Grades 7 & 8 ELA

ELA for Grades 7 & 8 

2025-2026

  7th & 8th Grade School Supplies

• 6 folders
• 1 each: yellow, blue, green, red, purple
• 1 plastic take-home folder
• 6 notebooks
• 4 binders (1 inch)
• Pack of pens
• Small pencil sharpener
• 24 pencils
• Ruler
• Loose-leaf paper
• 4 expo markers (skinny)
• 2 glue sticks
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 pack of colored pencils or crayons
• 1 pack of skinny markers
• 2 highlighters
• 2 boxes of tissues
• 1 roll of paper towels
• Reusable water bottle
• Headphones
• 9x12 Sketchbook (can be found at Dollar Tree)

September - October, 2025            Grades 7- 8 

Writing and Reading Activities

Students will complete a piece of writing about themselves.

They will introduce themselves in that piece of writing by writing all the positive attributes about themselves.
For example, their talents, the high school and college they wish to attend, and their future career.

Students will add an image of their future career to their one page writing.

Summer Reading Activities

Students will use three reading skills to complete the three books they read.

For the first book, students will write “The Central Idea" of that book and support it with evidence.

In the second book, students will write the "Theme", and in the third book, they will write and draw the "Setting”.

GRADE 7 

Chapter  Book: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Students will read this chapter book in chunks. They will define new vocabulary words and people associated with
World War 11 and the Holocaust.

Students will identify main characters and their responsibilities at the Annexe, use context clues to define new vocabulary
words, work in groups to research some of the leaders they will read about, write quotes and explain the meaning of those quotes,
identify figurative language and explain, compare and contrast characters, make inferences while reading and  students will write an
essay on how Anne is still living among us. Weekly tests and quizzes will be administered to check for students' understanding
of the skill(s) taught for the week.

Writing: Daily Journaling, Short responses to questions, Argumentative,

GRADE 8   

Group 1 - Chapter Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Group 2 - Chapter Book: Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Students will explore the impact of the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement, on America, in the 1930’s. They will
discuss the widespread poverty and ignorance which existed during this time. Students will make connections to another novel
read: Of Mice and Men. 

Students will demonstrate their understanding between the denotation and connotation of words used to define a group and
words in the chapter book. They will define new vocabulary words using context clues; create  a comic strip to retell Scout, 
Jem, and Dill’s escapade in chapter 6; draw a map of Scout’s; Create a poster for One-Shot Finch; Compare and contrast characters.

Students will use text evidence to support their written as well as oral responses. 

Assessment: Quizzes, Exit Tickets, Test, Journaling, Discussions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Writing: ( a ) Argumentative

              ( b ) Informative

              ( c ) Comparing and Contrasting

Students' writings will be derived from their chapter book reading. They will focus on one piece of writing at a time. Students will also
write short writing pieces.

The writing process will be used while they are writing.

You may reach the Parent Portal here https://parentportal.eschooldata.com/buffalodiocese

Mrs. Marie McCoy   mmccoy@cawb.org 

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7th and 8th Grade Language Arts

Welcome to 7th & 8th grade English Language Arts! This year will be an exciting year for both of us and I am looking forward to working with each and every one of you. I am very understanding, but I will challenge you every single day, so come prepared to learn and work hard. 7th & 8th grade are a big years with a lot of challenges, but I am here to assure you that you’ll do great as long as you put your mind to it.

I am sure that you will have a ton of questions every single day that we spend together. Please know that I am always willing to answer your questions if you ask them with patience, an open mind, and a respect for those around you. Always know that there are no stupid questions; but please know that one of my biggest pet peeves is when a question is asked when someone else is speaking. Respect and manners are always necessary.

There is going to be a lot that I expect from you because I already expect greatness from each one of you. You will work hard for your grade, but more importantly you will work hard to earn the grade you deserve based on the amount of effort you put into your learning. I am a very firm believer that it takes dedication to succeed anywhere that you go. I am dedicated to your learning and helping you in every way, so push yourself to learn and grow. Do not make excuses for yourself because it will not get you anywhere. In the end, it is your responsibility to prove to me that you’re ready for high school one day.

Always know that if you do not understand something, never hesitate to ask me. It is my goal to teach you language arts and it’s a chance for me to show you my passion for reading, writing, and teaching the English language. In the end, I can only hope that you, too, discover that same passion; but if you are not learning or are very confused, we are both doing something wrong. I am here for you and your learning. If you are failing, then I am failing; and the one thing to know about me is that I hate failing and I don’t accept it EVER!

I wish you nothing but the best this year and the rest of your duration at Catholic Academy of West Buffalo. Remember, “all our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them” – Walt Disney. Show me your courage to learn this year -