1 8B English/Language Arts 2017-2018Bettina Scibilia Room 124

2 A little Bio -B.A. in Education (secondary English)-B.A. in English (literature) concentration in British literature -Masters in English literature from Villanova -from a family of educators -Arts Night poetry coordinator -Star Team mentor -Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey fan -Great Valley 8B E.L.A. teacher for 13 years -Happy Mama My parents were teachers. My twin sister is an English as a second language teacher at Sugartown Elementary. My husband teaches high school English in the private school sector. Being a Star Team mentor is close to my heart. Once, at a back to school night, I mentioned how much I enjoy cheering the Pittsburgh Penguins, and a father got up in mock outrage. I thought it was hilarious until he actually walked out and did not come back! I guess I should have noticed the Flyers sweatshirt. I feel lucky to work with such kind colleagues on 8B, true gentlemen and outstanding educators. 13 years. Once a student said to me, “It’s been a fun year, but I was talking to my big brother and I think I would have really enjoyed having Miss Jaffe as a teacher. As I explained that I was Miss Jaffe, he said, “Oh no, he said she was young and cool!” There is no one in this building more passionate about poetry. I love literature and writing but the dream part of this job is helping students find a book they love, introducing them to Atticus and Boo, helping them grow as readers and writers, and celebrating their gifts. Empathy is the heart of my teaching philosophy. Teaching English, studying literature, social justice = I believe they are all exercises in imagination, and the idea that every person has value and deserves to be treated with dignity really resonates with young people. This time last year I was on maternity leave. I’m a happy mama now, and I am even more aware of what a blessing it is to spend time with your children every school day and help them learn. My daughter Josephine loves laughing loudly, diner breakfasts, and Pride and Prejudice the board book.

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4 E.L.A. Units of Study September-Building a Community of Readers and Writers September-October-Reading and Analyzing Drama November-Navigating Expository and Narrative Nonfiction December-January-Reading and Analyzing Poetry January-February-Research March-April-Short Stories April-June-Reading and Analyzing Literature Students already have a writing assignment-An Encyclopedia of an Extraordinary Life. Their next writing assignment will be a process writing piece comparing themselves to someone they consider to be a reader or a writer. They may be interviewing you soon about your book club, the writing you do for your job, etc. The next unit is reading and analyzing George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. It is a challenging play, but students will learn about Victorian England, how to speak with a Cockney accent, who Audrey Hepburn was, and most importantly, how to unpack a drama and analyze character and theme. The expository and narrative nonfiction unit focuses on Holocaust texts. Students will read Anne Frank’s A Diary of a Young Girl, texts from the Holocaust Memorial museum, and excerpts from other memoirs. They will have the opportunity to have lunch with a Holocaust survivor and friend of the department, and hear her astonishing stories. We will also attend the People’s Light and Theatre production of Anne’s story. I have a near perfect record or converting students to love poetry, or at the very least like a Billy Collins poem or feel inordinately proud of their own verse. The research unit is an opportunity for students to select their own topic of inquiry. We will provide a list of suggested topics, instruction on how to use databases, and how to write a research paper. Some sample topics from last year included the merits of self-driving cars, bias in the media, should college athletes be paid, etc. The short story unit will also allow for a lot of differentiation and student choice. Finally, the academic year ends with To Kill a Mockingbird, which is still my dream book to teach. I still remember a student asking, “Is this the book that will change our lives?” Yes. I said. Yes. We will also study the film (another work of art) and at least one student will cry when we finally meet Boo for the first and only time. It is the perfect time to read this book, the perfect age I think, and I hope you will agree.

5 Reading Different genresConnecting outside reading with the curriculum using reader response journals and Reading Workshop time Required texts: Pygmalion-George Bernard Shaw The Diary of a Young Girl-Anne Frank To Kill a Mockingbird-Harper Lee No magic number of books, emphasis on quality not quantity Classroom library, book talks, visits to our amazing school library, no “book reports” Limited homework, focus is on reading Challenge books, less “holidays”, HF-the forgotten genre, non-fiction, classics Book Border-some of my favorites Student anecdote-”Can you find me one of those books where the girls are mean to each other?” No. No, I can’t. How about Malala’s biography? 

6 Writing Assessments “blind scored” by department colleaguesLiterary Analysis Argumentative Writing Formal Research Paper with MLA formatting Focus on becoming independent editors and developing style My philosophy is borrowed from something I read once, “A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than for other people.” This just means that writing is a process, it requires revision, independent editing, etc. Your writing is never finished I say… I honor the fact that it is a privilege to read the words of your children. My comments reflect this. Students may resubmit writing unless it is a summative assessments. ! Last paper of the year-no name….I want to recognize your child’s clever intro, the witty aside, the figurative language in a character description, etc.

7 What else to expect this year-Articles of the Week-with a focus on social justice -Grammar-embedded in writing instruction -Word Study-Greek and Latin Root Words -a commitment to the new GVSD Homework Philosophy and the department’s 6-8th grading policy on late or missing assignments -MAP testing and PSSAs -Differentiation through choice, small flexible grouping, varied Lexiles, etc. Upfront magazine-outstanding resource, New York Times magazine for kids Quiz on ten words every two weeks (multiple choice)

8 Skyward weighted grade categories40% Formatives 55% Summatives 5% Homework