briefly a complex story or nonfiction passage; and identify the best summary as related to the purpose of the text.

Compare how authors and illustrators use text and art across materials to express their ideas (e.g. foreshadowing, flashbacks, color, strong verbs, language that inspires.

• Evaluate the author and illustrator’s message through literary devices, figurative language, plot, theme, characters, setting, and point-of-view, and art in various grade level genres.

Evaluate the importance of using tables, maps, charts, and visual aids to present information.

Read and understand literature representative of various societies, eras and ideas.

The student will be able to…

Identify and analyze a variety of literary techniques (e.g. figurative language, allusion, dialogue, description, word choice, dialect) within classical and contemporary works representing a variety of genres.

• Analyze literary techniques (e.g. sensory detail, simile, rhyme, repetition, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, irony, dialect, dialogue, symbolism, allusion,) in classical and contemporary grade level pieces.  Explain how the techniques impact the author’s intent.

Describe how the development of theme, character, plot, and setting contribute to the overall impact of a piece of literature.

• Analyze how the theme, character and character foils, plot, setting, conflict, point-of-view, flashback, and foreshadowing contribute to the effectiveness of the piece. 

Identify characteristics and authors of various literary forms (e.g. short stories, novels, drama, fables, biographies, documentaries, poetry, and science fiction).

• Compare and contrast the elements and authors of various literary genres (e.g. short-story, novel, drama, fable, fantasy, biography, documentary, poetry, and science-fiction).

Identify ways that an author uses language structure, word choice and style to convey the author’s viewpoint.

• Synthesize and articulate the importance of the author’s style, word choice, and language structure in relation to the point-of-view.

Respond to and discuss grade level literature using interpretive, creative, and evaluative processes.

Compare and contrast common literary themes across various societies and eras.

• Compare and contract literary themes in multicultural literature spanning various eras.

Analyze how characters in literature deal with conflict, solve problems and relate to real-life situations.

·        Explain characterization as delineated through a character’s thoughts, words, and actions.  Determine the cause of a character’s perceptions of events.

Page Sponsor: Dr. Nate Carter
Author: Stacie Noisey
Webmaster: Mr. Jeff Platt
Revised: 08/24/2006