Summer Reading Requirements for Students Entering Eighth Grade
- The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- To Be a Slave by Julius Lester
- Bridge to America by Linda Glaser
- At least one other book based on the student's interest and reading level
*Read with a dictionary! You must submit a vocabulary list for each book of the words and definitions that you looked up in the dictionary.
Supplies Needed for Eighth Grade
Well-sharpened #2 pencils with erasers, red pens, blue or black pens
6 marble copybooks Spiral books are not permitted
pack of 100 index cards (3x5)
Texas Instrument Calculator TI-34 II (Staples @ $19.99)
9x12 Artist sketch book with a minimum of 50 pages
Loose leaf paper
Paperback dictionary and thesaurus
Markers, crayons, scissors, glue or glue sticks and two rolls of scotch tape in an art box
Highlighters
Pencil case (students may not have scissors or compasses in their pencil case)
Protractor and compass OR geotool to leave at home for homework
On the first day of school, each child is asked to bring in the following:
2 rolls of paper towels
4 boxes of tissues
3 containers of Clorox wipes
2 bottles of hand sanitizer
*Students are not permitted to have White-out in school.
Writing & Grammar, Literature, Social Studies, & Science:
Vocabulary and Math: www.sadlier-oxford.com
(Note: there are no available textbook websites for the Religion or Advanced Math texts.)
KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR READING AND TESTING TIPS
Have time for work AND time for play! (woohoo!)
I. Get organized; to be successful in anything, you need a plan (If you fail to
plan, you plan to fail.)
A. Make a study schedule
1. Set aside a definite amount of time just for study
a. It’s easier to plan to study a little each day than to drive yourself
(and whoever else is at home with you) crazy working overtime
at the last minute. (Oh, the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth!)
2. List the subjects you will be working on
a. Have your assignments printed out (how easy can it
get??) and daily updates/changes written in assignment book
B. Have a plan of attack (Da da da da – CHAAAAAAARGE!)
1. Arrange your subjects/assignments by the degree of challenge
each presents to you. List them from the easiest to the most
challenging.
EXAMPLE:
1. Least challenging
2. More challenging
3. Even more challenging
4. Most challenging
Now, to get the ball rolling, you need to begin with a subject that comes
fairly easily to you. Choose #2, the “more challenging”
subject/assignment. (Save #1 – the “least challenging” – for last, when
your brain is tired.)
Next, work on #3 – your “even more challenging” subject. You’re feeling
confident and building up the mental energy to attack the next subject…
#4 – the “most challenging.” You’ve worked up to the moment of
moments, you’re feeling good about what you’ve already
accomplished, and you’re brain is firing and ready to tackle your biggest
challenge of the evening. (Trust me, it is! – Just do it!)
Whew! You made it through your toughest challenge and it feels great to
put THOSE books back into your backpack. Now wind up your hard work
with your #1 – (“least challenging”) subject. You’re brain is tired, and it
will feel good to cruise through that last assignment.
C. A little reward goes a long way (but stay on task!)
1. Take a 5-minute break after each subject but don’t hop on
the computer, text/make phone calls/watch TV, etc, just yet.
Five minutes gives you only enough time to stretch, go to bathroom,
grab a drink, and get back to work. Pronto! (Just do it!)
D. Use study time even when you have no daily assignment. (
both know you can never honestly say, “I’ve got no homework!”)
1. Set aside time every night for every subject
a. Even if you don’t have “homework,” spend the time reviewing class
notes/handouts/study guides, rereading the text, and even making
up a test for yourself and taking it (a great “study” method)
E. The BIG pay-off! (I mean, BIG BIG BIG!)
1. Making and sticking to a study schedule will:
a. give you more time for recreation activities than you realize (YAY!)
b. keep you up-to-date on school work
c. make test preparation easier and more effective (no need for
cramming!)
d. do away with rushed and nervous feelings
e. help improve your grades almost immediately
F. WHERE to study
1. a well-lit kitchen or dining room table are best (make sure it’s clean and
clear of clutter)
2. stay away from the phone, TV, computer
a. if you need the computer for internet research, post an away
message before you get started so that you’re not interrupted by IMs
3. have all supplies handy (pens, post-its, index cards, theme paper,
dictionary, thesaurus, etc.)
QUOTING NIKE, GODDESS OF SNEAKERS AND SPORTING GOODS: JUST DO IT!
“It’s easier to run to stay ahead than to run to catch up.” – Mr. Hopkins
How to Understand What You Read
1. Make predictions and ask questions about what you’ll be reading
ahead of time so that you read with a purpose.
2. Begin to read. Stop frequently and ask yourself: “Do I get it?”
“What part(s) don’t I understand?”
3. To build understanding, use graphic organizers like story or word
maps, charts, and graphs.
4. Work to recognize main ideas (nonfiction) and story structure
(fiction). When reading nonfiction (ex., your Social Studies
textbook), identify key terms, events, people, causes, conflicts,
and effects (nonfiction). With fiction, recognize story structure –
setting, characters, initiating events, internal reactions, goals,
attempts, and outcomes.
5. Generate and list questions about what you’ve read. “If I were
the teacher, what would I ask?” Find the answers to those
questions and write them down.
6. Summarize what you’ve read. Pick out the main ideas, condense
them, and put them in your own words.