Orientation Package 1415 Grade 8.doc

8/9/2019 Orientation Package 1415 Grade 8.doc

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Grade 8Orientation Package Mrs. Mary-Sue Muldoon

Overall Homework-All grade 8 students in our classroom have been given a homework binder. Allhomework, school notes and assignments will be stored here. Students are responsible to bring the binderback and forth between school and home daily. Please feel free to use this as a communication tool as well. I

would also reuest that each parent e-mail me at mmuldoon!scs.sk.ca as soon as possible. I will create acontact list on my e-mail and this can become an alternate communication tool to help set your child up forschool success and to communicate ongoing information for the farewell in "une. #he demands of homeworkincrease as students progress onto high school and good homework habits should be established by this timein your child$s school life. %any grade eights struggle with fact recall so &' minutes of fact recall per night,and work that is not completed in class or work that reuires parental help, like an interview for e(ample will

form the basis of homework e(pectations this year. Please ensure that your child completes their unfinishedschool work and returns it the ne(t day in their homework binder. Spelling and reading practice will beongoing at home. If pro)ects are assigned, a letter outlining the e(pectations for the pro)ect will be sent out inadvance. #he e(pectation is that this type of work will be completed in school. Mathletics, our GSCS onlinemath suort rogram, can !e accessed at home and rovides an e"cellent homework resource.

Overall #ssessment- Assessment in all sub)ect areas will be based on the outcomes and indicators outlined

in the provincial curricula for each sub)ect at grade eight. #hese can be accessed on line athtt$%%www.curriculum.gov.sk.ca%

#he outcomes and indicators will be presented to your children as learning targets before they attempt a taskso that they can more clearly understand what is e(pected in a given task. *or e(ample when they completework in a vocabulary assignment a target might be e(pressed as, +I can use a dictionary and story conte(t toread and write about the meaning of a word. verall a balanced approach to assessment will be taken. #hiswill include a combination of observation, checklist, rubrics and tests.

&anguage #rts #he /anguage Arts program is based on sound research and a well established programof balanced literacy. 0alanced literacy utili1es freuent modelled reading, shared and whole class reading,some guided reading and independent reading. #his will form the base of student learning. #his year therewill be a big focus on reading comprehension strategies. I will be teaching several grade eight curricularthemes outlined in Saskatchewan 2urriculum. All pieces of te(t used 3 written, spoken and visual4 will be

grade specific or selected to meet the individual learning needs of each student.

ur /anguage Arts outcomes for grade eight will be achieved through a variety of purposeful themes andconte(ts 3Social, 5istorical, Imaginative, 2ommunicative, and Inuiry.4 Please reference the additionalhandout. ur units are +0ecoming %yself in a 6lobal 7orld, ye on #echnology, 0urning 9uestions, In Searchof "ustice and *irst :arratives from 6reek and ;oman /iterature. ach unit will last appro(imately si( toeight weeks. <our child will encounter &= key strategies for reading, viewing and listening to a variety of te(ttypes and genres 3narratives, media articles, procedures, e(planations and persuasive te(ts4. #he grade eight

program encompasses the si( strands for communicating with the world> reading, writing, listening,speaking, viewing and representing ideas and information. #he ma)or resources for our units are :elson

/iteracy8 and 2rossroads 8 but students will be e(pected to work with a variety of other te(ts as well.

Home reading rogram 0eginning right away your child is participating in the #ma'ing (eading (ace. #hey have been given a passport. #he task is designed to have your child read a novel by an author

from each of the provinces. As they finish a novel from a provincial author, they must complete a briefsummary from the book. #he summary should include the '7$s and the 5. nce they have done this, theybring their completed passport to me. #hey will be eligible for a pri1e and they will be able to advance theirrace player through each province. Students may begin at either side of the country. 7e already have studentswho have completed their first province. #hank you for your cooperation with this program.

Math #he math program for 6rade ight is +%ath %akes Sense. #his program is the recommendedresource for helping students to achieve their e(pected curricular outcomes. valuation of your child$sachievement will center not only on the number of correct responses but also on their ability to demonstrate

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.curriculum.gov.sk.ca/


http://www.curriculum.gov.sk.ca/



and e(plain their learning. ?sing math to achieve solutions for real world problems is the goal of a ualitymath program. #his year your child will study

)um!er

• @emonstrate understanding of the suare and principle suare root of whole numbers

concretely or pictorially and symbolically.

• (pand and demonstrate understanding of percents greater than or eual to B 3including fractional and decimal percents4 concretely, pictorially, and symbolically.

• @emonstrate understanding of rates, ratios, and proportional reasoning concretely, pictorially,

and symbolically.

• @emonstrate understanding of multiplying and dividing positive fractions and mi(ed numbers,

concretely, pictorially, and symbolically.

• @emonstrate understanding of multiplication and division of integers concretely, pictorially,

and symbolically.

Patterns and (elations

• @emonstrate understanding of linear relations concretely, pictorially 3including graphs4,

physically, and symbolically.• %odel and solve problems using linear euations of the formC

• a( D b

• (Ea D b, a F

• a( G b D c

• (Ea G b D c, a F

• a3( G b4 D c

• concretely, pictorially, and symbolically, where a, b, and c are integers.

Shae and Sace

• @emonstrate understanding of the Pythagorean #heorem concretely or pictorially and

symbolically and by solving problems.

• @emonstrate understanding of the surface area of H-@ ob)ects limited to right prisms and

cylinders 3concretely, pictorially, and symbolically4 byC

• analy1ing views

• sketching and constructing H-@ ob)ects, nets, and top, side, and front views

• generali1ing strategies and formulae

• analy1ing the effect of orientation

• solving problems.

• @emonstrate understanding of volume limited to right prisms and cylinders 3concretely,

pictorially, or symbolically4 byC

•relating area to volume

• generali1ing strategies and formulae

• analy1ing the effect of orientation

• solving problems.

@emonstrate an understanding of tessellation byC

• e(plaining the properties of shapes that make tessellating possible

• creating tessellations

• identifying tessellations in the environment.



Statistics and Pro!a!ility

• Analy1e the modes of displaying data and the reasonableness of conclusions.

• @emonstrate understanding of the probability of independent events concretely, pictorially,

orally, and symbolically.

Math Homework- #he role of homework in teaching for deep understanding is very important and alsouite different from homework that is traditionally given to students. Students should be given uniue

problems and tasks that help them to consolidate new learnings with prior knowledge. #hey can e(plore possible solutions, and apply learnings to new situations. Although drill and practice does serve a purpose inlearning for deep understanding, the amount and timing of the drill will vary among different learners.

At the beginning of each unit students will be given a homework book. As students complete the unit lesson inclass, it is suggested that they will be more successful if they attempt the additional e(ercises from theirhomework book. #hese will not be marked or graded and are used mostly to give students additional practiceafter each unit. It is to their advantage to complete the pages. At the beginning of each daily math lessons wego over the problems students encountered at home with their homework.

Math #ssessment -Students are assessed on their performance during class time, in pop ui1 format

known as Step by Steps and on ?nit #ests. Partial marks are awarded for correct answers but the bulk of

the marks awarded when students demonstrate their understanding by showing their work.

Science %r. Parenteau will be teaching Science 8 this year.

Social Studies #he grade eight program is based on

• 6oals of -&= Social StudiesC

• (amine the local, indigenous, and global interactions and interdependence of individuals,

societies, cultures, and nations 3I:4.

J Analy1e the dynamic relationships of people with land, environments, events, and ideas as they have

affected the past, shape the present, and influence the future 3@;4.J Investigate the processes and structures of power and authority, and the implications for

individuals, communities, and nations 3PA4.

J (amine various worldviews about the use and distribution of resources and wealth in relation to the

needs of individuals, communities, nations, and the natural environment, and contribute to sustainable

development 3;74.

Music and *rama %usic and @rama will be taught throughout the course of the year. #hroughe(ploration students will begin to appreciate the uniue and varied national and international instruments,rhythms and character. @rama takes the form of role playing that arises out of any of the sub)ect areas and itis a means to make the classroom day more dynamic. @rama teaches children to adopt the feelings andactions of things and people outside of themselves thereby creating empathy and demonstrating point of

view.. It is a form of self e(pression. Some elements of drama such as tableau, poetry slam and others will bee(plored.

(eligion ur ;eligion program is titled +%ay 7e 0e ne. As suggested in the title your children will cometo learn that 6od sees all of us as worthy of 5is great love. ur units are, Proclaiming the 6ood :ews, #he2hurch 0elieves in "esus 2hrist, 2elebrating 6od$s %ighty @eeds, (pecting the 2oming of the /ord,7elcoming All :ations, Acting "ustly, ;econciling, /oving, ;e)oicing and 0eing 2alled to 7itness. It is ourhope that your child will more fully develop a sense of belonging to a community that encompasses the wholeworld.



Physical +ducation 7ill be taught by %r. Parenteau.

Comuters #he use of computers is an e(tension of curricula and often used for demonstrations oflearning. Sometimes this time will be devoted to e(ploring programs and keyboarding.

&i!rary ur library period is on uesday afternoon. Please return your child$s books on riday so thatthey can be signed in and accounts will be ready for uesday. Students can take out a ma(imum of two books

at a time. If they are avid readers arrangements can be made to take out additional titles once the originaltwo books have been e(changed.

Care Partners ur 2are Partners are %rs. argard$s indergarten Students

&earning uddy Program and Missed #ssignments- 7e will be assigning each student a learningbuddy in the classroom. In the case of a student absence your child can ask their learning buddy about missingassignments, notes, etc Information about your child$s learning buddy can be found on page the information

page at the front of each student$s agenda. #his is a form of community service within the classroom. Ifstudents or parents need further information, the teacher is always the main source of support.

&unch Students are permitted to stay at school over the lunch break if necessary, however we encourage abreak away from school if possible between //$01 and /2$/1. *or the sake of safety and courtesy ourstudents are e(pected to eat uietly at their desk. Please remember that our classroom must be peanut free. Ifstudents leave the grounds they need a signed note with written permission from you the parents orguardians

Classroom (ules- below is a copy of our classroom rules. #hey are inspired by student ideas andsuggestions in response to the uestion +7hat makes a classroom a communityK Please go talk about therules and e(pectations with your child and together sign the promise to participate.

&.;emember that we are a community of learners and as such we need to conduct ourselves in a courteousway.=. 7ork collaboratively but uietly.

H. Share 3put up your hand4 your turn, donLt shout 3and take away another community members right toshare a response4M. All classroom e(pectations fall in sync with the shared values e(pressed in the posters located around the

school. '. 7e work in a community of high e(pectations and within a community of high help.

#hank you for attending %eet the #eacher :ight.

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Dear Parents

Our grade eight classroom is in need of volunteers throughout the year.

I would like to volunteer for homeroom parent, and co-ordinator of extra-curricular activity

including the grade eight farewell and fundraising.

Name !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Phone " !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will #e availa#le on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $mornings%afternoons%evenings-#oth&.Please check o' the tasks you are interested and availa#le to assist with and return this form

to the classroom. (ou will #e contacted with in the week. )hank you in advance for your

involvement in our classroom community.

*ield )rips

+peakers ureau

*undraising

*arewell ommittee



*arewell iturgy- $music&

)hank you again for your involvement.

Documents

Orientation Package 1415 Grade 8.doc