Dr. Michael Kester-Haynes

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 19 (Grade 8 ELA): Tracking Theme & Motif Across a Text

8th graders analyze how themes develop across complex literary texts by tracking motifs, citing strong textual evidence, and writing objective summaries. Students learn to interpret deeper meanings and connect motifs to evolving themes with precision.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 18 (Grade 8 ELA): Presenting Findings Clearly

8th graders turn research into polished oral presentations with clear visuals, precise language, and audience-aware delivery. Students design effective slides, refine word choice for clarity, and adapt tone to context for confident, professional speaking.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 17 (Grade 8 ELA): Explanatory Writing with Graphics & Citations

8th graders create multi-paragraph explanatory articles with clear sections, integrated visuals like charts or diagrams, and accurate citations. Students learn to design purposeful figures, use domain vocabulary, and present information ethically and professionally.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 16 (Grade 8 ELA): Mini-Research – Reading Across Sources

8th graders develop research skills by crafting focused questions, evaluating credible sources, and taking organized notes. They paraphrase and cite accurately, analyze conflicting information, and use tech tools to create concise, visual research briefs.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 15 (Grade 8 ELA): Performance Reading & Speaking

8th graders transform reading into performance by mastering prosody, pacing, and emphasis. Students rehearse and present poems or scenes, analyze filmed interpretations, and design multimedia supports that enhance meaning and audience engagement.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 14 (Grade 8 ELA): Poetry Craft – Figurative Language & Imagery

8th graders explore how figurative language, connotation, and sound devices shape tone and meaning in poetry. Students analyze structure, rhythm, and word choice, then craft text-evidence–based explications connecting form to feeling.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 13 (Grade 8 ELA): Informational Text Structures Across Articles

8th graders analyze how authors use sequence, cause/effect, and comparison structures to connect ideas and events across multiple informational texts, building comprehension and synthesizing structure-driven insights across a text set.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 12 (Grade 8 ELA): Cohesion, Counterclaims & Conclusions

8th graders refine their argumentative writing by mastering transitions, integrating counterarguments, and crafting strong conclusions. Students engage in revision and editing cycles to polish cohesion, tone, and conventions for clarity and impact.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 11 (Grade 8 ELA): Evaluating Reasons & Evidence

8th graders learn to analyze and evaluate arguments by identifying claims, reasons, and evidence, judging relevance and credibility, and quoting or paraphrasing accurately to write clear, evidence-based evaluations of texts and speeches.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 10 (Grade 8 ELA): Launching Argument Writing

8th graders learn to craft strong argumentative claims, match reasons with credible evidence, and organize logically with clear cohesion and audience awareness while practicing effective discussion and collaboration to refine ideas.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 9 (Grade 8 ELA): Morphology & Vocabulary Power

8th graders explore Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes to decode meaning, use context clues effectively, and analyze figurative language, connotation, and nuance while expanding academic and domain-specific vocabulary.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 8 (Grade 8 ELA): Informative Writing Foundations

8th graders learn to craft clear, focused theses, organize ideas logically, and develop explanations with facts, definitions, and examples while mastering transitions, domain vocabulary, and formal writing style in this informative writing unit.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 7 (Grade 8 ELA): Central Idea and Objective Summary

Grade 8 ELA unit: students learn to determine central ideas in informational texts, write concise and objective summaries, and paraphrase key ideas from audio or video sources. Emphasis on citing precise evidence, avoiding opinion, and clearly tracking how ideas develop across sections.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 6 (Grade 8 ELA): Nonfiction Text Features & Structures

Grade 8 ELA unit: students analyze how headings, graphics, and hyperlinks shape understanding and structure in informational texts. They compare print and multimedia sources, citing precise evidence to evaluate how each format impacts clarity, emphasis, and overall comprehension.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 5 (Grade 8 ELA): Point of View & Perspective

Grade 8 ELA unit: students analyze how narrator perspective shapes content, style, and meaning. They compare first-person and third-person points of view, examine irony and reliability, and practice rewriting scenes for precision, concision, and tone that match each narrative perspective.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 4 (Grade 8 ELA): Personal Narrative – Turning Points

Grade 8 ELA unit: students write personal narratives that orient readers, build purposeful pacing, and reflect on meaning. They craft vivid scenes with dialogue and description, use punctuation for effect, and conclude with insight that gives closure and emotional resonance.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 3 (Grade 8 ELA): Character, Setting, and Plot Structure

Grade 8 ELA unit: students analyze how plot events and dialogue propel action, reveal character, and build tension. They examine how word choice shapes tone and how structure—pacing, flashback, and order—affects meaning, crafting clear, text-based literary analysis.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 2 (Grade 8 ELA): Reading with Evidence & Theme

Grade 8 ELA unit: students strengthen evidence-based reading and discussion skills by asking text-dependent questions, citing precise evidence, and inferring themes. They analyze how authors develop central ideas and craft clear, text-supported written and spoken responses.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 1 (Grade 8 ELA): Launching Our Reading–Writing Community

Grade 8 ELA unit: students build classroom routines for reading, writing, and discussion. They practice close reading, grammar, and workshop expectations while setting goals for stamina, clarity, and collaboration—laying the foundation for a year of strong literacy growth.

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Grade 7 ELA Units

Unit Plan 36 (Grade 7 ELA): Publishing Celebration & Reflection

Grade 7 ELA unit: students polish writing portfolios, refine language for effect, and deliver formal author talks. They revise diction and sentence rhythm for impact, use technology to publish, and present their growth and craft to an authentic audience.

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Grade 7 ELA Units

Unit Plan 35 (Grade 7 ELA): Author Study – Style and Craft

Grade 7 ELA unit: students compare an author’s craft across works and contrast fiction with historical accounts. They identify stylistic fingerprints, write short imitations using those moves, and deliver formal presentations explaining the author’s creative choices.

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Grade 7 ELA Units

Unit Plan 34 (Grade 7 ELA): Revising & Editing for Clarity

Grade 7 ELA unit: students strengthen grammar, punctuation, and style through revision. They refine phrases and clauses for clarity, fix commas and capitalization, and improve cohesion using precise language and transitions for polished, professional writing.

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Grade 7 ELA Units

Unit Plan 33 (Grade 7 ELA): Summarizing & Synthesizing Information

Grade 7 ELA unit: students determine central ideas, condense key details, and synthesize across texts. They compare how authors shape information, integrate evidence lines, and write concise, objective summaries and synthesis paragraphs showing overlap and divergence.

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Grade 7 ELA Units

Unit Plan 32 (Grade 7 ELA): Writing Informational Reports with Visuals

Grade 7 ELA unit: students write formal multi-section reports with clear headings, visuals, and captions. They integrate graphics that teach, use precise academic language, maintain an objective tone, and conclude with insights that show significance or next steps.

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Grade 7 ELA Units

Unit Plan 31 (Grade 7 ELA): Extended Research Project

Grade 7 ELA unit: students design focused research projects, gather credible print and digital sources, and take organized notes. They draft and publish concise reports using technology tools for collaboration, accurate citations, and digital literacy skills.