THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL
EIGHTH GRADE “ENCORE” DESCRIPTIONS
GRADE 8
Dear Seventh Grade Student & Parent/Guardian:
In
order to assure that all students will be properly scheduled for
classes for the next school year, it is necessary that we initiate the
selection process at this time. All students are required to take grade
appropriate core courses in Language Arts, Math, Science and Social
Studies. Physical Education and a marking period of Health are mandatory
for all students. In addition, all students are required to continue
with their current World Language in eighth grade.
Students are
given an opportunity to select encore courses, which are listed and
described below. ENCORE courses meet every other day either for the
entire year or for 1/2 year (only one semester).
Students and
parents should review the course descriptions and select encores based
upon the student’s interests. Remember that students are required to
complete all courses they select. Thus, select carefully since changes
are not permitted in the fall.
Art 8 – Students will advance
their knowledge of the elements and principles of design through the use
of varied media. In the full year course a unit on sculpture and
ceramics is included. Students are expected to master an art vocabulary
and be able to talk and write about their work. (Full year/every other
day)
Chorus 8* - Students interested in singing and developing
their vocal skills should sign up for this course. First time choral
students are also welcome. In-class exercises will help students improve
their breathing, pitch and overall vocal sound. Students will learn
sight reading as well as rehearsal and performance techniques while
practicing choral music. Choral selections include classical, gospel,
madrigal, R & B, jazz, Broadway and multicultural styles of music.
Active participation is a necessity since choral concerts will be held
in the winter and the spring. (Full year/every other day)
Dance
8* - The 8th grade dance course provides practice in basic jazz and
modern techniques inclusive of locomotor and non-locomotor movement,
with an emphasis on space, direction, focus, level, tempo, and rhythmic
patterns. A variety of dance patterns will be explored accommodating
both the beginner and the more advanced student. Research into the
history of dance styles and techniques as well as biographies of famous
dancers and choreographers is a required component of this course.
Requires participation in after school rehearsals & culminating
performances. (Full year/every other day)
Drama 8* - Students
will learn the basic skills utilized in acting. The use of voice,
diction, movement, improvisation, emotional recall and characterization
will be applied to scene study and play production appropriate for both
beginning and more advanced students. Students will be encouraged to
discover their thoughts and feelings through active theater performance.
Research into the history, techniques and the lives of people involved
in the corresponding professions is a required component of this course.
Requires participation in after school rehearsals & culminating performances. (Full year/every other day)
Band
8* - Musicians must be well acquainted with rhythms and music notation.
Individual lessons are required for all band members. Active
participation is required as concerts will be held in the winter and
spring. Parent response/signature needed. (Full year/every other day)
Players
interested in signing up for the 8th grade band should meet one of the
following criteria:1. Have participated in the T.J. 7th grade band.
2. Have transferred from another district with band experience.
3. Have been recommended by one of the T.J. instrumental teachers.
Orchestra
8* (Strings Only) - Students interested in signing up for orchestra
should be well acquainted with rhythms and music notation of their
instrument. A recommendation by your instrumental lesson instructor is
necessary for participation. Individual lessons are required for all
orchestra members. Parent response/signature required. (Full year/every
other day)
Players interested in signing up for the 8th grade
orchestra should meet one of the following criteria:1. Have participated
in the T.J. 7th grade orchestra
2. Have transferred from another district with orchestra experience
3. Have been recommended by one of the T.J. instrumental teachers.
*
Note: Courses in the Performing Arts WILL require additional after
school hours of practice prior to performances. This scheduling will be
done by the teachers involved. Participation in culminating winter and
spring performances is mandatory.
Music Through Technology 8 -
Students interested in making music using keyboards should sign up for
this course. They will learn to use the sounds and sound design
capabilities of the Roland XP-l0 keyboard. Using computers and software,
students will record, edit and orchestrate multi track realizations of
musical pieces. This is a one semester course (l/2 year). Students may
take this course for a second time with the permission of the teacher
and the guidance counselor. (1/2 year/every other day)
Creative
Writing 8 - This course is offered for those students who like to write
imaginatively. Students will have the opportunity to express themselves
through a variety of writing activities and personal journal entries.
Students will be encouraged to use words more skillfully, explore
different genres of writing, and improve their writing skills. In
addition, they will work collaboratively, share ideas and edit each
others work. Oral reading of many writing assignments enlivens the class
and helps make active listeners of the entire group. This is a one
semester course. (1/2 year/every other day)
Literature & Film
- In this course, students will be introduced to film technique. It
will use a thematic approach to discussing literature and films.
Students
will view films and read short stories, poems, and essays about several
themes involving young adults and current issues. This is a one
semester course. (1/2 year/every other day)
Public Speaking and
the Law 8 - Through the study of Practical Law, students will learn
effective communication skills as well as the role and impact of laws in
our society. Emphasis will be placed on actual student involvement in a
variety of learning activities including speech, preparation and
presentation, debate, role play, small group work, critical analyses,
mock trial and other techniques. This is a one semester course. (l/2
year/every other day)
Forensic Science 8 - The National Science
Teachers Association (NSTA) in partnership with Court TV developed
forensic science units to show how science is relevant in everyday life.
The units covered in this course will help students solve mysteries
using real science. Each unit studied is centered on a unique, realistic
mystery. The students, working as investigators, conduct simple lab
experiments and engage in science inquiry. They will gather data, think
critically and logically about the relationships between evidence and
explanations, analyze the explanations, and show the ability to
communicate scientific arguments. Several exciting forensic-based units
will be investigated in this course. This is a one semester course. (1/2
year/every other day)
Multimedia Production 8 – this course will
focus on project based activities to gain knowledge and skills in the
course of designing, planning, and producing multimedia products. The
curriculum for Multimedia Production culminates with a digital video
project on digital storytelling. Digital storytelling allows students to
use technology to share their ideas, experiences and insights with
others. To prepare students to create a digital story, they will learn
how to use a digital camera, to work with Adobe Photoshop Elements and
to use Microsoft PowerPoint to create the actual digital story. An
important component of this semester course is the planning and writing
of the script for a digital production. The student created final
product will incorporate photos from their personal experiences. This is
a one semester course only. (1/2 year/every other day)
Humanities
8: Suburban Biodiversity - This class provides opportunities for
students to explore biodiversity in the Teaneck community with an
emphasis on STEM skills. The students will collect and make inferences
about data, develop and test hypotheses and present findings to local
groups who track plant and animal populations. This course is
recommended for students with a “B” average or higher in Language Arts
and Social Studies. It is a one semester course. (1/2 year/every other
day)
Humanities 8: Utopia – This course of study will focus on
what makes society great. Utopian societies of the past and the United
Nations Bill of Rights are examined, and the analysis used to discuss
social issues. Upon completion of this unit students will be given the
opportunity to complete an independent study on the approved topic of
their choice. Information will be shared using a variety of presentation
media. This course is recommended for students with a “B” average or
higher in Language Arts and Social Studies. This is a one-semester
course. (1/2 year/every other day)
Humanities 8: Video
Documentary – This course consists of study designed to engage students
in the in-depth investigation of an approved, group-selected topic. The
course of study will begin with thorough research of the chosen topic
using various sources and methods. After significant research students
will be guided through the process of creating a video documentary
including story boarding, script writing, filming, narrating and
editing. This course is recommended for students with a “B” average or
higher in Language Arts and Social Studies. (Full year/every other day)
WORLD LANGUAGE
All 8th grade students are required to complete the second year
of the same foreign language begun in 7th grade.
French
8 - (Prerequisite - French 7) French 8 is an important stage in
students’ acquisition of meaningful and accurate communication skills.
Consistent effort and active class participation lead to substantial
progress in expanding the knowledge bank of pronunciation, vocabulary
structures, and culture of both France and the French speaking world.
Critical thinking skills continue to be developed as students make
cross-cultural comparisons and analyze how both French and English
function. Students are exposed to more sophisticated reading and writing
techniques. Creative expression (in projects, original skits and
original sentences) leads to highly rewarding results in communicating
imaginatively. Students perform frequently in oral settings such as role
playing, dialogues, singing, and other lively activities.
(Full year/every other day)
Spanish
8 - (Prerequisite - Spanish 7) Students will continue the study of
Spanish through a variety of topics such as foods, clothing, places,
traveling, housing, socializing on the phone, describing people and
family relationships, and expressing opinions. As the course progresses,
students will enhance their listening, speaking, reading and writing
abilities through a variety of projects. Activities will include
vocabulary development, reading novels and short narratives for
comprehension and discussion, and the writing of short paragraphs. (Full
year/every other day)
Nuestros Destinos 8 – (Prerequisite –
Nuestros Destinos 7) Verbally fluent, Spanish speaking students will
take this advanced class. (Full year/every other day)
BASIC SKILLS ENRICHMENT
Reading and/or Math
Remediation
for Math and/or Reading is based on multiple assessments used to
identify students whose skills and deficiencies interfere with their
being able to succeed academically. The factors include, but are not
limited, to New Jersey Department of Education determined criteria based
on standardized achievements test scores and teacher input regarding
academic performance. Students requiring remediation in one or both
areas will be pre-scheduled and would be required to forego one or more
previously selected, non-World Language Encore class. (Full year/every
other day)