Eighth grade students are required to carry a minimum of six courses.  The Placement Committee will place students into the appropriate level of English, math and science.  An eighth grade student who fails any subject during the regular school session must successfully complete remedial work in the subject area at Brother Martin’s summer session before he may advance to the freshman year at Brother Martin.

Course Requirements > Religion 8 > English 8 or English I Honors* > Introduction to Algebra, Algebra I*, or Algebra I Honors* > Physical Science*, Physical Science Honors*, or Computer Applications I* > World Geography* or World Geography Honors* > Health & Physical Education* *High School Credit

Electives Beginning Band Advanced Band Chorus

Course Descriptions Eighth Grade

Religion 8
This course traces the history of the Catholic Church, introducing students to Creed, sacramental development, and the people who contributed to the Church’s past.  Included in the history of the Church, the students are inculcated in the history of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, the Charism of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, and the Mission of Brother Martin High School.  Additionally, students are taught how to face a variety of relationship choices and challenges beyond the home.  They learn how to choose friends wisely and how to be a good friend and that respect, honesty, responsibility, temperance, and modesty find their place alongside the Christian virtues of love, justice, and the quest for genuine peace.

English 8
This course is designed to introduce basic fundamentals of grammar and usage, including sentence formation and preparation of a topic sentence.  From there, students learn the organization and development of a paragraph.  Students are introduced to the basic literary terms as found in the literature anthology and young adult novels.  A language unit is included as well as weekly vocabulary study.  Incor-porated into this class are the study habits and skills that enable the student to be a successful learner both inside and outside of the classroom.

English I Honors
This course [Eligible for high school credit] is a high school credit course for 8th graders that reviews the basic skills of grammar usage, sentence formation and paragraph construction.  Work then concentrates on stylistic techniques, organization, vocabulary building, and essay writing.  The student studies various literary types and begins analysis of themes.  In this rigorous course, students go beyond the surface of what they read and study to express understanding through composition and presentations.

Introduction to Algebra
This course completes the student’s pre-high school mathematical foundation and provides an introduction to algebra through real-world applications.  Topics covered include integers, variables and expressions; solving equations and inequalities; number theory; graphing; geometrical concepts; statistics and probability; percents and rational numbers; multiplying and factoring polynomials.

Algebra I
This course [Eligible for high school credit] is taken by those 8th graders whose academic record indicates the ability to handle the Algebra I curriculum.  This program includes a study of variables and open sentences, problem solving, polynomials, special products and factoring, algebraic fractions, graphing, radicals, and real numbers. 

Algebra I Honors
This course [Eligible for high school credit] is taken by those 8th graders whose academic record indicates the ability to handle the Algebra I Honors curriculum.  This program includes a more advanced study of variables and open sentences, problem solving, polynomials, special products and factoring, algebraic fractions, graphing, radicals, and real numbers. 

Computer Applications I
This course [High School Credit] is a full-year, one-credit course required of all 8th graders not in Physical Science and of all freshmen who did not take the course in the 8th grade.  The following major topics are covered:
•     Introduction to computer hardware and software, Windows and the Internet
•     Word processing in Word
•     Spreadsheets using Excel
•     Database management with Access
•     Slide show development with PowerPoint
•     Introduction to programming
•     Web page creation in HTML
A student is placed in Computer Applications I only if he is also placed in Introduction to Algebra in the 8th grade.  A student who takes Algebra I or Algebra I Honors in 8th grade will take Computer Applications I in the 9th grade.

Physical Science
This course [High School Credit] is a survey of the fundamental principles of physics and chemistry, the metric system, the scientific method, descriptive chemistry, force, motion, heat, light, electrical energy, organic chemistry and the periodic table.  Physical Science serves to prepare students for future work in biology, chemistry and physics.  A student is placed in Physical Science only if he is also placed in Algebra I in 8th grade.

Physical Science Honors
This course [High School Credit] is taken by students whose background indicates the ability to work at an advanced level.  The course covers the same topics as Physical Science with enrichment activities and additional laboratory work to prepare students for future work in advanced science courses.  A student is placed in Physical Science Honors only if he is also placed in Algebra I Honors in 8th grade.

World Geography
This course [High School Credit] is a required high school credit course for all entering 8th grade students.  The first quarter concentrates on basic geographic skills such as map reading, graph analysis, and chart interpretation.  Also, the student learns the elements of physical and cultural geography.  The second quarter places emphasis on the North American continent with special attention given to Louisiana.  The third quarter concentrates on Latin America and Western Europe.  The fourth quarter is devoted to the study of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Rim.  The course is also designed to serve as an introduction to Brother Martin technology resources.

World Geography Honors
This course [High School Credit] is taken by students whose academic background indicates the ability to work at an advanced level.  The course covers those same topics explored in World Geography but with enrichment activities that encourage analytical thinking.  The student enrolled in this course is required to research topics in depth outside of the classroom.  Also, more advanced writing skills are required; therefore, students placed in World Geography Honors are also placed concurrently in English I Honors.

Health and Physical Education
This course [High School Credit] is a program of indoor and outdoor lifetime physical education activities and instruction.

Eighth Grade Band
This course is for 8th graders who select band as a full credit course.  (Students are allowed to take band as a 7th Credit.) Students with little or no experience may elect Beginning Band which meets daily.  Musicians with moderate performance skills are placed in the Intermediate Class / Symphonic Band which meets daily.  Eighth graders with exceptional musical ability may gain membership in the Advanced Band (Marching and Concert).

Eighth Grade Chorus
This course is a full credit elective course that meets daily to provide training and experience in singing music especially selected for high school male voices.  The experiences are planned to develop a love for singing, to encourage participation in choral activities at school and in the community, to give students a working knowledge of the principles of good singing, to acquaint them with some of the masterpieces of choral literature, and to give proper training to maturing voices.  Attendance at all out-of-school rehearsals and performances is mandatory.

 

Successful completion of the following courses earns a student high school credit:
English I Honors, Algebra I, Algebra I Honors, Physical Science, Physical Science Honors,
World Geography, Health and Physical Education I, and Computer Applications I.