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Grade 8

Course Title:
Religion

Faculty Name:  Mrs. J. Mueller

Textbook:  We Live Our Faith

Publisher:  Sadlier

Copyright: 2007

Website:  www.weliveourfaith.com

 Explain the Apostles’ Creed/Nicene Creed

  • Define faith as a supernatural gift received through free cooperation with God’s grace
  • Examine the sources and beliefs of the other religions and ascertain what the Catholic Church teaches about other religions
  • Internalize the truth that God’s deepest self is revealed in Jesus Christ
  • Analyze the characteristics of faith   
  • Recognize God as eternal, almighty, all-knowing, and all-present  
  • Reexamine the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity as the central teaching of the Christian religion
  • Elaborate on the Church’s teaching about evolution and other matters of science and faith
  • Explore the effects of original sin
  • Compare historical records that support the existence of Jesus
  • Present Jesus as a historical person
  • Explore the relationship between the Holy Spirit and Jesus
  • Understand the meaning of advocate and paraclete
  • Examine other New Testament images of the Church
  • List and distinguish the four marks of the Church
  • Analyze the ways bishops succeed the apostles in their office of teaching, governing, and sanctifying in the name of Christ
  • Recognize that our human struggle to make good moral choices is based on Gospel principles and a well-informed conscience
  • Generate a decision-making process for confronting moral dilemmas
  • Explain the basic rights of all people
  • Analyze some global and local social injustices e.g. hunger, poverty, discrimination, sexism, war and violence
  • Portray the concern for the well-being of others by practicing the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy
  • Evaluate the dignity of human life in the midst of social abuses, medical practices, and scientific practice
      

Teaching Strategies Used

 

·        Large group instruction

·        Small group instruction

·        Oral presentations

·        Class discussions

·        Prayer services

·        Guest speakers

o       Priests

o       Youth testimony

·        Written responses to questions

·        Quizzes

·        Tests

Special Features

·        Confirmation service projects

·        Patron saint research

·        Participation at parish festival  (at the end of August)

·        Participation at parish fish fry (during Lent)

·        Patron Saint report

·        Church “Buddy” program with kindergarten

·        Individual participation at Mass as altar servers, lectors, commentators

 Evaluations 

·        Class participation

·        Class work

·        Quizzes

·        Chapter tests

·        Patron saint reports

 

 


Course Title:
Literature

 

Faculty Name:  Mrs. J. Mueller

Course: Literature 8

Textbook:  Elements of Literature, Second Course

Publisher:  Holt, Rinehart, and Winston

Copyright: 2007

Website:  http://my.hrw.com (textbook log-in address; password needed)

 

 

Significant Curriculum Guidelines
Students will:
• recognize methods of characterization (first person, point of view, action, dialogue and description) while applying criteria for judging character
• identify and analyze the formal elements of a short story form
• recognize and explain examples of allusions in given selections
• illustrate irony, satire, allegory, onomatopoeia, imagery, hyperbole, personification, and plot
• critically evaluate the viewpoint, bias, and/or objectivity of a given news article, editorial, or other written work
• determine the validity of inferences evaluating them as probably true, probably false, or uncertain
• identify figures of speech (simile, metaphor, and idiom)
• explain the mood, tone, and themes of a given selection
• identify and evaluate point of view
• read, interpret, and discuss a play


Teaching Strategies Used
• Large group instruction
• Small group instruction
• Oral presentations
• Class discussions
• Written responses
• Quizzes
• Tests
• Internet activities
• Guided reading
• Annotating text strategies
• Daily language activities
• Guided reading of novels with critical evaluation

Special Features
*Accommodations for gifted learners
• Close reading
• Literary/discussion circles
• Additional vocabulary study

*Accommodations for struggling readers
• Adaptations of selected reading selections
• Additional instruction and practice in remedial reading skills and strategies

 

  • Standardized test preparation
  • Independent reading
  • Oral interpretation of literature


Evaluations
• Diagnostic assessment tools
• Class participation
• Class work
• Quizzes
• Chapter tests
• Summative tests for each unit
• End of the year test for cumulative assessment opportunities
• Book reports and summaries


Other descriptions

Students are encouraged to use the Holt, Rinehart and Winston website as well as other literature-oriented sites for supplemental materials that will enhance their reading experiences.


Course Title:
English

Faculty Name:  Mrs. J. Mueller

Course:  English 8

Textbook:  Elements of Writing

Publisher:  Holt, Rinehart, Wilson               

Copyright:  1998       

Website:  http://hrw.com

 

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

·        Recite the rules for correct grammar and usage in sentences

·        Apply the rules for correct grammar and usage in various writing assignments

·        Write a summary of a story

·        Write a character analysis

·        Write an informative report

·        Write a personal narrative and then evaluate peer narratives

·        Sort notes taken from research materials into a logical arrangement

·        Write a two-paragraph composition treating both sides of a controversial question

·        Make necessary revisions in given sentences in which the structures are not appropriately parallel

·        Write and present a multimedia poetry performance

 

Teaching Strategies Used

·        Large group instruction

·        Small group instruction

·        Homework

·        Diagramming/Smart Board/Internet  class work

·        Daily proofreading exercises

·        Written responses

·        Quizzes

·        Tests

 

Special Features

·        Participation in the Diocesan Writing Assessment

·        Participation in various Diocesan-sponsored writing contests

·        Publication of writing in and outside of class  (outside of class publication is contingent upon student interest)

·        Multi-media poetry performance  (contingent upon class interest/ability)

·        Preparation for standardized test

 

Evaluations

·        Class participation

·        Class work

·        Quizzes

·        Chapter tests

·        Writing assignments both in English class and literature class

 

Other descriptions

 

Students are encouraged to use the Holt, Rinehart and Winston website as well as other grammar/writing sites for supplemental materials to enhance classroom information.


Course Title:
Math

Faculty Name: Mrs. Brungo and Mrs. Kalish

Course Title:  Accelerated Algebra 8 and Algebra 8

Textbook:  Prentice-Hall Mathematics:  Algebra

Publisher:  Prentice Hall

Copyright:  2004

Workbook:  Prentice-Hall Mathematics:  Algebra Practice Workbook

Publisher:  Prentice Hall

Copyright:  2004

Website:  www.PHSchool.com

 

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

  • Utilize the rules of the order of operations
  • Identify and apply mathematical properties to justify solutions
  • Understand properties of different types of functions
  • Identify and interpret functions by analyzing data
  • Understand and utilize polynomials
  • Apply knowledge of solutions and graphing of linear equations with one or more variables
  • Apply knowledge of solutions and graphing of linear inequalities
  • Demonstrate the calculation of rates of change using slopes and lines
  • Utilize operations with positive, negative and zero exponents
  • Solve quadratic equations and square roots
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of factoring of binomials and trinomials
  • Use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships
  • Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate methods to solve problems
  • Solve real-world problems by creating a mathematical model

Teaching Strategies used

  • Large group instruction
  • Practice by example
  • Board work
  • Small group instruction
  • Individual class work
  • Daily homework
  • Reviews
  • Computation skills for speed and accuracy
  • Standardized test preparation
  • Skills practice utilizing the internet
  • Problem solving discussions
  • Question and answer sessions
  • Quizzes
  • Tests

Special Features

  • Assess mastery and diagnose weaknesses before, during, and after each concept
  • Challenge abilities with both speed of instruction and problem solving of varying difficulty
  • Emphasize vocabulary used in Algebra
  • Prepare students for high school mathematics
  • Tutoring available on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Evaluations

  • Periodic grading of homework
  • Class work
  • Internet assignments
  • Quizzes
  • Tests

Other Descriptions

  • Accelerated Algebra moves through the concepts at a faster pace than Algebra

 


Course Title:
Science

Faculty Name:  Charlotte Leibach

Textbook: Physical Science and Science Plus Supplemental Text

Publisher: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston

Copywrite: 2007

Website: Go.hrw.com and  www.scilinks.org

 

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

·        Demonstrate an understanding of the property and states of matter

·        Identify symbols and correct formulas in chemistry

·        Display knowledge of the periodic table, chemical bonding and chemical reactions

·        Explain factors related to force and motion

·        Complete activities related to work, machines, and energy

·        Explore electricity waves, sound, and light

·        Complete a project related to scientific method

·        Review of concepts mastered in grades six and seven

 

 

Teaching Strategies Used

Students will:

·        Attend lectures, small group assignments

·        Cooperative learning groups

·        Note taking, group projects and evaluations

 

 

Special Features

Students will:

·        Conduct experiments, record data, prepare charts and graphs interpretations and findings presented in written and oral form

·        Special projects completed for display to demonstrate an understanding of the lesson

 

Evaluations

Classroom participation, completion of assignments and projects, quizzes and tests

 

 

Other descriptions

·        Review of biological science concepts such as the cell, heredity factors, reproduction and human body systems

·        Review of main concepts from sixth and seventh grade

·        Participation in an assigned project or Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science

St. Teresa of Avila School
800 Avila Court
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone: 412-367-9001
Fax:  412-364-1172

For additional information, please e-mail us at info@saintteresas.org



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