What Eighth Grade Parents Need To Know

In eighth grade, we work with students to prepare them academically and emotionally for the transition to secondary school. This is a very important year in which students are encouraged to become more independent learners and to accept responsibility for both behavior and education. To this end, students are required to complete homework and fill in their agenda books daily.
Placement in high school courses is determined by the performance of each individual student. It is absolutely essential that students do their best work every term, so we can make accurate recommendations for their placement.
Students must pass English, math, science, and social studies if they wish to move on to the high school. Summer programs will be required for students who do not pass these courses.
In eighth grade, students make great strides in maturity. They undergo tremendous physical, as well as mental, growth. Many of their friendships will change as they begin to assert their newly formed teenage identities. The increased pressures of school, social life, home, and extracurricular activities can be overwhelming. Students who stay organized, and have a regular time every day that they do homework tend to manage these pressures better.
We look forward to working with your child. If you would like to meet with a teacher or the team, please call the guidance office to set up an appointment. We are happy to meet with you at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions
How can I assist my child in the transition to high school? Attend all meetings and open houses scheduled by the high school. Encourage your child to spend a day at the high school, easily arranged through the high school guidance office. Stay involved after he or she starts the freshman year. If you have questions, call the Portsmouth Middle School guidance office.

How will my child be placed in classes at Portsmouth High School? Course selection begins in the spring of the eighth grade year. At that time, teachers will make recommendations for placement.

In terms of writing, what developmental growth should we expect to see? Students in eighth grade are expected to produce writing for a variety of purposes. Their pieces should be long enough to develop their ideas fully. They write short stories, narrative essays and research papers. The research paper is a big step. It does not have to be long, but it should show that the student could find information in a variety of places, assemble that information, and cite it properly. These skills will be critical in high school, especially in social studies, science, and English.

What should my child read in order to be prepared for high school? Your child should be reading novels and non-fiction work independently. He or she should be familiar with a variety of genres, including the short story, historical narrative, and biography. In science and social studies, they will be expected to find current events articles in magazines and newspapers and speak articulately about them.

back