Middle School Curriulum Offerings Grades 7-8

English Department

English 7
In English 7 students learn to improve communication skills, reading comprehension, and critical thinking ability through their study of grammar, literature, vocabulary, spelling, and writing. Work in grammar includes a review of sentence structure, the parts of speech, complements, phrases, clauses, subject/verb agreement, and correct use of pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Literature appreciation includes the writing aspect of the course includes instruction in the writng process, basic paragraph structure, the various types of paragraph development, and the structure of the four-paragraph essay. Students write journal entries, short essays, and reports. Report assignments are accompanied by instruction on how to use the library and how to take notes from encyclopedias, other non-fiction books, and reliable Internet sites. Students review the rules for punctuation and capitalization and apply them when they proofread their compositions and reports. In addition, students work on expanding their vocabularies and improving spelling skills throughout the year.
Main text: Grammar and Composition Handbook, Grade 7 (Glencoe 2002)
Literature: The Reader's Choice Course 2 (Glencoe 2000)

English 8
In English 8 students continue to improve communications skills, reading comprehension, and critical thinking ability through their study of grammar, literature, vocabulary, spelling, and writing. Work in grammar includes a review of sentence structure, the parts of speech, complements, phrases, clauses, subject/verb agreement, and the correct use of verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Literary study includes the reading of short stories, non-fiction, poetry, drama, folk tales, and at least four novels. In the writing aspect of the course students review the writing process, paragraph structure, and the various types of paragraph development, and the structure of the five-paragraph essay. Students learn how to paraphrase correctly. Emphasis is placed on using facts to support a thesis. Some assignments will involve creative writing. Students are shown how to write poems and stories as well as how to submit their writing for publication. In addition, spelling and vocabulary lessons are a weekly part of this course. One other aspect of this course is LEAP preparation. Students become familiar with the format of the test and will practice constructing written answers.
Main text: Grammer and Composition Handbook, Grade 7 (Glencoe 2002)
Literature: The Reader's Choice Course 2 (Glencoe 2000)

Mathematics Department

Math 7
Math 7 provides the student with the time and opportunity in foundational mathematics skills. This course takes the student from arithmetic to the threshold of the wide world of mathematics. Its goal for students is mastery of computational skills with rational numbers. It also emphasizes an understanding of ratios, proportions, and percents. It goes beyond the topics of arithmetic to include foundation topics of geometry, measurement, algebra, number theory, and data analysis. Problem solving, mental math and estimation skills are included throughout the year. Word problems include applications from various areas, including history and science.
Main text: Mathematics: Applications & Connections, Course 2 (Glencoe 1998)

Math 8
Math 8 introduces, develops, and reinforces 8th and 9th grade math concepts. Algebra concepts, such as adding, subtracting, factoring, and multiplying polynomials and binomials are introduced. Other algebraic concepts are developed, such as solving for one variable with one and two step equations. Additional math skills are developed such as problem solving, working with fractions, measurement, probability and statistics, ratios, and proportions and percent. Other skills are reinforced such as estimation and mental math
techniques, working with decimals and number theory such as ordering rational numbers.
Main text: Mathematics Applications & Connections, Course 3, (Glencoe 1998)

Science Department

Science 7
Science is more specialized than in previous grades. Students take life science in the seventh grade and learn through a variety of instructional methods including note taking and hands-on investigations in cooperative groups. Besides gaining knowledge in this branch of science, the students are shown how scientists obtain and organize this knowledge. Life science covers such topics as animals, plants, protists, human body systems, heredity, nutrition, and ecology.

Science fair projects are recommended. They provide young people with a chance to be creative and to apply concepts to fields that interest them. They work individually or as a group to perform an investigation. Working on a science project helps them gain an idea of what scientific research involves.
Main Text: Life Science (Glencoe 1998)

Science 8
Eighth grade students gain understanding of the science in the world around them. While studying the main branches of earth science, meteorology, oceanography, geology, and astronomy, students make a connection to other sciences, mathematics, and their community.

Students explore through numerous hands-on activities, practice science process skills, and engage in decision-making and problem solving tasks. Science fair projects provide students with an opportunity to be creative and to apply concepts to fields that interest them. Science fair projects are recommended.
Main Text: Earth Science, (Glencoe/McGraw Hill 1997)

Social Studies

American History 7
American History 7 is a survey course of American History from the Indian of pre-Columbus times until 1997, along with a review of states and capitals and mapping history activities. The class is supplemented with instructional videos, video-quiz games, and field trips.
Main text: American Journey (Glencoe 1998)

Louisiana History 8
Louisiana history is a study of Louisiana and the other states included in the Louisiana Purchase. During the year French, Spanish, English, and American influences on Louisiana are highlighted. Field trips are scheduled each year to places such as Natchitoches, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge to tour Acadian Village, the USS Kidd, and the State Capitol. This course covers everything from the Indians who lived in the state between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago to the modern-day politics of Louisiana. Students are encouraged to participate in the parish Social Studies Fair.
Main text: Louisiana: A Study in Diversity, (Steck Vaughn 1992)

Bible

Bible 7, 8
Christian Living: Emphasis is placed on understanding the basic concepts of the Christian Life—salvation, the Word of God, prayer, witnessing, and daily living according to Biblical principles.
Text: Dynamic Christian Living, by Gordon Dickson, and Frank Hamrick

Technology

Computer Literacy
Word processing, Spreadsheet, Desktop, Publishing and Presentation Software

The middle school computer program includes grades 7 and 8. With the acquired basic skills, students are able to incorporate the computer as a basic communication tool into their various academic activities. Students work in a lab setting on PCs. Using Windows operating system, students will incorporate the use of programs within Microsoft Office Suite.