8th GRADE – ENGLISH (061/062)

Grade 8: Standard and Advanced

(Year)

Students work towards proficiency in the following D-Y Learning Expectations: communicating appropriately and effectively through reading, writing, listening, and oral presentation. Additionally, students are encouraged to work towards academic independence through self-advocacy. 

Students are exposed to a wide variety of  both independent and community reading experiences. Aligned to the Common Core, the curriculum provides a challenging and rigorous balance of informational and literary texts that increase in complexity over the course of the year. Grade eight texts include: Night, Call of the Wild, The Outsiders, The Pearl, and a sampling of several short stories as well as poetry. Various supplementary materials are presented in multiple modalities to support and provide historical context. Additionally, vocabulary instruction is structured around acquiring both domain specific and academic vocabulary as it relates to complex text. Students will analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats and evaluate the motives behind its presentation.

Writing assessments require students to write for a variety of purposes and audiences. Assignments include Narrative, Argumentative, Opinion, and Expository tasks. Through the use of technology, students will use MLA format to produce organized and clear writing that presents the relationships between information and ideas. Students will work collaboratively with their peers to exercise revision and editing skills. Students will begin learning and practicing the skills necessary to meet vertically aligned benchmarks within the common core.

Students will become familiar with the MCAS exam format through practice testing and teacher-led review of rubrics and exemplars provided by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

COMMUNICATIONS

Grade 8 (051) 

(Quarter)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2 (039)

(Semester) .50 credits

The course's primary goal is to help each student become a more effective speaker and listener. Emphasis will be placed on face-to-face communication skills, the importance of eye contact and body language, and ethical communication practices. The principles of the course are based on the theory of the communication model. Units studied include communication theories, demonstration, argumentation and persuasion, and interview techniques. Written work such as outlines, note-cards, and graphic organizers will accompany units where appropriate. The student will learn to use audio visual components to complement their presentations. Instructional methods will include individual presentations, small and large group discussions, and lectures.

THE GRAPHIC NOVEL (067)

Grades 8

(Quarter)

The two worlds of art and literature have long been known to inspire one another. In this course, students will learn to write and illustrate their own graphic literature while learning about the rich and diverse history of the craft, reading a variety of student-chosen graphic literature, as well as reading, analyzing, and connecting personal experiences with full-length graphic novels.

ANIMATED FILMS AND LITERATURE (018)
Grades 8
(Quarter) 

Have you ever wondered if there is a deeper meaning to some of the classic animated films you watched as a kid? Are you the type of person who likes to ask questions, expose plot holes, or break down how artistic choices impact the overall message of a story? More importantly, would you rather watch Shrek and make a parody comic strip instead of reading books and writing papers? 

In Animated Film & Lit, each unit pairs a movie up with major literary analysis concepts. After learning about the literary devices, you will watch the films as a class, analyze them, and then demonstrate your knowledge by completing a creative project related to the learning goals of that unit. We will also look into other aspects of the films, such as historical and cultural context, music, and art style.

INTRO TO FILM PRODUCTION (054) 

Grades 8 

(Quarter)

FILM PRODUCTION (055)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2

(Semester) .50 credits

Film Production is the study of the ways in which cameras are used to create and convey meaning. Students will be exposed to the materials, processes, and artistic techniques involved in film, television and video. Students learn about the operation of a camera, lighting techniques, camera angles, depth of field, composition, storyboarding, sound capture and editing techniques. Students will practice their ability to express themselves abstractly with the camera and will learn to critically deconstruct various types of media. Teaching methods will include lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on work. Students electing this course should be interested in media and be willing to explore creatively. They also should be able to behave with maturity without immediate direct adult supervision.

COMMUNICATIONS

Grade 8 (051) 

(Quarter)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2 (039)

(Semester) .50 credits

The course's primary goal is to help each student become a more effective speaker and listener. Emphasis will be placed on face-to-face communication skills, the importance of eye contact and body language, and ethical communication practices. The principles of the course are based on the theory of the communication model. Units studied include communication theories, demonstration, argumentation and persuasion, and interview techniques. Written work such as outlines, note-cards, and graphic organizers will accompany units where appropriate. The student will learn to use audio visual components to complement their presentations. Instructional methods will include individual presentations, small and large group discussions, and lectures.

GREEK MYTHOLOGY 

Grades 8 (050) 

(Quarter) 

Grades 9-12: Level 2 and Honors (049/099)

(Semester) .75 credits

Would you like to know why your sneakers are called Nike? This course is designed for students who have an interest in exploring the myths and legends that have shaped the modern world. It will be presumed upon course enrollment that students have basic proficiency in reading, writing and computer skills. Success in the course will be determined by students’ initiative both in and out of class. 

The chief focus of the course will be learning about and appreciating the role mythology plays in reflecting national, regional, and ethnic identities, as well as daily life. We will consider the role of mythology within the groups that perform and use it. Moreover, we will examine the influence of mythology systems on modern western culture. Although brief consideration will be given to the mythological systems of a number of cultures, myths and legends to be considered within the course will primarily include those of ancient Greece. Students should come to understand that these thought systems are both distinct from and interconnected with each other, and that they continue to command an important place in modern society as they replay themselves in modern form. Students will employ skills including reading, note-taking, essay writing, library research, individual presentations, group presentations and analytical thinking throughout the course.