Mandy Perret

I received the book from Librarything.com as a gift for my honest review. Challenging Common Core Language Arts Lessons grade 8 is a wonderful well rounded educational tool. As a homeschool parent of a 7th and 10th grader I know it is difficult to find well suited materials to teach from. This book is well crafted to fit any 8th graders needs. It teaches more advanced lessons yet you can breck them down for less advanced students. These lessons are well rounded curriculum and able to help me aid my students in school. This I would recomened for purchase if you have an 8th grader or at 8th grade level comprehension student at home or as a teacher for extra material. It is well made.… (altro)

Challenging Common Core Language Arts Lessons - Activities and Extensions for Gifted and Advanced Learners - Grade 8

I requested and received a copy of this delightful and insightful book via The LibraryThing as part of their Early Review Program. I worked in adult education which included both a GED and HS Diploma Program as an Assistant Professor and lead teacher for over 14 years at a local Community College. Anyone who has worked in education, whether in regular school programs, after school enrichment, tutoring, or GED and HS Diploma knows how precious good teaching material is. Many Green Perret’s book is exciting, inspiring, and would be a perfect joy to work with.
The book is divided into four major units, each of which focuses on a main theme. The themes are: “Nature Proves Our Vulnerability;” “Life Is What You Make It;” “Respect Is Harder Earned than Lost;” and “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover.”
She had me by the themes. Already, I could see my students’ imaginations flying.
Within each unit are packed multiple tasks, worksheets, handouts, and lessons that are designed from excerpts of fabulous pieces both fiction and non-fiction. For example, in the very first unit she suggests that the student watch a National Geographic Film, then offers a series of learning material including questions for text analysis, a research guide for students to plan a presentation, and then a rubric on grading that presentation. The second unit entitled “Dust in the Wind” suggests excerpts from Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, and again with stimulating and motivating lessons following.
In the beginning of the book she offers a brief but comprehensive discussion of Common Core and the standards, and places a Literary Analysis Model handout that contains categories for: Mood, Imagery, Symbolism, Structure of Writing so that students can start off on the right foot and with the right language. In addition she offers the instruction a brief guide on how to use the materials for whole group, small group, and individual instruction.
Ms. Green Perret also not only honors the standards of CCSS but emphasizes the reason education has made this huge change and leap forward: that learning is not nor should it be something just of the moment but something of deep complexity, growth, and depth.
Though designed for gifted and advanced learners in the 8th grade, I can see these materials so easily adopted for the learners I worked with – from my GED students to my HS learners, and even my TOEFL preparers. Certainly private tutors will find a wealth of material here.
I am thrilled to have my very own copy and would widely encourage any instructor in the English Language Arts from grade 8 and up to avail themselves of this challenging and charming volume.… (altro)