Celebrating Our Learning Community Through Caring, Communication, & Commitment

Welcome to Grade 8...

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…2024 Winter Daytime Open House

Celebrating Our Learning Community Through Caring, Communication, & Commitment

Our Focus for 2023-24:

United:

“Excited to be United” in our work with our students, our families, our school, our community, and most importantly, united in our work with one another.

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Celebrating Our Learning Community Through Caring, Communication, & Commitment

At Saxe: Students want to feel...

Comfortable

Happy

Included

Respected

Safe

Celebrating Our Learning Community Through Caring, Communication, & Commitment

Behavior Expectations, EF, & School Systems

Welcome to the 8^th Grade Purple Team!

• Carianne Pabon – Language Arts
• Jill Sikora– Social Studies
• Valery Brown – Math
• Steve Tomasiewicz – Science
• Dr. Julie Ferreira – Administrator
• School Counselors
• Sarah Beltran
• Brad Lepisto
• Tammy Nettleton

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Homework

• Every night – combination of short and long term assignments.
• Don’t want to overload, but also want to prepare for high school.
• Help is available – students need to speak with their teacher to arrange a time to meet.
• Students need a quiet, distraction-free environment for work.

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Grade 8 Language Arts

Unit 3: Multiple Perspectives

Essential Questions:

1. What is truth?
2. How does learning information through multiple perspectives and genres impact one's understanding of an event?
3. How does one communicate for deep understanding?

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W.I.S.E.R.

Synthesize:

Does my evidence support my response to the research inquiry question?

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-Show your thinking by analyzing your information.

-Extract relevant information to put notes in your own words.

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NoodleTools:

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Informational Text Structures (Process Writing)

Students wrote articles using different informational text structures (Description, Cause/Effect, Compare/Contrast, Problem/Solution, Sequence) and multiple perspectives. Through this process, students were able to evaluate the best structure to present their information.

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Website creation (Final Product)

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Students will be creating websites using GoogleSites or AdobeSpark pages to bring their research writing to life using digital tools and text features (Images, Maps, Charts, Headings etc).

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Unit 4: The Art of Argument

• Students will learn to research and to suspend judgment as they become informed on both sides of an issue.
• They will gather, weigh, evaluate, and incorporate evidence to logically support argument.

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Lastly, students will learn that:

• Effective arguments acknowledge and counter the opposing point of view. This is a major focus in 8th grade

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• Writers sort and organize relevant evidence from different and reliable sources to match their main points.

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• Final assessment is an Argument Essay

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Placement for Honors English:

• Letter sent home
• A student in Honors English should show:

Strong aptitude and readiness in the subject

A proven track record of success

Independent skills in reading and analysis

Individual initiative and the ability to approach course work independently

• Decision based on SBAC, NWEA testing, grades first two quarters, and 8th Grade Unit 2 Writing Sample

**Placement is determined by the high school

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High School Placement

Social Studies

November and December:

1. Expansionism (Unit 2)

* How did America get the land that makes up the U.S. today?

* Did we gain the land justifiably?

* Indian Removal Act

* California's 'Bear Flag' revolt

Math

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• Unit 4 Linear Functions
• Unit 5 Systems of Linear Equations
• Unit 6 Laws of Exponents & Scientific Notation
• Unit 7 Statistics

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Pre-Algebra

Math

Algebra

• Chapter 8 - Exponential Functions
• Chapter 9 – Polynomials & Factoring
• Chapter 10 – Quadratic Functions

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Math

Problem Solving

• targets higher order thinking
• allows students to apply skills
• encourages students to persevere through challenges in mathematics.
• makes connections to the world around us

Vertical White Boards

Video

Math

Problem Solving

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Pre-Algebra

• Mr. Gusitsch has decided to give t-shirts to each student who participates in the walkathon. He received bids for the cost of t-shirts from two different companies. The Mighty-Tee Company charges $24 for the set-up plus $2 per t-shirt. The No-Shrink Tee Company charges $4 per t-shirt. Which company offers the best deal?

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Algebra

• A ski company makes two types of skis and has a fabrication and a finishing department. A pair of downhill skis (x) requires 6 hours to fabricate and 1 hour to finish. A pair of cross-country skis (y) requires 4 hours to fabricate and 1 hour to finish. The fabricating department has 108 hours of labor available per day. The finishing department has 24 hours of labor available per day. The company makes a profit of $40 on each pair of downhill skis and $30 on each pair of cross-country skis. What combination will maximize their profit?

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Pre-Algebra

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Algebra

Math Placements for HS

8^th Grade Algebra

M3 – Geometry

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M2 – Geometry

High school placement is based on teacher “recommendation” which is determined by guidelines set by the high school.

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There is an appeals process if you and your child disagree with the placement.

M2 or M3 – Algebra

8^th Grade Pre-Algebra

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M3 – Algebra I

M2 – Algebra I

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8 Grade Science

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• Pattern Recognition
• Problem Solving
• Multiple Perspectives

Science Themes

Performance Expectations

1. Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
• Disciplinary Core Ideas
• Science & Engineering Practices
• Cross-Cutting Concepts
2. Habits of Success

Unit 1: Life Science (Genetics & Heredity)

• Section 1: DNA
• Structure & function
• Gene Expression
• Section 2: Genetic Diversity
• Mutations
• Recombination
• Sexual reproduction
• Section 3: Genetics & Evolution
• Inheritance Patterns
• Natural Selection
• Adaptations / Speciation

Unit 2: Physical Science (Forces & Motion)

• Section 1: Motion
• Unit Conversions
• Position-Time Graphs
• Velocity-Time Graphs

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Unit 2: Physical Science (Forces & Motion)

• Section 2: Forces
• Vector addition
• Types of Forces
• Newton’s Laws

Unit 3: Earth Science (Seasons & Moon Phases)

• Section 1: Scale of the Solar System
• Planet Size vs Orbit Size

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Unit 2: Earth Science (Seasons & Moon Phases)

• Section 2: Seasons
• Modeling
• Sun-Earth System
• Earth’s Rotation, Revolution and Tilt
• Section 3: Moon Phases
• Earth-Moon System
• Tides
• Gravity

April 8th (Monday) 2024

• Partial Solar Eclipse
• 91.7% eclipsed at 3:26 PM

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April 8th (Monday) 2024

• Totality is a little north

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April 8th (Monday) 2024

• Next opportunity isn’t until 2045

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Transition to

NCHS Science

• Science courses at NCHS include extensive laboratory experiences and investigations
• Minimum of 3 credits required for graduation; 4 credits is recommended for an ideal, comprehensive science education

Science Placement at NCHS

• These are the most common sequences
• These sequences are not static
• More information on each course can be found in the NCHS program of study

Science Placement at NCHS

• Goal is to provide appropriate challenge without overwhelming students
• Placement is determined by NCHS
• Based on a variety of in-house metrics:
• 8th Grade Quarter 1 & 2 performance
• Performance in Science (DCIs, SEPs, CCCs, HoS)
• Standardized Test Scores (Math & Reading)
• Math placement

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Workshop

Students will go through 4 rotations.

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• Math Exemplars with Mrs. Brown
• STEM with Mr. Tomasiewicz or Mrs. Nicholas
• Digital Citizenship with Mr. Fusci
• Grammar & Independent Reading with Ms. Pabon

Reassuring Reality Check

• You will go to high school; you will graduate from high school; you will go to college; you will graduate from college; you will get a job.
• Please know nothing will take you off this path

School Counseling

R = Self Awareness & Social Awareness

U = Responsible Decision Making & Relationship Skills

L = Self Awareness

E = Self Management & Relationship Skills

R = Self Management

“Life Skills”

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8th to 9th Grade Transition

• Saxe Homepage > Menu > Student Resources > Saxe Resources > Transition From 8th to 9th Grade CLICK HERE

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• NCHS Homepage > Menu > School Information > Program of Studies CLICK HERE

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Next Steps

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• February
• Transition Lesson #2 of 3: Electives
• March
• (Optional) Individual meetings with school counselor
• Thursday 3/7 6:30pm: NCHS 9th Grade Orientation for Students & Parents
• Students Receive Initial Placement Recommendations
• Transition Lesson #3 of 3: Course Requests. Note: These can be revised until April 1st
• (Optional) Online Appeal Process due April 1st
• August
• Schedules posted in PowerSchool approx. 10 days before school starts

Celebrating Our Learning Community Through Caring, Communication, & Commitment

We ARE

Saxe Middle School!

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Thank you!