Outline of Course Work:

RELIGION: Ms. Jackson

Emphasis is on creating spiritually grounded students who engage their faith.

Prayer and scripture, peace and social justice issues, (Church) history, works of mercy, and the Sacraments form the core curriculum.

8th grade text - Faith First: Creed and Prayer - RCL (2001)

Objective: Our goals are to build strong self-awareness and to develop personal spirituality. Through the study of the Holy Scriptures, dialogue with Fr. Leo Edgerly, Jr., and acquaintance with other spiritual traditions, we will explore the blessings of faith.

Activities: Song/poetry analysis Community service

Portraits Prayer experiences

Journal writing School leadership exercises

Scripture study Learning Centers

2ND STEP PROGRAM: This is a program teaching children skills to resolve conflict in their lives. It is a series of steps taught once a month as part of the curriculum.

FAMILY LIFE PROGRAM: Growing in Love - Harcourt Religion Publishers 2001

The "Family Life Program" is taught in conjunction with our regular religion program. The focus is on human sexuality. The following themes are stressed: the human person is unique; we are sexual beings; we are responsible for our actions. Parents will be asked to initial a form (inserted in the text) to assure parent involvement.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Mrs. Stewart

8th Grade: American History & Cultures 1700's - present

"A More Perfect Union" Houghton Mifflin (1991)

"New Headline World Atlas" Hammond (2000)

Issues of Junior Scholastic periodical

Objective: Our goal is to gain a sense of historical times, and how they affect us today, and how we can work to further human rights. Realizing that America is a richly complex society, we also immerse ourselves in understanding and celebrating cultural diversity and understanding the many traditions that form American culture. We also incorporate the study of geography and geohistory.

Activities: Learning Centers Team Research Questions

Role Playing Guest Speakers

Current Events Board & Presentations Art Projects

Debates Student Newscasts

Video Research Projects

ENGLISH: Ms. Cummings

Students will continue their journey in becoming an effective communicator. Besides grammar review, students will study sentence structure, developing paragraphs, spelling, vocabulary, and writing. They will learn to articulate written and spoken ideas intelligently and effectively.

8th grade text - Write Source 2000 Houghton Mifflin (1999)

Houghton Mifflin (1990)

Houghton Mifflin Spelling & Vocabulary (2004)

Objective: Our goal is to be aware of the history, structure, and usage of the English language. Our journey takes us on a close examination of the power and wealth of language.

Activities: Vocabulary quizzes

Journalism

Essays: expository, persuasive, descriptive

Poetry

Screenplays/Film analysis

Formal oral presentations

Latin & Greek root studies

Learning Centers

MATH: Mrs. Twomey and Mr. Testo

Objectives:

o To understand the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using integers.

o To understand the rules for the order of operations with algebraic expressions.

o To understand the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division involving equations, word problems, and inequalities.

o To understand how to graph equations and inequalities.

o To understand the process of factoring.

o To understand how to simplify and combine rational expressions.

o

Rules for Algebra I classes

o Pencils or erasable pens should be used for all math work.

o Most of the math work is to be done in the math notebook.

o Math vocabulary, definitions, and formulas will be noted and kept together in a separate section of the math notebook.

o There will be a number of "pop quizzes" to check progress and preparedness.

o Each chapter covered will be tested

Math Groups:

There will be two groups of algebra instruction for the purpose of meeting individual needs. Both groups will receive algebra instruction. The difference between the two groups will simply be pacing. The original group will walk through the current algebra book with additional reinforcement of basic math skills as needed. This class will be taught by Mrs. Twomey, who has an understanding of different learning styles as applied to math. The second group (taught by Mr. Testo) will be pulled out 2 or 3 times a week to work solely on algebra skills at an accelerated pace. On the days of whole class instruction, students will be reinforcing algebra skills in (or from) their small groups. In addition, they will be working on some basic math skills such as problem solving - in an entire group instruction setting.

These students in the accelerated group, must pass a stiff criteria. They are as follows:

an understanding of the concepts; awareness of logical thinking skills; the ability to move quickly and independently through work; the ability to be self-motivated; and the ability to easily retain the algebra steps. They must have earned a high grade in 7th grade math and be working at an accelerated level in 8th grade. Homework must have been handed in consistently. There must be a desire on the part of the student and parent.

Ms. Murphy, Mrs. Twomey and Mr. Testo will make the decision. Mr. Testo is a California credentialed high school algebra teacher. He has worked in education for 30 years and has taught this program at Corpus Christi previously.

SCIENCE: Ms. Jackson

Holt, 2007

The Science Program is based on the Constructivist Learning Model. With this approach, students "construct" an understanding of concepts step-by-step beginning by identifying what they already know about a topic. The students do hands-on activities and reading to experience the subject matter directly. These experiences cause them to amend, add to, or scrap the mental model they already have of the subject in question.

Objectives:

o Understanding of important science concepts, processes, and ideas.

o Use of higher order thinking skills.

o Ability to solve problems and apply scientific principles.

o Commitment to environmental protection.

o Interest in independent study of scientific topics.

o Social skills.

o Communication skills.

In addition 8th graders:

o Will keep a journal which will be an ongoing record of students' learning.

o Will experience many explorations per chapter.

o Will visit the fully equipped science lab once a week for a full period laboratory experiment.

o Will be responsible for researching and reporting on a science topic.

o Will participate in the Corpus Christi Science Fair and become actively involved in preparation.

o Will understand fully the Scientific Method and be able to apply to all experimentation (short lab exploration and once a week labs).

LITERATURE: Mrs. Cummings

In the Eighth grade we are using a literature-based program. Emphasis will be on analyzing the four main elements of literature: plot, character, setting and theme. The class will be using a literature anthology by Prentice Hall, which includes short stories, poetry, non-fiction, etc. The majority of the year will be spent reading individual works with the literature book serving as a resource to cover additional concepts. Individual works will cover various genres of literature including mysteries, fantasies, adventures, biographies, etc. Individual works this year are The Westing Game, The Pearl, The Little Prince, A Christmas Carol, Across Five Aprils, Animal Farm, the play version of Diary of Anne Frank, and a biography of their own choosing. The homework and discipline policies of the literature class will follow those of the sixth through eighth grades. This year, the class will be doing more analyzing of literary pieces to delve into meaning, theme, tone and symbolism.

SPANISH: Senora Ruiz

Objective: To continue to prepare students for high school.

To build bridges by respecting and celebrating other cultures.

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HOMEWORK:

Students are required to have a homework assignment book. If homework is not completed, please send a note to excuse student written and signed by the parent. Otherwise, missing or incomplete homework is cause for grade lowering. Copying homework from another student will result in loss of both homework papers and an automatic "F". Consequences are listed above. Homework is graded for neatness and completeness. Homework is evaluated on a point basis. These are averaged and a grade is given each quarter. Some research will need to done at the Public Library or on the Internet. Please help students schedule such times.

TESTS:

Tests are given regularly. It is possible to have more than one test in one day.

FIELD TRIPS:

Depending on driver availability , we will take about 10 field trips during this year. As suggested by our Parents Group, I will divide the yearly trip fee into 2 parts. $50.00 will be due by October 1st, and in January I will reassess the 8th grade account and provide the amount of the second installment. This entire fee provides for all of the activities listed below, plus any other opportunities that may present themselves to the class.Thank you in advance.

DANCES:

Jr. High has four dances throughout the year. Three are held during the school day and one at night. All are held in the school gym . We will need 5 chaperones for the Spring Dance on May 11 from 7-10pm. We ask parents to come into the gym to pick students up at the end of the night dance.

COMMUNICATION:

Weekly newsletters will be available on the school website and sent home at the end of each week. Please check for upcoming events. You may also email me at kjackson@csdo.org at any time. Please check the school Website for additional information: www.corpuschristischool.com.

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