The foci of Common Core Math 8 are outlined below by domain:

WCPSS has excellent teachers, strong leaders and a wealth of support from parents and the community. We are dedicated to providing our teachers with the best resources possible to ensure students are learning what they need to know to be prepared for college, career, and life. We have chosen Mathematics Vision Project (MVP) as the curriculum resource to support teachers of NC Math 1 beginning with the 2017-18 school year. It will be phased into Math 2 and 3 over the following two years.

 

What is the Mathematics Vision Project? MVP is an open-source high school mathematics curriculum written by and for teachers. MVP was created to address the future needs of students competing in a global community.

 

 

At this site, click on the “ABOUT” tab and select “MVP Overview Presentation” to watch a short video that gives an overview of the materials and the instructional model.

 

What is a typical lesson like? The MVP classroom experience does not look like the traditional math classroom that students may have experienced in the past. In the MVP classroom the teacher launches a deep mathematical task and then allows students time to work with a partner or small group on solving the task. The teacher circulates among students and encourages them to explore, question, consider, discuss their ideas, and listen to the ideas of their classmates. Then the teacher brings the whole class back together to discuss different solution pathways and the mathematics involved. Therefore, the teacher’s role continues to be of utmost importance and central to the successful implementation of the MVP curriculum materials.

 

What is homework like? The “Ready, Set, Go!” homework assignments have been correlated to the daily classroom experience. The homework is organized into three parts.

In Common Core Math II, students continue to deepen their study of quadratic expressions, equations, and functions; comparing their characteristics and behavior to those of linear and exponential relationships from Common Core Math I. The concept of quadratics is generalized with the introduction of higher degree polynomials. New methods for solving quadratic and exponential equations are developed. The characteristics of advanced types of functions are investigated (including power, inverse variation, radical, absolute value, piecewise-defined, and simple trigonometric functions). The link between probability and data is explored through conditional probability and counting methods. Students explore more complex geometric situations and deepen their explanations of geometric relationships, moving towards formal mathematical arguments. Important differences exist between Math II and the historical approach taken in Geometry classes. For example, transformations are explored early in the course and provide the framework for studying geometric concepts such as similarity and congruence. The study of similarity leads to an understanding of right triangle trigonometry and connects to quadratics through Pythagorean relationships. The Standards for Mathematical Practice apply throughout each course and, together with the content standards, require that students experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that makes use of their ability to make sense of problem situations. This course fulfills the North Carolina high school graduation requirement for Common Core Math II. The final exam is the North Carolina Final Exam for Common Core Math II. 

Traditional laboratory experiences provide opportunities to demonstrate how science is constant, historic, probabilistic, and replicable. Although there are no fixed steps that all scientists follow, scientific investigations usually involve collections of relevant evidence, the use of logical reasoning, the application of imagination to devise hypotheses, and explanations to make sense of collected evidence. Student engagement in scientific investigation provides background for understanding the nature of scientific inquiry. In addition, the science process skills necessary for inquiry are acquired through active experience. The process skills support development of reasoning and problem-solving ability and are the core of scientific methodologies.

By the end of this course, the students will be able to:

Healthful Living is required for all 8th grade students and includes health education and physical education. These two courses complement each other as students learn how to be healthy and physically active for a lifetime. Because our health and physical fitness needs are so different from a generation ago, the nature of healthful living is changing. Poor health choices (i.e., use of alcohol and other drugs, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity) now account for more than 50% of the preventable deaths in the United States.

 

Through a quality healthful living education program, students will learn the importance of health and physical activity and develop skills to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Students will learn how to apply the concepts of proper 19 exercise in their daily lives, discover ways to handle stress, avoid harmful and illegal drugs, learn about the relationship between nutrition and weight management, develop healthy interpersonal relationships (including conflict resolution skills), develop teamwork and character-building skills, and learn how to achieve positive health and fitness goals.

 

In eighth grade, students will identify how media and peer pressure influence health behaviors, identify positive ways to manage stress, explain how to gain, reduce or maintain weight in a healthy manner, demonstrate skills and strategies for remaining abstinent from sexual intercourse, and demonstrate good communication skills for healthy relationships. Students will demonstrate basic CPR skills, understand the special risks associated with alcohol and other drugs, understand the negative impact (emotional, social, and physical) of using harmful and illegal drugs, and assist others to seek help for risky behaviors. Students will explain the principles of cardiovascular and strength conditioning, develop a personal fitness program, establish personal fitness goals and monitor their progress, participate in regular physical activity both in school and during non-school hours, display advanced sport movements through the engagement in dual, team, and lifetime sports. Students will work cooperatively to follow rules and exhibit safe practices while achieving individual and group fitness-related goals through fair play and sportsmanship. CPR instruction is presented as part of the 8th grade Health curriculum. Beginning with the graduating class of 2015 (current 8th graders and beyond), successful completion of CPR instruction is a high school graduation requirement for all North Carolina students. Successful completion is defined in the Essential Standards Curriculum as “demonstrating basic CPR techniques and procedures on a mannequin and passing a Red Cross or American Heart Association approved test of CPR skills.” Students who successfully complete CPR in 8th grade are considered to have met the requirement.

 

Because of the nature of health education, discussion may include sensitive topics. By contacting the school principal, parents may request in writing that their child be excluded from certain health topics owing to personal/religious beliefs.