Welcome to the Holmes Junior High Incoming 8th Grade

Parent Meeting

March 13, 2019

Welcome to the Transition Year!

8th Grade Required Classes/Electives

Course Request Form

StudentConnect Registration

Questions

Meeting Agenda

8th grade is a significant year of transformation and transition—physically, socially, and academically

Students should focus on working independently, improving quality of work and meeting deadlines

Responsibility for problem-solving and self-advocacy transfers from parent to student

Transition Year

The Student in Transition

This year does “matter”….

Good study habits created now increase confidence and overall success

Colleges will ask about math and language levels taken in 8th grade

Your child still needs your help navigating social pressures and developmental obstacles

Be curious and pay attention to: friends, online interactions and texting School Loop – but try to find balance

between checking grades and offering support & guidance

See Strategies for Success handout

Social/Emotional Development

Planning for 8th Grade

All 7th graders have already received this form (see sample in your

handout packet)

5 required classes

1-2 electives depending on 6 or 7 period day

Will receive Junior High Catalog as well

8th Grade Course Request Sheet

Check for completion of necessary information:

• 5 required courses

• Rank 6 elective courses (#1-6)

• all required signatures (math, language, student, and parent)

Finishing up the Course Request Sheet

Students enter course selections on StudentConnect anytime from now until Tuesday, March 19 at midnight

Classes must add up to 7 periods—use “Unscheduled 8” for a 6-period day

Log-in Instructions and Pins/Passwords are on the back of the Course Request Form

Completed Course Request Form is due by March 20th to your child’s English teacher

Important Dates & More

And now a word from Mrs. Kennedy

Math Growth Mindset Mantras

• Everyone Can Learn

• The Brain is a Muscle

• Everyone is a Valued Member of this

Community

• We Love a Challenge

• Feedback is a Gift – Accept It

• A goal without a Plan is Just a Wish

• Mistakes are Opportunities for

Learning

• The Power of Yet

Common Core Course Implementation through 2018-2019

7th GRADE 8th GRADE 9th GRADE 10th GRADE 11th GRADE 12th GRADE

Common Core

Math 2

Common Core

Math 3

Common Core

Math 3 (Repeat

course or

advance to

Integrated Math

1P)

Integrated Math

1PIntegrated Math

2P

Integrated Math

3P

Accelerated

Integrated Math

3P

Common Core

Math 2

Common Core

Math 3

Integrated Math

1P

Integrated Math

2P

Integrated Math

3PPrecalculus P

Accelerated

Integrated Math

3P

Calculus AB

Common Core

Math 2/3

Integrated Math

1P

Integrated Math

2P

Integrated Math

3P

Precalculus P Calculus AB

Accelerated

Integrated Math

3P

Calculus AB Calculus BC

The math department strongly recommends that students not interrupt the Common Core Math

course sequence: CC 3, Integrated Math 1, Integrated Math 2, Integrated Math 3, or Accelerated

Integrated Math 3.

8th Grade

English

ELA: a balanced approach that

builds on the 7th grade

foundation and supports CCCSS

• Reading

• Writing

• Speaking

• Listening

CCCSS: California Common

Core State Standards

• Every teacher is a teacher of

reading and writing

• Literacy is supported through

all core areas: Science,

Technical Subjects, History,

Mathematics, Language, etc.

Eighth Grade Core Works

The Pearl The Diary of a

Young Girl

Tom Sawyer The Giver

Other 8th grade literature

options• Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

• April Morning by Howard Fast

• Living up the Street by Gary Soto

OW Holmes Outside Reading Log

Many teachers have students keep reading logs for each quarter

expecting students to read ten pages per night for excellence

Writing Genres

Narrative Expository Argument

Writing is developmental

Writing Process

Authentic Feedback

Speaking & Listening

• Memorizing Poems • Scenes & Skits

• Debate & Moot

Court• Poster Presentations

• Socratic Seminar

HOLMES JR. HIGH

SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT

U.S. History

First Semester Topics

United States Geography

Review American Colonies & Revolutionary War

U.S. Constitution

The Early Republic

Second Semester Topics

Early Westward Expansion

Native Americans

Sectionalism

Civil War

Reconstruction

Industrialism

SCIENCE 8

• 8th grade Science focuses on the integration of Life science, Physical

science, and Earth science

• The Nature of Science

• Human Impact

• Motion and Forces

• Energy and Waves

• Astronomy

ELECTIVE OPTIONS

ART/CERAMICS

LEARN ART CONCEPTS

THROUGH THE PROCESSES

OF BOTH FINE ARTS AND

CERAMIC PROJECTS

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN,

DRAWING, PAINTING AND

SCULPTURE

YEARBOOK

PHOTOGRAPHY & PHOTOSHOP, PAGE

DESIGN, LAYOUT, TEAM WORK AND BUSINESS

EXPERIENCE

A VARIETY OF PUBLICATIONS PROJECTS

ALONG WITH CREATING THE ANNUAL

YEARBOOK AS PART OF A TEAM.

MULTIMEDIA

COMPUTER ART & GRAPHICS

WEBPAGE & WEBSITE DESIGN

VIDEO MAKING & EDITING

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING WITH ROBOTICS

INTRODUCTORY COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

WITH PYTHON AND C++

VEX IQ ROBOTS – “COUSINS” TO THOSE USED

BY CITRUS CIRCUITS

BASIC PROGRAMMING CONCEPTS USEFUL

WITH ANY LANGUAGE

LOGIC AND ANALYTICAL THINKING

FOODS & NUTRITION

• COOKING SKILLS FOR LIFE

• KITCHEN TOOLS AND SAFETY

• PRACTICAL NUTRITION

• BAKING

• SEASONAL SPECIALTIES

What is AVID?

AVID is Advancement Via Individual Determination

AVID is Math, Science, English, Social Science, World Language – all rolled into one

AVID is Challenging yet Supportive, Academic yet Fun

AVID Curriculum Focus

Exploration of Colleges and Careers

Strategies for Academic Success

Note Taking

Public Speaking

Test Preparation

Research Techniques

What are the

Motivational Activities?

Guest Speakers

Field Trips

Team Building / Challenge Activities

Philosophical Chairs and Socratic

Seminars

Thank you for coming!

Questions?