Learning Goals

ELA Secondary
Objectives Learning Targets
Standard
Writing 8.3. Write Students will be able I can determine the importance of mentor text.
narratives to to write narratives to I can identify the main idea of a mentor text.
develop real or relate experiences I can use evidence from a text to identify an
imagined and events in a author’s main idea.
experiences or logical order. I can develop success criteria for an effective
events using “This I Believe” essay by using mentor texts.
effective technique, Students will be able I can write an “I Believe” statement as a main
relevant descriptive to use mentor texts to idea for my essay.
details, and well- learn about a genre, I can develop evidence to help explain my
structured event identify key belief and support my main idea.
sequences. characteristics of that I can write about events that support my belief
genre, and produce statement.
writing in that genre. I can logically organize those events.
I can write a conclusion that follows the success
criteria of this genre.
I can use a variety of transitions in my essay to
show the relationships between my beliefs and
experiences.
I can help my peers strengthen their writing to
meet the success criteria of a genre.
I can revise my essay by referring to the success
criteria and rubric for this genre.

These objectives and the corresponding learning targets are relevant and appropriate for
the students in my CP English 8 class based on their relation to state standards, student
development, and prerequisite knowledge.

The objective to have students learn and become proficient in narrative writing is
appropriate in relation to state standards because one of the state standards for 8th grade writing
is to be able to “write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences.” This objective is also
developmentally appropriate for 8th grade students because they are developing the cognitive
ability to think abstractly. This ability will be further developed as they learn to logically order
events, identify and write a main idea, and then come up with evidence to support that main idea.
In 7th grade, students also learned narrative writing, main idea, and evidence, so this year, they
will deepen their understanding and use of these skills by using mentor texts and writing a
narrative that relates real-life events.