Embedded Files
ELA
ELA
Over the course of the school year students in 8th Grade English Language Arts will study a variety of genres, during which reading, writing, language, listening and speaking skills will be developed and enhanced. Students will read a variety of materials including topics in short fiction, novels, poetry and nonfiction. The continued development of the students’ writing process is present throughout the school year focusing on skills and steps of pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing. In addition, the writing process will take the form of comparing and contrasting, literary analysis and memoir. Through the changing writing assignments students will draw and support conclusions with evidence, make connections with the text, and develop their organizational writing structure.
ELA Course Expectations
Math
Math
In eighth grade, Pre-Algebra students will develop their mathematical thinking and autonomy. Students will continue to build on and increase their understanding of the Real Number System, algebraic and numeric expressions, linear equations, and proportional relationships from grade 7. They will also be introduced to new topics such as linear functions, Pythagorean Theorem, and transformations on the coordinate plane.
The eighth grade Algebra 1 Part 1 student is engaged in a class that is correlated to the high school equivalent. Students are placed in this course based on the successful completion of the 7th grade accelerated class. Students who take eighth grade Algebra 1 Part 1 generally enroll directly into Algebra 1 Part 2 at the high school level. This course explores the following topics: the language of algebra, the Real Number System, solving linear equations and inequalities, relations and functions, and analyzing linear relationships and systems. In addition, students will also learn 8th grade topics that were not covered in the 7th grade accelerated class. Generally, this includes the Pythagorean Theorem, laws of exponents and scientific notation, and finding volume of cylinders, cones and spheres.
Important Math Links:
Big Ideas (online text) Login site:
Science
Science
Eight grade science students will be covering an integrated science curriculum based on the Massachusetts Science and Technology Frameworks (2016) with a focus on “Cause and Effect” that includes exciting topics like genetics & heredity, force & motion, and chemistry!
We will start the year with a discussion about the Engineering Design Cycle and then launched into space (seasons and tides) landed in the oceans (composition, structure, and currents), and is currently exploring our atmosphere with weather & climate! Next up will be our study of genetics & heredity! Be sure to check your science Google Classroom page for daily activities and assignments!
Important Science Links:
iScience (online text) Login site: https://connected.mcgraw-hill.com/connected (student user name given in science class - email Ms. Schulze if you have misplaced this; password: Science8)
Spanish
Spanish
This course is the second of a 1.5 year Spanish program that will enable students to earn the Spanish I credit for high school and move on to Spanish 2 in 9th grade. This class will teach Spanish exactly the same way everyone learned their first language, through a teaching approach called Comprehensible Input. This approach prioritizes the students gaining as much experience in the language (input) as possible.
This approach also requires that the teacher make all of the Spanish comprehensible to the student through context, body language, acting, pointing, drawing, and even just translating the word to English from time to time. Your experience in class will largely consist of listening to and reading texts in Spanish.
Our unique program is designed to meet national standards for foreign language at a novice to intermediate level:
Communication: Students will use the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish.
Cultures: Students will gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures.
Connections: Students will make connections with other subject areas and acquire information.
Comparisons: Students will develop insight into the nature of language and culture by comparing the student’s own language and culture to another.
Communities: Students will participate in communities at home and around the world using Spanish.
Important Spanish Links:
Social Studies
Social Studies
This year we will be studying Civics. Civics is the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizens My hope is that this course will help students become thoughtful and active participants in a democratic society. The class will provide multiple opportunities for discussion, analysis, and debate.
We The People textbook
Academic Support
Academic Support
8th Grade-Team 8-1 - Mrs. Pennington
Math, ELA, Academic Support
Course Outline
Goal: To bring students’ to an awareness of their learning strengths and engage students as active participants in their lifelong pursuit of knowledge.
This class is a specially designed curriculum that meets the goals and objectives of a students’ Individualized Education Plan.
General Curriculum Areas Include:
developing time management skills
building test taking strategies
supporting effective organizational skills
review and reinforcement of general education content
ongoing goal setting, planning and self evaluation
application of beneficial reading and writing strategies
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