Middle School English Language Arts Instructional Guide

YEAR AT A GLANCE

ELA 8

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Unit 4

Suggested Pacing

9-10 weeks

9-10 weeks

9-10 weeks

9-10 weeks

Writing Focus

Informative

Argument

Multi-Genre/Research

Narrative

How can informative writing contribute to a broader understanding of a topic or issue? Writing: 2 Reading: 5, 6, 7, 10 Speaking & Listening: 1, 2

How can argument writing contribute to critical thinking and civil discourse?

How can different genres be combined to convey a message or explore a topic from various perspectives? Writing: 1, 2, 4 Reading: 5, 7, 12, 13, 14 Speaking and Listening: 1, 3

In what ways does narrative writing influence a community and the larger societies that surround it? Writing: 3 Reading: 6, 8, 10, 11 Speaking and Listening: 1

Essential Questions

Writing: 1 Reading: 5, 13 Speaking & Listening: 1, 2

Anchor Standards

Reading Test Windows

MAP Window: Aug. 19th - Sept. 25th

MAP Window: Dec. 3th - January 15th

MAP Window: April 1st - May 8th

RISE Benchmark: Informative I

RISE Benchmark: Argument II

RISE Benchmark: Informative II or Argument II

RISE End-of-Year Summative Assessment

Testing Reason: Fall

Testing Reason: Winter

Testing Reason: Winter II

Writing Test Windows

RISE Benchmark or CFA Determined by Site Based PLC

RISE Benchmark or CFA Determined by Site-Based PLC

RISE Benchmark or CFA Determined by Site-Based PLC

April 13th - May 22nd

9/15/25 - 10/27/25

11/10/25 - 12/19/25

2/9/26 - 3/2/26

Resources

CSD Middle School ELA Resource Hub and Community

Grade 7-8 USBE Core Guide Utah State Standards, English/Language Arts

Accessing the District-Wide Standards-Based Assessment (DWSBA) RISE Benchmarks will be utilized for the DWSBA in order to give students an opportunity to practice using the tools in the RISE portal prior to the assessment. These assessments can be found, previewed, and administered at https://utahrise.org/ . Please follow this How-To Guide for step by step instructions for administering a benchmark assessment. If you need an account, please contact Cindy.Perry@canyonsdistrict.org .

Last Updated May 22nd, 2025 Middle School ELA, Page 67