Eighth Grade

Ms. Catherine Jardien
Fifth–Eighth Grade Sciences
Years Teaching: 1 At SJB: 1
Education: B.S. in Elementary Ed., DePaul Univ.
Favorite thing about teaching: Seeing the expressions on students’ faces when they learn something new—especially something they think is “cool.”

 
Classroom Site

Program Description

Students in eighth grade experience many opportunities for academic and spiritual growth as they move into high school.

Main Themes/Skills

Religion
The core concepts are the life of Jesus, the Paschal Mystery, Jesus alive in today’s world, and the sacraments. Also included in the eighth grade curriculum is human sexuality and development, which is taught from a Catholic view.

Language Arts
The focus of the Eighth Grade Reading Curriculum is building an extensive vocabulary, developing writing skills, and practicing reading comprehension on a daily basis. Other skills, such as, sequencing, point of view, character, and cause and effect are also studied and practiced. In eighth grade, students read from a variety of books and novels such as The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1968, Romeo and Juliet, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The House on Mango Street. There are several areas of writing the eighth grade studies: personal writing, essay, fiction, narrative and poetry. All papers are completed in a five-paragraph essay format. Grammar and spelling are also integrated into the curriculum.

Math
Eighth grade students use the Saxon Math Program. Daily the students practice facts and mental math. The program focuses in the areas of geometry, pre-algebra and algebra.

Social Studies
The focus of the Social Studies Curriculum for eighth grade is United States History. The major areas of focus are Colonization, Native Americans and the formation

Science
The science curriculum actively engages students in developing concepts, inquiry and problem solving skills by ‘doing science and technology’, largely focusing on the various systems of change.

Art
Eighth grade students do a variety of seasonal art projects, as well as painting and drawing. A variety of artists, art movements, and art forms are studied.

Instructional Methodologies
Students learn through lecture, small group collaboration, individual work and whole class discussion.