Eighth Graders Use Different Learning Styles

Eighth grade students in Mrs. Hageman’s language arts classes have been participating in several activities designed to tap into students’ various learning styles.

Required to learn twelve prefixes and suffixes for the Kansas State Reading Assessment, students were introduced to a chant to the tune of “We Will Rock You.” Valerie Tollefson, eighth grade Special Education teacher, created and directed the chant, which utilized the required affixes. The students enjoyed this learning strategy.

Excerpt from the “Prefix-Suffix Song” created for the students:
(to “We Will Rock You” )

Prefixes, prefixes start words.
Prefixes, prefixes start words.
When you’re learning words, vocabulary,
Knowin’ prefixes makes it really easy.
Just remember ab- means to be away from,
And inter- means between or among.

In addition to this activity, students have been studying about the story elements and plot development of narrative writing. As a culminating assignment, students listened to the famous story “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe. Then following some required written work, they were given seven different options for a project(s) over the story. Options, which varied in total point value, ranged from creating a board game based on the story, converting the story (prose) into poetry, developing a comic strip, and/or reading another story by Poe and comparing and contrasting the two works of fiction. The various options allowed students to choose learning styles in which they felt confident and enjoyed.

Following the unit work, students will watch a video production on “The Tell-Tale Heart.”