Grade 8
English Language Arts

What your teen is learning

Your teen will apply the rules they’ve learned about spelling to figure out how new words are spelled. They’ll take notes and create outlines that show logical flow of their thoughts, and they’ll select good information sources to help them write about a specific topic, for a specific audience and purpose. Their writing will become more convincing as they add words to prove their point. Still curious? Refer to the program of studies for more about Grade 8 English Language Arts.

Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts
Your teen will be shown additional strategies for success. They will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to comprehend and respond to different oral, print and visual/media texts and to create their own texts. They will develop language, comprehension and communication skills by responding to oral, print and media texts/materials (e.g., stories, newspapers, magazines, advertisements, diagrams, media/films, websites) that have practical and everyday home, community and workplace applications. For more about Grade 8 Knowledge and Employability English Language Arts, refer to the program of studies.

How your teen is assessed

Your teen’s learning is assessed using a variety of tools and strategies within the classroom. Ask your teen’s teacher what methods they are using. The different assessment methods tell you and your teen’s teacher about your teen’s strengths, the areas in which they might grow and how well your teen is doing throughout the course. The teacher can then change or refine their teaching plans to ensure that learning activities better meet the needs of your teen. At the end of the course, your teen is assessed and their achievement is reported so that you know if they have achieved the expected learning outcomes for their grade.

Resources to help your teen

A variety of digital and print resources from many different sources help students learn. Alberta Education reviews and authorizes many student and teacher resources that support learning and teaching in the classroom. Additionally, teachers may select, and bring into the classroom, numerous other innovative and creative resources to create rich learning experiences for your teen. Visit LearnAlberta.ca to learn more about the resources your teen may encounter.

Recommended Resources:

• Read to Live
• Spectrum Series Grades 5–12 Online ELA Resources
• Knowledge and Employability Studio
• What Is Literacy?

• What if my child needs more support to be successful?