The focus of the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards for English language Arts is to prepare students to be college and career ready. The English curriculum includes five major strands: reading, writing, listening, speaking and language standards. Students will read short stories, novels, plays, poetry, and non-fiction texts. Emphasis is placed on finding meaning in text through close analysis and research. Each student is expected to read in class and at home. Reading selections often become the basis for writing tasks. All students will write arguments, informational/explanatory texts, and narratives. Students practice the writing process, which includes pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Eighth grade students will be working on verb function, voice, and mood, as well as on vocabulary, spelling, connotations, capitalization, and figures of speech. Regularly assigned homework enables students to review their learning and prepare themselves for high school expectations.

Students in this course demonstrate performance and interest in reading and writing that is above grade-level. They must have exceptional analytical and inferential critical thinking skills. The course requires students to read and analyze higher level and more complex texts when compared to our regular program. Student self-motivation serves as an asset as students engage in in-depth, independent and group assignments. It is recommended that students maintain a course average of a B or higher. The seventh- and eighth-grade enriched program is designed to help students successfully transition to Honors classes in high school.

Social Studies 8 follows the New York State Social Studies Framework for Instruction and is part two of a two-year course on the history of the United States. The two-year sequence refers to the histories of New York and the United States as they relate to units of study. In addition to increased content knowledge of the people, places and events in American history, instruction will continue to focus on the ability to communicate accurately, make appropriate decisions, initiate action, use critical thinking skills, understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and work cooperatively with others.

The curriculum embeds the New York State Next Generation Standards for Literacy and expects students to read and write at high levels. Students will participate in the following units of study:

• Unit One: Civil War & Reconstruction
• Unit Two: Changing Society
• Unit Three: Foreign Policy
• Unit Four: Roaring Twenties and The Great Depression
• Unit Five: World War II
• Unit Six: Cold War
• Unit Seven: The Civil Rights Movement
• Unit Eight: Modern Issues

Students selected for this course demonstrate above grade level performance and interest in the content as well as skills associated with social studies. An increase in academic expectations including homework, outside reading, and more complex writing assignments are part of this curriculum. Students must possess proficient critical thinking skills, such as inferential analysis, and making connections well beyond a literal level. A high level of independent learning is required. It is recommended that students maintain a course average of a B or higher.

The New York State of Civic Readiness (NYSSCR) is a formal recognition that a student has attained a high level of proficiency in their Social Studies coursework and demonstrated civic engagement. Having this special designation on a transcript and diploma signifies the following demonstrated domains: civic knowledge, skills/actions, mindsets, and experiences. Any student who is interested in going beyond the standard curriculum in civic education can apply. High school counselors and social studies teachers will assist students who are eligible to apply for the NYSSCR once they have completed the Global History and Geography course and passed that Regents. In addition to graduation requirements in Social Studies, students have a choice of completing more in-depth studies and civic engagement to meet requirements.

This course will focus upon the study of the US Government and Active Citizenship. Throughout the year, we will work towards the completion of the Middle School Civil Capstone Project. This final performance task will help students earn a point towards the Seal of Civic Readiness recognition upon graduation. Our units of study include: y Foundations of US Government y Civic Learning y Civic Readiness y Civic Engagement Not only will we be studying the role of an active citizen within the US, but we will also study current events, people, and places. While this course is centered around citizenship, it will also concentrate on developing student analytical and writing skills. Throughout the year we will be learning in many different formats to help students be the most successful.

The curriculum for all eighth-grade students is aligned with the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards for math. Instructional time will focus on three critical areas:

1. formulating and reasoning about expressions and equations, including modeling an association in bivariate data with a linear equation, and solving linear equations and systems of linear equation;
2. grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships; and
3. analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, similarity, and congruence.

The following concepts are taught:

• the number system
• equations and expressions
• functions
• geometry
• statistics and probability

This course is the first of the high school sequence for mathematics and is taught using the Next Generation Learning Standards for Math. Students will prepare for the Algebra IR exam which is required for graduation and will be taken in June of their eighth-grade year. Topics include: Writing and Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities, Linear Functions, Graphing and Solving Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities, Exponents, Polynomials, Quadratic Functions, Irrational Numbers, and Statistics. A successful completion of this course offers one high school credit.

*Prerequisite: Successful completion of Accelerated Math in grade 7. It is recommended that students maintain a course average of a B or higher.

The areas of study in eighth-grade science include a combination of living environment plus physical setting concepts. Students will explore: cell division; reproduction and development; heredity; evolution; density; forces and motion and heat energy. In June, students must take the Intermediate Level Science Test which is based on NYS learning standards in Science that are taught in grades 6-8. These are four state mandated laboratory investigations in grades 6-8 that will be assessed on this test as well.

The course includes state mandated laboratory-based units of study. Some of the units include information on the earth’s structure, forces and energy, effects of the earth’s motions and the earth’s place in space. The course also includes the study of the earth’s dynamics, natural disasters, weather, rock formation and erosion and development of landscapes, as well as how changes impact humans and the environment. New York State requires successful completion of a minimum of 1200 laboratory minutes to take the Regents examination. The Regents exam consists of a written and performance component.

*Prerequisite: Successful completion of Accelerated Science in grade 7. It is recommended that students in the Earth Science class maintain a course average of a B or higher.

The physical education program is aligned with the New York State Learning Standards in Physical Education. Students participate in a variety of individual and team activities in a co-educational setting. Individual lifetime activities such as ping-pong, yoga, tennis, weight training, and bicycling are introduced. Students participate in modified lead-up team activities in soccer, football, basketball, floor hockey, volleyball and softball.

Through participation in these physical education activities students will:

• acquire the basic knowledge and fundamental skills necessary to participate in a variety of healthy activities;
• understand and appreciate the benefits of maintaining a healthful lifestyle;
• understand how to evaluate and access resources in their community to pursue a healthy and active life;
• demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior through physical activity; and
• increase their understanding and acceptance of differences among people.

Fitnessgram is a comprehensive educational, reporting tool used to assess physical fitness and physical activity levels for children. This assessment is performed in the fall and spring of each year. It measures and evaluates four health related fitness areas that include the student’s cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance.

World Language instruction takes place over the course of two years (grades 7-8). Instruction is based upon the combination of four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are provided the opportunity to learn a second language and to study the culture of that language. Modern Language instruction (French, Italian and Spanish) includes topics outlined in the New York State Learning Standards. Some examples of these topics are health and wellness, community, travel, earning a living and shopping. Because Latin is a classical language, the focus will be primarily on reading, writing and listening. Topics will include ancient Roman history, culture & daily life, Greco-Roman mythology, education and architecture. . At the culmination of the two-year program (Courses 1A and 1B), students will take a local examination and can earn high school credit towards a Regents diploma. This credit satisfies the minimum high school requirement for World Language. To be successful, a student must earn a grade of 65% or above on the examination and pass the course for the two years (grades 7-8). The languages offered in grade 8 are as follows (based on enrollment):

French 1B

Italian 1B

Latin 1B

Spanish 1B