8th Grade ELA Welcome Letter
Hi 8th graders and families!
Welcome to my English Language Arts class! I am Ms. Knutzen, and I am so excited to meet you all and get to know you. I am writing to tell you a little bit about myself and about our class, so you have an idea of what to expect on the first days of school.
This is my third year teaching at Medical Lake Middle School, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. The Medical Lake community is a wonderful place to be and work! Outside of school, I have a kitten named Charlie and spend my time adventuring through the Northwest and Traveling when I can! I love to read, write, yoga, run, jeep and explore! I am starting my Masters this fall, so it will be a busy season.
In 8th grade ELA, I hope you find a sense of belonging. ELA covers a whole range of skills–our four main standards are Reading, Writing, Language(grammar and usage), and Speaking/Listening–so there is usually something for everyone to find an interest in. Over the course of the year, we will cover four units: Suspense, World War II, A Moral Compass, and the Civil War. In each, we will read a variety of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction texts relating to the unit theme, as well as a longer novel or play. At the end of each unit, we will culminate with an Extended Writing Project or research project.
In the fall, we will start with the theme of Suspense. I find that this unit is extra fun to study as the weather starts to turn and we celebrate everything spooky. We will begin by looking at a nonfiction piece by Alfred Hitchcock and analyzing the classic radio piece “Sorry, Wrong Number.” Then we will read an excerpt from Stephen King’s Cujo and compare it to the same scene from the movie. We’ll finish out September reading a few pieces by Edgar Allen Poe. I will tell you about more of the stories in October’s newsletter.
Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns you have; I welcome discussion of your/your student’s needs in this class!
See you tomorrow!
Kailie Knutzen
(509)565-3327