Eighth Grade Basics - The Education Cafe



Eighth Grade Basics

Here is some information that I found on the web that could be very helpful as you look at what your child is learning and needs to learn. I am including the link and some of the information from the actual site. For more information, click on the corresponding link.



“In Language Arts and other subjects, more emphasis will be placed on making appropriate evaluations, and discussing viewpoints than rote memorization of facts. Clearly, the reading, writing and communication skills learned to date will help students share their opinions in a respectful way. In addition, eight graders will be expected to write essays that describe, persuade, narrate, compare, and contrast. In addition, they will read literature that is more complex.

Through History and Geography your student will focus on post World War 2 events both globally and within the United States. Topics such as the Cold War, The Vietnam and Korean Wars, The Civil Rights Movement, The Middle East conflicts, Terrorism, and the Democratic process will be explored.

Math will again contain large components of Geometry and simple Algebra will begin. Now is when all those years of practicing times tables, understanding fractions and least common multiples will really begin to pay off. This is also the year that many students begin to loose interest in math because of its increased complexity.

Through Science, eight graders will be able to understand the concepts of electricity magnetism, and sound. Students will also study force and motion through the exploration of earthquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics. The information they learn in science this year will be more in depth than any previous year.” – Valerie Nelson

This author also mentions the importance of the following things in 8th grade: specialized classes, building on the core subjects, students taking full responsibility for homework, career investigation, and college exploration.

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1: In preparation for college, the one subject your child must be studying is:

  Correct Answer: Algebra or pre-algebra.

2: In language arts, your child will spend the most time:

  Correct Answer: Reading increasingly complex literature.

3: In social studies, your child will probably be studying:

  Correct Answer: United States history and geography.

4: By eighth grade, it is most important that your child has learned to:

  Correct Answer: Use the computer as a research and word-processing tool.

5: During eighth grade, your child should be investigating:

Correct Answer: Colleges and career options.

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Eighth Grade: What Will They Learn?

This is it -- the final year before students enter high school. Your child will need to take challenging courses in order to prepare. There will be more emphasis on discussion rather than the simple recall of facts. Your child will begin to make important decisions about careers and behavior. He also should be taking total responsibility for completing his assignments both at school and at home.

Find out what else your child will learn this year.

• Write essays that describe, persuade, narrate, compare, and contrast.

• Read increasingly complex literature.

• Understand the principles of the U.S. Constitution and the structure of American democracy.

• Identify major chronological events in United States history and explain how a bill becomes a law.

• Do introductory algebra and a considerable amount of geometry.

• Understand the concepts of electricity and magnetism, sound, energy in plants and animals, and basic geology and astronomy.

• Take notes and outline text and speeches.

• Participate effectively in classroom and group discussions.

More on Eighth-Graders...

 

Links to some state information on 8th grade:

Virginia Standards of Learning



Texas Assessments of Basic Skills and standards of learning (online practice)



Michigan 8th Grade Basics Booklet for English Language Arts



A Georgia pamphlet on 8th Grade Basics

$file/2009-10_8thGrade_AKS_Brochure_FINAL.pdf

An excellent 8th Grade Overview



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