ELA8 Learning Coach Guide

Welcome Letter

Dear Learning Coach, 

Thank you for partnering with CCA and investing in your learner’s education. This Learning Coach Guide is intended to help you support your learner in their ELA 8 course. 

Within this guide, you will find the goals, components, and features of the online course. Please take time to read and review this information so you understand how to help your learner interact with all the course’s elements. 

The Learning Coach Guide also includes information about each of the units in this course. On each page of unit information, you will discover the following.  

• The Unit Overview will tell you what the focus, content, and skills of the unit will be.  
• The Unit Assessment section is a place for you and your learner to preview the graded work in the course. At the start of each unit, work with your learner to look at the unit in edio and find out which types of graded work are in this unit. Write them in the box and use it as a checklist. You can check off each one as your learner completes it. 
• The Unit Materials section tells you the materials your learner will need to complete the activities in this unit. You will also find the materials list repeated within each lesson so that your learner has exactly what they need at the right time. 
• The Unit Discussion Questions are optional questions that you may want to ask your learner during the unit to increase home and school connections about what your learner is studying.   
• In the Unit Extras section, you may find optional activities, literature connections, career connections, technology tips, ideas to help your learner if they get stuck, or safety tips.

CCA wishes you and your learner a terrific school year! 

Supporting Your Learner

Your role as a Learning Coach is very important. Here are a few ways you can help your learner do their very best in the course.

• Help your learner know what time guided or live class instruction is scheduled for, and prompt them to attend sessions or watch recordings.
• Remember, it is okay for your learner to get stuck. Learning new material takes time. Encourage them to take breaks, keep trying, and even ask the teacher for help.
• Help your learner navigate technology. That may mean helping them type information or upload work into edio.
• Always encourage your learner to do their very best.
• Review the course syllabus for your learner’s course.
• Maintain communication with your learner’s teacher.

Part B

Course Information

Part B

Course Information

Part B: Course Information

Course Goals

In ELA 8, your learner will use the foundations they learned in ELA 7 to grow their reading and writing skills. By the end of the year, your learner will be able to:

• read grade-level appropriate informational text and literature;
• read a variety of texts including nonfiction articles, magazine articles, short stories, poems, and a novel;
• analyze specific paragraphs or sentences and explain their importance to the whole text;
• comprehend and analyze information presented in video format;
• contribute to group discussions;
• identify word parts (affixes and roots) and apply their meanings to understand new words;
• learn how grammar concepts impact writing; and
• write in narrative, argumentative, and informative modes, using text evidence and/or research where appropriate.

Course Format

Lesson Components:

Each day, your learner will spend 65 minutes completing an ELA lesson in edio. Then, your learner will complete 15 minutes of independent practice. Some days may take less time, while other days may take a little more time. The lesson does not need to be completed in one sitting. Encourage your learner to take short breaks as they need.

This section will help you to understand how your learner’s course is structured in edio.

General Lesson Bundling:  

Within the lesson bundles, there are different components your learner will interact with. These components will not be used every day.

• Getting Started Lesson: There is one Getting Started lesson in this course. It can be found on Day 1 of Unit 1. This lesson includes important information about the course and contact information for your teacher.
• Unit Overview: Each unit will include a Unit Overview. This describes what your learner will learn in the unit and how many assessments the unit will have.
• Prep for Success: At the beginning of each unit, your learner will find a Prep for Success. This component offers learners tips to be successful in the course, such as study tips, important software information, safety reminders, and more.
• Knowledge Check: There will be one Knowledge Check in each unit. The Knowledge Check is designed to check prior learning and understanding about key skills and concepts that will be taught in the unit. The Knowledge Check is not a graded assessment.

ELA Lesson Bundling:  

In ELA 8, learners will have four lesson bundles most days unless an assignment, quiz, or test occurs. The following list breaks down each section.

• Word Work: At the beginning of the lesson, learners will study common word parts and apply their meanings to expand their vocabulary. 
• Reading: During the reading portion of the lesson, learners will explore fiction and nonfiction texts and work on comprehension strategies.  
• Writing: Learners will transfer the structures and language they see in reading to their writing. They will complete practice short-form and long-form writing in narrative, informational, and argumentative writing modes. 
• On Your Own: Learners will complete independent reading practice activities. 

Lesson Structure:

Each lesson has its own components to help guide your learner.

• Lesson Overview: At the beginning of every lesson, your learner will see the Lesson Overview. This section contains lesson objectives, lesson vocabulary, materials your learner will need for the lesson, and the suggested lesson length.
• Engage: The first section of the lesson is Engage. In this section, learners will be introduced to the lesson by making a connection to past and present knowledge and will get ready for the lesson’s instruction.
• Discover: New content and instruction is presented in the Discover section. Your learner will interact with the lesson content through defined vocabulary terms, videos, audio, and Pause and Think activities. Your learner will be able to practice and answer questions as they work through the lesson.
• Show: Learners will demonstrate what they have learned in the lesson through a series of practice questions.
• Wrap Up: This section recaps the day’s objectives and prepares learners for a future lesson or assessment.

Assessments:

The course includes assignments and projects. These graded assignments allow your learner to show what they have learned and apply their new skills. All CCA assignments and projects include these components.

• Assessment Overview: At the beginning of each assessment, your learner will see the Assessment Overview. This section contains the goals of the assessment, materials your learner will need, the length of the assessment, and directions for completion.
• Plan: In the Plan section, learners will be introduced to the assignment or project. Learners may be provided with a review of content from the previous lessons, strategies for completing the activity, graphic organizers, and grading rubrics.
• Do: Learners put their plan into action and work to complete the assignment or project successfully. This section also provides the grading expectations and/or rubric the teacher will use to grade the work.
• Reflect: In Reflect, learners will think back to the work they completed. They will reflect upon the experience and analyze how well they completed the task. These moments of reflection are important and allow learners to think about their learning and their work habits.

In addition to assignments and projects, this course also includes quizzes, tests, and exams.

• Quiz Review: Before a quiz, learners will have the opportunity to review the content they will be assessed on in a quiz.
• Quiz: Learners will complete quizzes in each unit. There are two types of quizzes in the course: Word Work Quizzes and Grammar Quizzes. A quiz will usually be worth 10–15 points.
• Test Review: Before a test, learners will have the opportunity to review the content they will be assessed on in the test.
• Test: ELA Skills Tests occur in the middle or at the end of a unit. In ELA Skills Tests, learners approach a new text to apply the skills learned in the unit. A test is usually worth 20-30 points.

Course Features

This course includes and uses unique features such as:

• ELA Notebook
• Word Work
• Assignments
• Quizzes
• Skills Tests
• Sustained Writing
• Writing Projects
• Literature Circles
• edioReader
• Passion Project

ELA Notebook: Learners are prompted to use their workbook almost every day. The workbook includes hard-copy versions of every text (besides test material). Along with the texts, the workbook also has a Notes and Journal Responses section as well as a Word Work section. In edio, learners will see the following icons as a signal to go to the correct section of the workbook.

This icon represents the Notes andJournal Responses section. (Getty Images)

This icon represents the Word Work section. (Getty Images)

Word Work: In each lesson, learners will study word parts.

There are four “cycles” of Word Work throughout the year, and each cycle is about 16 days. This pattern is repeated for each type of word part (prefixes, suffixes, roots) and ends with practice activities that connect them.

Within that cycle, each word part type completes a pattern:

• Lesson 1: Learn the definitions of the word parts, match them to their definitions, and identify word parts within larger words.
• Lesson 2: Review the word part definitions and predict the meaning of new words based on their parts. Then, sort words based on their parts and practice pronouncing them.
• Lesson 3: Determine the meaning of multisyllabic words based on their parts. Then, write a sentence using one of those words appropriately.
• Lesson 4: Determine the meaning of multisyllabic words based on their parts and create sentences including those new words.

Quizzes: Learners will complete quizzes in each unit. There are two types of quizzes in the course: Word Work Quizzes and Grammar Quizzes. Quizzes are mostly auto-scored, and some contain a short text response.

Tests: In ELA Skills Tests, learners approach a new text (“cold read”) to apply the skills learned in the unit. For example, if the unit involved teaching the skills of inference and analyzing characterization, the test will present learnerswith a short excerpt of an unfamiliar text and a few questions to assess those skills.

• Note: On Test Review and Skills Test days, there are only two bundles: the ELA Skills Test (Review) and On Your Own.

Assignments: Each unit contains at least one assignment. The assignment is often related to text analysis. Assignments range from 10-20 points and contain their own scoring guidelines.

Sustained Writing: In order to build writing fluency, learnerswill respond to short prompts throughout each unit. Sustained writing prompts occur in ELA 8 around every five to six lessons. Learners are instructed to set a timer, choose a prompt, and write for 10 minutes to build stamina. This activity is not assessed in terms of grammar or conventions. It is meant to encourage learnerwriting and expression.

Writing Projects: Learners will complete graded writing projects once per unit. These assignments start mid-unit, which allows learnersto complete the task in smaller chunks. Meanwhile, writing skills instruction is included to support learnerseach step of the way. At the end of each unit, learnersare given time to revise and edit before submission. Writing projects are typically worth 20-40 points.

Literature Circles: Learnerswill receive several novels in their Curriculum Kit, and they will choose one novel to read during the Literature Circle unit. Learners will be responsible for reading on their own, completing related assignments, and discussing their book with the class during Guided Lessons and/or in discussion boards.

edioReader: Learners will have access to digital versions of each text used in the ELA program. This is through a platform called edioReader. Learners can even bookmark, highlight, and annotate within the digital text. For a brief video tutorial, see the Prep for Success bundle in Unit 1.

Passion Project: For this assignment, learnerswill choose their tasks based on their interests. Learners will be given project suggestions, and they can communicate with their teacher to develop a task that is right for them. Some examples of project tasks include independent reading, short story writing, nonfiction research, and illustration, just to name a few. The goals of the Passion Project are to engage learners, practice ELA skills, share interests with the learning community, and reflect on the project process as a whole.

Part C

Unit Information

Part C

Unit Information

Technology

Unit Overview

In today’s rapidly advancing world, technology plays an integral role in our lives. From smartphones and social media to artificial intelligence and automation, technology has both influenced and impacted various aspect of society. This unit will answer the inquiry question, In what ways has technology simultaneously caused humanity’s downfall and success?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• Does easy access to information via technology hinder the learning process?
• Is technology making us more connected or more isolated from another?
• Would humanity be able to survive without modern technology?

Unit Notables

Learners will be able to choose a technological advancement to complete the argumentative writing assignment and debate its contribution to society.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

Surviving Social Media: Shut Down the Haters

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

In today’s rapidly advancing world, technology plays an integral role in our lives. From smartphones and social media to artificial intelligence and automation, technology has both influenced and impacted various aspect of society. This unit will answer the inquiry question, In what ways has technology simultaneously caused humanity’s downfall and success?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• Does easy access to information via technology hinder the learning process?
• Is technology making us more connected or more isolated from another?
• Would humanity be able to survive without modern technology?

Unit Notables

Learners will be able to choose a technological advancement to complete the argumentative writing assignment and debate its contribution to society.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

Surviving Social Media: Shut Down the Haters

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

The Natural World

Unit Overview

Survival comes in many forms, including learning how to survive a life-or-death situation, a new environment, or a struggling planet. This unit will explore the theme of survival and its various dimensions through literature, language analysis, and critical thinking and answer the inquiry question: How can humanity survive elsewhere?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• What is humanity’s fascination with survival?
• Do you think it is important to be loyal and obedient to a leader during a time of crisis?
• Do you need time to regroup before pushing forward or do you forge ahead without much thought or planning?

Unit Notables

This unit provides students the opportunity to pick a selection of texts to read that focus on a type of survival that interests them:

• A New Environment
• Living in Space
• Surviving the End

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

Survival comes in many forms, including learning how to survive a life-or-death situation, a new environment, or a struggling planet. This unit will explore the theme of survival and its various dimensions through literature, language analysis, and critical thinking and answer the inquiry question: How can humanity survive elsewhere?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• What is humanity’s fascination with survival?
• Do you think it is important to be loyal and obedient to a leader during a time of crisis?
• Do you need time to regroup before pushing forward or do you forge ahead without much thought or planning?

Unit Notables

This unit provides students the opportunity to pick a selection of texts to read that focus on a type of survival that interests them:

• A New Environment
• Living in Space
• Surviving the End

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Literature Circles

Unit Overview

Literature circles give learners the flexibility and personal feel of a book club paired with the support and structure of class community. Learners will read, analyze, and discuss self-selected books with their peers. At the end of the literature circle, they will complete a project reflecting about what they read. Learners will answer: What can literature teach you about yourself and the world around you?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• What can literature teach you about yourself and the world around you?
• Which literature circle job helped you analyze the novel the most?

Unit Notables

This unit is all about student choice. Learners can choose a book that interests them and complete literature circle jobs that help them look at the book from different perspectives and flex their creativity.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

literature circle novels

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

Literature circles give learners the flexibility and personal feel of a book club paired with the support and structure of class community. Learners will read, analyze, and discuss self-selected books with their peers. At the end of the literature circle, they will complete a project reflecting about what they read. Learners will answer: What can literature teach you about yourself and the world around you?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• What can literature teach you about yourself and the world around you?
• Which literature circle job helped you analyze the novel the most?

Unit Notables

This unit is all about student choice. Learners can choose a book that interests them and complete literature circle jobs that help them look at the book from different perspectives and flex their creativity.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

literature circle novels

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Growth

Unit Overview

Life is all about choices and how you act and react to the consequences of your choices. In this unit, learners will engage in activities to deepen their understanding of how personal choices, attitudes, and actions influence their future outcomes. They will be encouraged to reflect on their own aspirations, set goals, and develop strategies to proactively create the future they desire. They will answer the inquiry question: What role do I have in creating my future?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• What role do I have in creating my future?
• How would you describe a hero? Are all heroes the same? Has the idea of heroes changed over time?
• What role does imagination or creativity play in making big decisions?

Unit Notables

This unit includes a novel study of Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh. The novel study will blend first-reads and close-reads, to give learners a chance to dive deeper into the novel at a slower pace.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

Nowhere Boy

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

Life is all about choices and how you act and react to the consequences of your choices. In this unit, learners will engage in activities to deepen their understanding of how personal choices, attitudes, and actions influence their future outcomes. They will be encouraged to reflect on their own aspirations, set goals, and develop strategies to proactively create the future they desire. They will answer the inquiry question: What role do I have in creating my future?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• What role do I have in creating my future?
• How would you describe a hero? Are all heroes the same? Has the idea of heroes changed over time?
• What role does imagination or creativity play in making big decisions?

Unit Notables

This unit includes a novel study of Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh. The novel study will blend first-reads and close-reads, to give learners a chance to dive deeper into the novel at a slower pace.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

Nowhere Boy

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Humanity and Society

Unit Overview

Conflicts are a part of life, but that does not mean one cannot learn from them. In this unit, learners will delve into the complexities of interpersonal conflicts and discover how they can lead to growth, understanding, and stronger connections between individuals. Learners will gain a deeper understanding of conflicts, and answer the inquiry question: How can conflict influence relationships?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• How can conflict influence relationships?
• How do modern knights and medieval knights differ? Do they share any similar characteristics?
• Why is storytelling so important?
• What makes an engaging story?

Unit Notables

Learners will discover how modern or contemporary fiction draws on stories from the past. They will explore old knight’s tales and compare them to “The Quiet Knight,” a short story about LARPing and what it means to be a modern-day knight.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

Nowhere Boy

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

Conflicts are a part of life, but that does not mean one cannot learn from them. In this unit, learners will delve into the complexities of interpersonal conflicts and discover how they can lead to growth, understanding, and stronger connections between individuals. Learners will gain a deeper understanding of conflicts, and answer the inquiry question: How can conflict influence relationships?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• How can conflict influence relationships?
• How do modern knights and medieval knights differ? Do they share any similar characteristics?
• Why is storytelling so important?
• What makes an engaging story?

Unit Notables

Learners will discover how modern or contemporary fiction draws on stories from the past. They will explore old knight’s tales and compare them to “The Quiet Knight,” a short story about LARPing and what it means to be a modern-day knight.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

Nowhere Boy

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Passion Project

Unit Overview

The Passion Project unit gives learners the opportunity to learn about something they are interested in. This unit is entirely student-focused, with some guidance from the teacher. Learners will choose what they want to learn, decide what they want to create, and answer: How can your passions influence in your learning?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• How can your passions influence your learning?
• What did you learn during your passion project?
• Is this something you would be interested in expanding upon outside of school?

Unit Notables

Learners can choose from a wide range of ideas, projects, subjects, and activities to complete or explore. This unit is self-directed, so learners have complete control over what and how they learn.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

sticky notes

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

The Passion Project unit gives learners the opportunity to learn about something they are interested in. This unit is entirely student-focused, with some guidance from the teacher. Learners will choose what they want to learn, decide what they want to create, and answer: How can your passions influence in your learning?

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

• How can your passions influence your learning?
• What did you learn during your passion project?
• Is this something you would be interested in expanding upon outside of school?

Unit Notables

Learners can choose from a wide range of ideas, projects, subjects, and activities to complete or explore. This unit is self-directed, so learners have complete control over what and how they learn.

Kit Materials

ELA Notebook

sticky notes

Household Materials

none