Humanities
These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.
Reading
The student:
- Reads grade level material with full comprehension.
- Reads for pleasure and knowledge, and understands plot, setting, theme, character development, point of view and figurative language.
- Recognizes different genres with increased understanding of literary devices.
- Analyzes text for plot, character development, themes and other structural patterns.
- Analyzes a work of literature, showing how it reflects the heritage, traditions, attitudes and beliefs of its author/culture.
- Uses current readings and texts to support vocabulary work.
Writing
The student:
- Writes with a command of standard English conventions appropriate to grade level in terms of grammar, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation.
- Takes thorough notes in class consistently.
- Learns and uses new vocabulary words throughout the term.
- Identifies and traces an author’s argument, pointing to textual evidence to support assertions.
- Writes cohesive paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting details.
- Writes clear and focused essays, containing formal introductions, supporting evidence and conclusions.
- Thoughtfully reflects, then carefully revises, carefully edits and proofreads papers for word choice, appropriate organization, consistent point of view and transitions.
- Writes fictional narratives with a standard plot line and complex major and minor characters.
History
The student:
- Demonstrates understanding of general geographic terms and the specific geography of China.
- Demonstrates understanding of the main tenets of Confucianism.
- Demonstrates understanding of the general timeline of China and through research of major contributions and events during different dynasties.
- Demonstrates understanding of the events and the causes and effects of the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
- Demonstrates understanding of the immigration patterns of the United States.
- Locates, organizes, and interprets written information for a variety of purposes, including research, decision-making, and presentations.
- Is able to verify the reliability of sources used.
- Gives credit for quoted or paraphrased information through proper citations.
- Constructs logical and valid opinions based upon thoughtful research.
- Articulates differing perspectives on controversial topics.
- Delivers focused, informative and inventive presentations that convey ideas clearly.
Math/Algebra I
These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.
Students are expected to successfully demonstrate the following skills and concepts without the use of a calculator.
Number Sense
The student:
- Demonstrates fluency and accuracy in computation as well as the ability to judge the reasonableness of an answer.
- Uses the Order of Operations to solve equations with variables.
- Demonstrates the successful use of arithmetic properties: equality, commutative and distributive.
- Adds, subtracts, multiplies, divides and compares integers.
- Adds, subtracts, multiplies, divides and compares fractions, decimals and percents.
- Successfully calculates the GCF of a set of numbers and LCM when adding/subtracting fractions.
- Interprets and applies the algebraic symbols: grouping, quantity, absolute values and inequality.
- Interprets the language of algebra by translating word phrases into symbols and solve real world problems.
- Solves one-step, two-step, and multi-step equations.
- Uses proportional reasoning to analyze and solve problems involving: rates, ratio, proportion and percent.
- Evaluates algebraic expressions.
Equations and Inequalities
The student:
- Successfully solves equations: multi-step, fractional/decimal, absolute value, proportion and percent.
- Solves for a given variable in a formula.
- Determines and graphs solutions to inequalities.
- Solves inequalities using mathematical properties.
Exponents and Polynomials
The student:
- Multiplies and divides numbers in exponential form.
- Multiplies and divides monomials, binomials, and polynomials.
- Adds and subtracts monomials, binomials and polynomials.
- Reviews and reinforces the use of Scientific Notation.
Polynomials and Factoring
The student:
- Factors monomials and polynomials.
- Recognizes and factors trinomials.
- Solves polynomial equations equal to zero by factoring.
- Solves problems by writing polynomial equations.
Graphs and Linear Equations
The student:
- Identifies and plots points using a quadrant-coordinate system.
- Determines if an ordered pair is a solution to a system.
- Graphs equations in two variables.
- Determines the slope of a line given two points (horizontal and vertical included).
- Finds the slope and y-intercept of a line from an equation.
- Graphs lines using slope-intercept equation.
- Writes an equation of a line using slope-intercept and point-slope methods.
- Finds the equation of a line that models given data.
- Determines whether the graphs of two lines are parallel or perpendicular.
Systems of Equations
The student:
- Determines whether an ordered pair is a solution of a system of equations.
- Finds the solution of a system of equations by graphing, substitution and elimination methods.
- Solves problems using systems of equations – age, motion and digit/coin problems.
Inequalities and Absolute Value
The student:
- Finds the intersection and union of sets involving absolute value.
- Solves and graphs conjunction and disjunction of two inequalities in one variable.
- Solves inequalities involving absolute value.
- Graphs inequalities in two variables.
- Graphs system of inequalities in two variables.
Rational Expressions and Equations
The student:
- Simplifies, multiplies, adds, and subtracts rational expressions with like and unlike denominators.
- Solves equations involving rational expressions.
- Solves problems using rational expressions – job, motion, and mixture.
- Divides a polynomial by a monomial, binomial and polynomial.
Radical Expressions and Equations
The student:
- Determines if a real number is rational or irrational.
- Finds the square roots of perfect squares.
- Simplifies radical expressions.
- Uses the product property for radicals.
- Multiplies, divides, adds and subtracts radical expressions.
- Solves triangles using the Pythagorean Theorem.
- Understands the relationship among sides of a right triangle – 45-45-90 and 30-60-90.
Quadratic Equations
The student:
- Writes a quadratic equation in standard form.
- Solves quadratic equations.
- Completes the square for a quadratic equation.
- Solves a quadratic equation by completing the square.
- Uses the quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations.
- Uses the discriminant to find the number of solutions for a quadratic equation.
- Solves problems using quadratic equations.
Science
These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.
Skills
The student:
- Devises a step-by-step procedure to solve problems and make decisions.
- Works collaboratively to develop solutions to scientific (or other) problems.
- Accurately collects, organizes, analyzes, evaluates, and presents data.
- Writes clear, concise discussions for experiments which justify conclusions.
- Correlates cause and effect.
Content
The student:
- Demonstrates an understanding of Newton’s law’s of motion
- Describes the relationship between force, mass and acceleration.
- Describes work in joules as a product of force times distance.
- Demonstrates an understanding of simple machines and their ability to make work easier.
- Calculates the power needed to complete a task using a simple machine.
- Constructs a series of linked simple machines which reliably produces the desired result. (Rube Goldberg)
- Describes the relationship between mechanical energy and thermal energy.
- Shows an understanding of the laws of thermodynamics.
- Demonstrates knowledge of the greenhouse effect and ways which human’s actions can influence global climate.
- Builds a working solar oven.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the physical and chemical properties of matter.
- Identifies physical vs. chemical changes in matter.
- Shows knowledge of the structure of the atom.
- Predicts chemical reactions by examining reactants valence electron configuration
- Writes and balances basic chemical reactions using the periodic table and chemical symbols
- Demonstrates knowledge and application of Charles Law and Boyles Law.
- Actively participates in a five day marine science field trip.
- Shows knowledge of the form and function of the endocrine system.
- Demonstrates an understanding of various properties of sound.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the Doppler effect as it relates to sound and light.
Spanish
These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.
Skill Development
The student:
- Produces correct conjugations for regular –ar, -er, and –ir verbs.
- Understands and uses expressions with tener (to have).
- Correctly uses and comprehends future expressions using the infinitive.
- Identifies main ideas in Spanish texts (literature, songs, and articles).
- Demonstrates an understanding of the distinction between ser and estar, and saber and conocer.
- Uses conditional tense to invite and respond to invitations.
- Consistently demonstrates an understanding of Tú versus Usted.
- Creates and comprehends sentences utilizing comparatives.
- Comprehends and uses vocabulary relating to travel and food.
- Comprehends and uses vocabulary relating to health and the body.
- Produces the correct conjugation for irregular verbs introduced.
- Understands the use of personal pronouns and indirect and direct object pronouns.
- Develops a basic understanding of preterit conjugations and usage.
Participation
The student:
- Puts forth effort on a daily basis.
- Participates actively in class activities and discussions.
- Responds to questions.
- Asks questions about class activities.
- Pronounces language clearly.
- Demonstrates intention to use acquired skills in new contexts.
- Appreciates and describes aspects of Spanish-speaking cultures.
Physical Education
These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.
Skill & Concept Development
The student:
- Demonstrates an understanding of movement concepts and the use of motor skills.
- Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior.
- Demonstrates the ability to use effective interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrates the ability to use the decision-making skills of appropriate goal setting, risk taking and problem solving.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the concepts and skills needed to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
- Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and social interaction.
- Demonstrates an understanding of and respect for differences.
Art
These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.
Skill Development
The student:
- Completes projects which demonstrate objectives.
- Completes projects which demonstrate confidence/experimentation.
Participation
The student:
- Uses class time productively.
- Puts forth effort and perseverance.
MDAC Wheel
In the seventh and eighth grade students participate in specialized studies in Music, Drama, Art, and Community Service in a quarterly structure called the MDAC wheel. During these classes students are given the ability to choose from a group of topics which one they will focus on learning more in depth. As a result of this, specific benchmarks are not listed here and vary for each student.