Language Arts

Our Language Arts program integrates writing and reading instruction. Writing and reading are complementary processes of meaning construction, and their combination in the curriculum enables students to achieve understanding through reflection and critical thinking.

Goals and Objectives:

  1. Students will read strategically to construct meaning.
  2. Students will refine the formal conventions of writing, including spelling, punctuation, and grammar usage.
  3. Students will learn writing forms using narrative, expository, descriptive, persuasive, and creative styles.
  4. Students will understand the strategies for communicating and will prepare messages appropriate for their intended audiences.
  5. Students will understand how various forms of significant literature reflect different cultures, eras, and idea.
Major Topics of Study:
  1. Drama (Diary of Anne Frank)
  2. Leadership
  3. Editorial Analysis
  4. 1960s Study Unit
  5. Careers Study Unit
  6. Various Novels Study Units
  7. Historical Fiction Study Unit


Science

Students this year will explore topics in science including Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science and Genetics.  Students will use a variety of resources including Glencoe Science textbooks, as well as materials from the Premier Science curriculum.  As the curriculum progresses, they will master increasing complete tasks.  For example, students will move from directed to open-ended inquiry, and from reading and completing tables and graphs to constructing them from experimental data that they themselves have collected. 

Goals and Objectives:

  1. Students will apply science to real world situations
  2. Students will develop critical thinking and observation skills
  3. Students will learn to communicate effectively
  4. Students will learn to work productively as a team.

Social Science

Eight grade students will be exposed to a broad range of materials and experiences in social science. The basal textbook, The American Nation, takes a chronological approach to American history from early America to 2003 with abundant activities to expose students to our rich heritage. Coupled with the textbook, each student experiences living history through field trips and guest speakers that take the study of American history beyond the textbook.

Goals and Objectives:

    1. Students will know the major events and personalities that helped shape American history.
    2. Students will improve their skills in test-taking, graph reading, map reading, note taking, recognizing cause-and-effect relationships, and applying critical thinks skills to history and current events.
    3. Students will enjoy American history more in June than they did in August!
Major Topics of Study:
  1. Exploration/Colonization 6. The Civil War 11. The Great Depression
  2. The American Revolution 7. American Industry 12. World War II
  3. The Constitutional Era 8. Immigration 13. The Cold War
  4. Jacksonian Democracy 9. The Age of Reform 14. The 1960s
  5. Westward Expansion 10. World War I 15.Major Current Events
Mathematics

Mathematics Goal:

To offer math classes in alignment with the recommendations of the N.C.T.M. (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) for grade eight.

Mathematics Curriculum:

This year students will be studying mathematics from the Connected Mathematics Project. The materials are structured into 4-6 week units. Each unit is focused around problem situations that guide students to related mathematical concepts. The curriculum is structured so as to help the students communicate their strategies and reasoning in order to deepen their mathematical understanding.

The curriculum is a series of investigations designed to teach algebra up to linear concepts of slope.
 
  The five instructional themes are:

  1. Teaching for understanding
  2. Connections
  3. Mathematical investigations
  4. Representations
  5. Technology
These are compatible with the criteria for teaching and learning mathematics as prescribed by N.C.T.M.

Things you need to know about mathematics:

  1. Homework should be done conscientiously. There is a 50% penalty for late work.
  2. Math is not a spectator sport.
  3. Help is available before school and after school.
  4. The TI-83 Plus graphing calculator is meant to be used for math homework and not as a game station.
  5. There are calculators available for classroom work.
  6. The instructor will make high school recommendations for each student into one of the following courses: