MATH

Grade 7
Text: PRE - ALGEBRA, Prentice Hall California Edition, 2001
Textbook supplemented with a practice workbook, problem solving puzzles and games, cooperative learning, and writing to develop communication skills.
Assignments - must be completed on time.
Absence - Students must discuss missing class and home assignments with the teacher
Homework - Students will be told the number of points to be given for individual homework assignments. Points will be awarded for completion of the work as assigned.

Course of study:
Review - Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of decimals, and fractions in preparation for the S.A.T. test.
Geometry - elementary concepts of plane geometry
Pre-Algebra - Basic concepts, equations and variables, evaluating expressions, solving one-step equations and inequalities, graphing equations and inequalities, rational numbers, using exponents.
Percents - Basic concepts, practical applications.
Integers - Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of positive and negative numbers, graphing on a coordinate plane.
Ratio and Proportion - introduce concepts of ratio, rate, and proportion, some practical applications.
Statistics - Introduce statistical terms, various simple graphs interpreted.

Grade 8
Text: ALGEBRA, Prentice Hall California Edition
Textbook supplemented with a practice workbook, problem solving activities, puzzles, games, cooperative learning, and writing to develop communication skills.
Assignments - must be completed on time
Absence - Students must discuss missing class and home assignments with the teacher.
Homework - Students will be told the number of points to be given to individual homework assignments. Points will be awarded for completion of the work as assigned.

Course of study:
Review - Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of decimals and fractions, percent, integers, and rational numbers in preparation for the S.A.T. test.
Algebra
The course of study includes the following topics: Introduction to Algebra; Integers and Rational Numbers; Equations; Inequalities; Exponents and Polynomials; Polynomials and Factoring; Graphs and Linear Equations; Systems of Equations; Inequalities and Absolute Values; Rational Expressions and Equations; Radical Expressions and Equations; Relations and Functions; Quadratic Equations.

READING

Grade 7
Text: Prentice Hall Literature, Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes
The following novels are part of the 7th Grade course of study:

A WRINKLE IN TIME - By Madeline L'Engle
DRAGONWINGS - By Laurence Yep
THE OUTSIDERS - By S.E. Hinton
OLD YELLER - By Fred Gipson (Early American Frontier Unit)
THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE- By Karen Cushman (Medieval Unit-personal choice)
THE DOOR IN THE WALL - By Marguerite de Angeli (Medieval Unit)
NUMBER THE STARS - By Lois Lowry (World War II Unit)

Each student is responsible for providing their own copy of these books.

Grade 8
Novels: The eighth grade reading program uses young adult quality literature as a catalyst for teaching the skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing, literary analysis and good thinking. By concentrating on a single full length work of fiction students learn these skills in an integrated way.

The following books are part of the 8th Grade course of study:

WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS - By Wilson Rawls
THE PIGMAN - By Paul Zindel
THE PIGMAN�??S LEGACY - By Paul Zindel
THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND - By Elizabeth George Speare
JOHNNY TREMAIN - By Esther Forbes
THE SLAVE DANCER - By Paula Fox
(A personal choice book from the Civil War period.)
ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY - By Mildred D. Taylor
LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN - By Mildred D. Taylor
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK - By Anne Frank

Each student is responsible for providing their own copy of these books.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Grade 7
Text: World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times, McDougal-Littel, 2006

Students will study the following:

The Tools of History
The Expansion and Fall of Rome
The Beginnings of Islam and the Rise of Muslim States
West, Central, and Southern Africa
Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia
Feudal & Medieval Europe and the Ottoman Empire
Meso-American Civilizations

Some topics will be integrated with the reading, and/or English, and/or math programs in an attempt to provide a unified view of human beings in their intellectual, artistic, social, political, economic, cultural and religious endeavors throughout the ages.

Students will also be asked to produce work in a variety of formats. For example, art and group presentations are a large component of the program. Additionally, alternative assessments are incorporated to offer all learners the opportunity to succeed. Students will be asked to show their mastery of material covered through formal assessments as well as paired, group, and individual performances. These assessments may take place in the form of oral, artwork, demonstrations and very frequently by linking the historical context of the material to contemporary issues in the world.

Grade 8
Text : Creating America: A History of the United States (Beginnings Through WWI), McDougal Littell, 2006
***Students will also receive the textbook in the form of a CD-ROM.***

Students will study the following aspects of American History:
The Landscape of America
The World in 1500 and European Exploration of the Americas
The English Establish 13 Colonies
Beginnings of American Identity
The American Revolution
The Constitution
The Early Republic and a Changing Nation
The Civil War and Reconstruction
Changes in American Life (1860-1914)
World War I and Becoming a World Power

Some topics will be integrated with the reading, and/or English, and/or math programs in an attempt to provide a unified view of human beings in their intellectual, artistic, social, political, economic, cultural and religious endeavors throughout the ages.

Students will also be asked to produce work in a variety of formats. For example, art and group presentations are a large component of the program. Additionally, alternative assessments are incorporated to offer all learners the opportunity to succeed. Students will be asked to show their mastery of material covered through formal assessments as well as paired, group, and individual performances. These assessments may take place in the form of oral, artwork, demonstrations and very frequently by linking the historical context of the material to contemporary issues in the world.

Some topics will be integrated with the reading, and/or English, and/or math programs in an attempt to provide a unified view of human beings and their intellectual, artistic, social, political, economic, cultural and religious endeavors throughout the ages.

ENGLISH

GRADE 7 AND 8
Texts: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN ENGLISH, Level 7 and Level 8, Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company
Workbooks : WORKBOOK PLUS (component of th e series)

Subject matter : Junior High English is a two - year program which works to the benefit of both students and teacher. The 7th and 8th grade programs have a similar framework but different emphasis. Throughout the two years we use a four - pronged approach.

A. Vocabulary -
-10 new words introduced weekly to be defined, used in context, and studied in preparation for a weekly vocabulary quiz.
-7th grade has 330 - 350 new words.
-8th grade has 330 - 350 new words plus the challenge to join an accelerated group handling thirty extra words per two week period.
B. Grammar -
-Review and build on knowledge of parts of speech, sentence structure, punctuation, and capitalization.
C. Writing -
- Emphasis in 7th grade on development of a paragraph : finding a focus, composing a topic statement, and selecting supporting details, reasons, or opinion.
- Letter writing : friendly and business.
- Emphasis in 8th grade on the longer composition and its organization and development.
- Use of figurative language : simile, metaphor, personification, etc.
D. Poetry -
- Exposure to different types of poetry.
- Discuss and write brief paragraphs of several poets.
- Memorize and recite selected poems.
- Create individual poems

SPELLING: TEXT : SPELLING ; Scott Foresman. Level 7 (Grade 7), Level 8 (Grade 8)

Weekly :
- Assigned spelling lesson to be completed.
- Test will be given on words from current unit, including bonus and challenge words. Words from previous units may be included at teacher�??s discretion.
Periodically :
- After every five units a review test will be given.
- Work done in text will be checked and graded.
- Spelling contracts may be assigned.
Final spelling grade will be based on results of weekly unit tests, review tests, grade earned for work in text, and any other appropriate and related assignments.

Religion

Grade 7
Text : THIS IS OUR FAITH, Grade 7; Silver Burdett Ginn
Supplements : The Bible, various prayers, books, magazines, newspapers, articles, pamphlets, and activities that relate to the course of studies.
Subject Matter : The theme of Grade 7 is Jesus. Students study the life, values, and teachings
of Jesus and are challenged to live a Christian lifestyle. In keeping with the general theme, Jesus Christ, the students should advance their knowledge and understanding of God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, the Seven Sacraments, the Church, morality, the Bible, prayers and precepts, religious vocabulary words, seasons of the Church, and holy day/celebrations of the Church.
The 7th Grade Prayer Program is designed so that the student learns the assigned prayers and participates in a variety of prayerful experiences. It is also hoped that both parent and child will share in the experiences and find them meaningful. The students will be responsible for planning and taking part in the Liturgy for a school Mass. The students may be asked to participate in various other Church/Parish/School liturgical celebrations.

Grade 8
Texts: THIS IS OUR FAITH ; Parsippany, New Jersey ; Silver Burdett Ginn ; and GIVER OF LIFE (Confirmation preparation) ; St. Paul, MN; Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

Participation in class discussions will count heavily for the grade.

Subject Matter: Students will be encouraged to see how their own lives reflect the beliefs and commitment of the Church community by participating in the worshiping life of the Church through personal prayer, Mass, the Sacraments, and living a Christian way of life. Students will learn that Jesus calls His followers to live lives of compassion, care, and concern for their fellow human beings - particularly those in need.

CONFIRMATION :
Subject Matter : In preparation for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation, students will discover more about themselves and learn more about the challenges and joys of being a mature Christian.
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred in the Spring. In preparation for the reception of the Sacrament, ALL students - and their families - are asked to take an active role in the program, which will include:
- a minimum of 24 hours of volunteer service to be done by each student at a variety of agencies ;
- participation in a two - day retreat at McGucken Center ;
- attendance at a Confirmation Pot-Luck Dinner Meeting
-meeting for parents, students, and sponsors ;
- AN AWARENESS THAT YOU, THE PARENTS, ARE THE PRIMARY TEACHERS AND ROLE MODELS FOR OUR STUDENTS!

FAMILY LIFE

Grade 7
Text : Benziger Family Life Program, Grade 7 ; Glencoe Publishing

Subject Matter: The basic theme of the text is the integration and development of the personality. It shows the importance of external influences on the students as he or she grows in body, mind, and emotion.
FAMILY LIFE stresses the need to know as much as possible about the values and principles which govern behavior. It helps the student see his or her personal development in the context of a family.

*The students will examine their changing roles in the family unit and see how their relationships with parents, brothers, and sisters are growing.
*The students will expand their sense of self - identity by examining their values and choices.
*The students will look at some contemporary social dangers to life and learn to make value decisions about them based on Christian principles.
*The students will learn about their developing sexual feelings and will learn p rinciples on which to build their relationships with members of the opposite sex.
*The students will deepen their awareness of the needs and rights of others in society.

Grade 8
Text : Benziger Family Life Program, Grade 8, Glencoe/McGraw Hill, 2001

Subject Matter : The study this year will include the following :

*Family Values - how they will help students form families of their own ;
*Personal Growth - students review their personal growth, look at how to express and manage their feelings
*Respect for Life - examine specific problems: violence, abortion, endangering life, care for the environment
*Christian Sexuality - Catholic principles, dating and deeper relationships, the role of sexuality in Christian marriage ;
*Social Living - review their responsibility to contribute to the world in which they live, the Christian mission, responsibility.