Grade 8

Eighth grade is an exciting time in your child’s life. Your child is changing from a child to a teenager and getting ready to transition to high school. This guide provides an overview of the academic standards and social-emotional milestones that your child will experience this year. Academic standards are important because they help ensure that all scholars are prepared for success. Your child understands more complex ideas. This guide is meant to support you in understanding what your child is learning, and provide ways you can speak with your child’s teacher about their progress and growth over the year.

Learning Partnership Guides

A Guide to Your Scholar's Success

English Language Arts

Reading

In the middle school years, scholars analyze, define, compare, and evaluate ideas while reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Scholars will closely read rich, literary, grade-level anchor texts multiple times a week.
Units are organized around related topics and themes that help build knowledge and connect ideas.
Scholars will cite specific text evidence to support their ideas from text.
They will build content knowledge through wide reading of informational text.
Scholars will use context clues and parts of words to determine the meaning of new vocabulary words.
They will analyze figurative language, meaning, and tone.

Ways to talk with your child's teacher:

What is my child’s reading level? Is that level below, on or above grade level? What specific skills are they working on?
How is my child progressing in terms of meeting standards in reading, writing, speaking and listening? What are their strengths? What are areas to improve?

Writing & Communication

Scholars practice multiple forms of writing including narrative, informational, and argumentative.
Scholars will regularly research multiple texts and other resources to build and convey knowledge on a topic through writing and speaking.
They can use research questions to gather relevant information and use that information to support a claim.
Scholars will process their learning through small-group and partner discussion.
They will examine multiple perspectives and points of view on a topic through writing and speaking.

Ways to support your scholar at home:

Set aside time (20–30 minutes) for your child to read every day.
Ask your scholar to share their student journal and/or readers notebook with you. Ask them questions like, “What text did you read and/ or discuss in class today?” “How did what you read today connect to real life?” “What was challenging for you and how did you deal with that challenge?”
Set aside time (15–20 minutes) for your child to work on ELA homework. Ask them questions like, “What is your homework tonight?” “How does your homework connect to today’s learning, or how does it prepare you for tomorrow?”

Math

SEMESTER 1: SEPTEMBER–JANUARY

Scholars will deepen their understanding of proportional relationship and define slope.
Scholars will describe the effect of translations, rotations, and reflections and will develop an understanding of congruence and similarity in two-dimensional figures.

Ways to talk with your child's teacher:

What do you think is giving my child the most trouble? How can I help my child improve in this area?
Are there options provided by the school for enrichment experiences in mathematics, science, technology, or engineering (STEM areas) or for scholars having difficulty in mathematics?

SEMESTER 2: FEBRUARY–JUNE

Scholars will solve and graph linear equations and continue to work with variables.
Scholars will develop an understanding of functions and use functions to model relationships and compare different representations.
Scholars will understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem.

Ways to support your scholar at home:

Ask your child what they learned in school today and ask them to show you an example.
Ask your child to tell you all of the ways you can find a solution to a system of equations.
Ask your child to show you why the equation below is true.
x^-5・x^-7 = x^-12

Science

Scholars will develop and use models to describe how matter and energy change during chemical reactions and phase changes.
Scholars will investigate how contact forces and field forces affect the motion of objects.
Scholars will analyze data to explain relationships between the motion and energy of objects.
Scholars will develop and use models to describe how energy is transmitted through waves.

Social Studies

US History

In U.S. History, scholars develop a new, more abstract level of understanding of social studies concepts. The recommended context for developing this understanding is U.S. history and government, 1776 to 1877. Students explore the ideas, issues, and events from the framing of the Constitution through Reconstruction. After reviewing the founding of the United States and the Constitution, scholars explore the development of politics, society, culture, and economy in the United States to deepen conceptual understandings in civics, geography, and economics. Scholars will also practice literacy standards as they use essential questions and inquiry to work on skills such as reading, writing, and thinking like a historian.
Scholars will consider multiple viewpoints and weigh the validity of those viewpoints by applying an analysis of evidence.
Scholars will debate an issue using civil discourse backed with a range of credible sources.
Scholars will use evidence to justify a claim.
Scholars will analyze the ongoing process and effort to build a “more perfect Union” within the United States.

Music

Generate simple rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic phrases within AB and ABA forms that convey expressive intent.
Use standard and/or iconic notation and/or audio/video recording to document personal simple rhythmic phrases, melodic phrases, and two-chord harmonic musical ideas.
Evaluate their own work, applying, teacher-provided criteria such as application of selected elements of music, and use of sound sources.
Apply teacher-provided criteria to evaluate musical works or performances.
Have options to participate in band, orchestra, and choir.

Health & Fitness

Use complex motor skills and strategies in a variety of individual and team activities.
Understand how nutrition affects physical performance and appearance, and create a nutritious meal plan.
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of fitness.
Use decision-making skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.

Tech Skills

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL - Eigth Grade Milestones

Girls tend to focus on close friendships; boys tend to travel in small groups
Spend hours on computer, cell phone, or playing video games
Can think globally, but often can’t act locally; for example, concerned about social justice issues, but often mean to each other
Very concerned about personal appearance, but unconcerned about neatness of their personal environments
Often quieter
Like to be left alone when at home
Moody and sensitive; anger can flare up suddenly; tend to argue or complain about fairness
Feelings are easily hurt, and they can easily hurt others’ feelings; frequent meanness may stem from being insecure or scared
Prefer to work alone or with a single partner on a project

QUESTION & ANSWER

Q: How do I support my scholar in preparing for high school?

A: You can review the course catalog to gain understanding about the courses required for college and post-secondary work. You can also attend High School Planning nights held in the spring.

Q: How do I stay informed about my child's progress in every class they take?

A: ParentVUE allows you to see all of your child’s courses, assignments, and current grades. If you have a concern about your child’s grade, first, ask your child to speak with their teacher in that class. Your child should ask what they can do to improve the grade and make a plan to do so. If you are still concerned, contact your child’s teacher directly to see how you can support your child’s success in that class.

OUR COMMITMENT TO SCHOLARS AND FAMILIES

All scholars learn best when they experience physical and emotional safety in classrooms and schools. Scholars and families should expect to see the following adult actions:

Provide a welcoming environment to support building trusting, encouraging relationships with all families.
Prioritize scholar voice and participation in shaping the learning and classroom culture.
Teach for understanding to assure scholars have high expectations and academic supports to grow intellectually.
Focus on scholar cooperation to encourage scholars to learn from and help others.
Implement school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports so that all scholars and adults live out their shared beliefs and actions that make school a safe and fun place to learn.
Teach social and emotional learning skills and strategies during morning meetings and reinforce SEL skills throughout the school day.

Getting Ready for College & Career

The ABC's for College & Career Readiness

Attendance

Scholars who maintain good attendance through all years of school:

Achieve grade level standard at a higher rate
Graduate from high school at a higher rate
Develop good habits that contribute to success in school and in future careers
For each day a scholar is absent it takes an average of three days to catch up.

Behavior & Social Emotional Learning

The purpose behind Culturally-Responsive Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (CR-PBIS) is to make schools more effective, efficient, and equitable learning environments for all scholars. By teaching scholars expectations and acknowledging positive behavior, adults increase the predictability, consistency, positive climate, and safety of all at school. Social emotional learning lessons are taught and embedded throughout the school year. To learn more about CR-PBIS and social emotional learning at your school, contact your scholar's teacher or principal.

Course Performance

Grades K–2: Learning how to read
Grade 3: Reading on grade level
Grade 6–7: Passing ELA and math courses
Grades 8–9: Passing Algebra 1
Grade 9: Passing grade 9 courses earning 6 credits
Grades 10–12: Passing an advanced course (AP, IB, CAMBRIDGE)

High School & Beyond Plan

Scholars should begin mapping out their High School & Beyond Plans and find out about what courses to take that will lead to specific post-secondary education, training and college plans. Grade level specific High School & Beyond Checklists can be found at www.fwps.org/CCR. Scholars can also use their www.MaiaLearning.com account to plan and discover more using interest surveys, academic planning tools and scholarships, and college and career searches. Go to MaiaLearning.com, select “Sign In with Google” and use your P12 Gmail account and password.

College Bound Scholarship

The College Bound Scholarship is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students who enroll in middle school and meet the pledge requirements. The College Bound Scholarship covers average tuition at public college rates, some fees, and a small book allowance at over 65 colleges, universities, and technical schools in Washington. Students who meet one of the following requirements are automatically enrolled in College Bound:

Students who are in public school and eligible for free-and-reduced price lunch in 7th, 8th, or newly eligible in 9th grade.
Students who are in state foster care, or a dependent of the state between 7th grade and high school graduation.

Other Ways to Qualify

Some students do not fit into either scenario but are interested in applying for College Bound. Students and families can contact the College Bound program to apply if they meet one of the following criteria:

Attend a private school or homeschool program in Washington State and meet the income requirements.
Are in another type of foster care and not eligible for free-and-reduced price lunch.