8th Grade Curriculum
Religion
Text: We Live Our Faith As Members of the Church, Sadlier Press
Students will learn to adopt the values of Jesus and base their decisions on these values
Literature/Reading
Text: Literature, Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes, silver edition, Prentice Hall
This anthology consists of short stories, poetry, drama, nonfiction, myths, legends and folk tales. A variety of grade appropriate novels will be read and discussed throughout the year.
English
Text: Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Course content focuses on the skills needed in composition: grammar, usage, mechanics, sentence structure, vocabulary, and spelling. Stuents must submit entry to Young Author’s Faire in Spring
Vocabulary
Text: Vocabulary Workshop, Level C, Sadlier-Oxford
The Vocabulary Workshop program is designed to provide students with the vocabulary skills they will need in order to achieve higher-level reading proficiency and to succeed at standardized tests. The program focuses on words themselves, their meanings, their ranges of application or usage, and their relationships with other words.
Social Studies
Text: Creating America, A History of the United States, McDougal Littell
The contents of this textbook are geared to cover California state standards. The book is designed to motivate students to interact with history and inspire students to become active citizens. Students will acquire the tools to read and understand history. The text covers many themes of American history including democratic ideals, citizenship, immigration and migration, the impact of the individual, diversity, and unity. The importance of science, technology and economics in history is highlighted.
Algebra (8 – accelerated):
Text: Algebra 1: Concepts and Skills, McDougal Littell
Students will build algebra skills through daily practice and instruction. This class emphasizes problem solving and is designed to help students build the skills they need to be successful in high school mathematics courses, including Geometry, Algebra 2, and Calculus. Major topics include graphing linear equations and factoring polynomials
Pre- Algebra is also offered at this grade level.
Science
Special Projects
Field Trips
Eighth grade goes on many field trips including Eighth Grade Day at Christ the Light Cathedral, the eighth grade retreat at Holy Redeemer Center and several high school visits.
St. Lawrence O'Toole School is a feeder to the following schools: Bishop O'Dowd, Saint Joseph Notre Dame, Holy Names High School, Saint Elizabeth High School, Saint Mary's College High School and Moreau Catholic High School. We have good representation at all of these schools and our students do well, often placing in advanced placement classes as as Freshman. Our students have a great work ethic and receive a strong foundation, which allows them to be successful in these rigorous college preparatory schools and also colleges and universities.