Religion The Liturgy and Morality strand of Faith First is the basis for eighth grade religion class. Eighth graders study the doctrine, traditions, and history of the Catholic Church through the Archdiocesan curriculum. The text is supplemented with the "Little Kids Bible" project (making scripture come alive for their kindergarten buddies), through student led discussions related to Catholic Social Teaching, and age appropriate stewardship based service projects. Download a list of prayers that our 8th graders are required to learn.

Literature Literature by Holt McDougal seamlessly weaves the Common Core Standards for reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language into a relevant, engaging course of study utilizing age-apporpriate fiction and informational text for eighth graders. Students are challenged to think critically and independently, write persuasively while backing up their writing with sound evidence, write creatively, and use language intentionally to express their thinking. This text increases the complexity of the tasks begun in sixth and seventh grades, and prepares students for a successful transition to high school and beyond. Accelerated Reader (Reading Renaissance) The Accelerated Reader program uses computer based testing to check students' comprehension of story lines and vocabulary. This program is used to assess both students' ability to read longer works and to assess their vocabulary growth. The books students read are "leveled" by the authors of this program and the levels are generally reflective of the length of book, the complexity of the vocabulary, and the length of sentences.

English Writer's Choice (Glencoe/McGraw Hill) This book combines the fundamentals of English grammar with various modes of writing. The writing process is taught as are descriptive, narrative, and persuasive writing. The test is supplemented with selected lessons utilizing the Six Traits of Writing. Vocabulary Workshop (Sadlier-Oxford) This systematic approach to vocabulary focuses on the words themselves, their meaning (both literal and figurative), their ranges of application (or usage), and their relationship to other words. The program is designed to provide students with the vocabulary skills they will need in order to achieve higher-level reading proficiency and to succeed at standardized tests. Step Up to Writing (Maureen E. Auman) This approach uses existing curriculum to teach students writing skills in the context of their content areas. They learn how to write summaries, paragraphs and essays with multiple types of topic sentences. Students also learn how to write speeches, take notes, write stories and work on reading and listening strategies.

Science Full Option Science System (FOSS) Delta Education The Full Option Science System springs from a philosophy of learning at the Lawrence Hall of Science that has guided the development of successful active-learning science curricula for more than 25 years. The FOSS developers are dedicated to the proposition that students learn science best by doing science. Teachers and students do science together when they open the FOSS kits, engaging in enduring experiences that lead to deeper understanding of the natural world (delta-education.com). The eighth grade modules include Weather and Water (Earth Science), Forces and Motion (Physical Science), and Population and Ecosystems (Life Science). Labs are an important part of our science classes. This year we are each keeping a science lab notebook. The eighth grade is the third year for science fair. The Textbooks used with this course are Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science (Glencoe)

Math Algebra Structures and Method (Houghton Mifflin) This course explores the following math topics: variables and equations, working with real numbers, solving equations with one variable, add/subtract/multiply/divide polynomials, factoring perfect squares, factoring difference of two squares, factoring square of a binomials, factoring patterns, factoring by grouping, factoring to solve equations, proportions, add/subtract/multiply/divide algebraic fractions, quadratic functions, solving equations in two variables, graphing ordered pairs, slopes, graphing linear equations, graphing inequalities, square roots, and add/subtract/multiply/divide radicals.

U.S. History The American Journey, National Geographic Society This class begins with the early people of the Americas. We continue to colonial settlements and through the civil war and reconstruction, as well as World War I and II. We continue to integrate the social and economic diversities that have made the USA what it is today. Current events pertinent to the United States are also discussed.

Physical Education The Middle School curriculum emphasizes the concepts of physical fitness: strength, flexibility, and endurance. Sports skills are practiced and developed along with the concepts of teamwork and sportsmanship. Middle School girls may participate in the school team sports of volleyball, basketball and track, while team options for boys are flag football, basketball, and track. Physical education is an integral part of the total education program. Through the enhancement of individual skills, as well as learning to be part of a team, students are given opportunities to increase self-esteem and to view exercise as an important component of a healthy lifestyle.

Specialists Students in 6-8th grades have specialist class options that include computers, art, study hall, band, and yearbook/video production.