Your Child's Progress 2015-16 | Page 17

GRADE Your Child’s Progress Learning standards for the 2015–16 school year Washington has K–12 learning standards that define the knowledge and skills every student needs to be ready for career, college, and life when they complete high school. Below are brief examples of Washington’s key learning goals for 8th grade. For more complete information, visit: 8 Washington State Learning Goals The Washington state Legislature has established four learning goals to provide the foundation for the development of all academic learning standards in the state: 1. Read with comprehension, write effectively, and communicate successfully in a variety of ways and settings and with a variety of audiences; 2. Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history, including different cultures and participation in representative government; geography; arts; and health and fitness; 3. Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and to integrate technology literacy and fluency as well as different experiences and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems; and 4. Understand the importance of work and finance and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities. www.YourChildsProgress.com • The Arts. Create dances using choreographic devices; make musical choices based on ability; compare genres and styles of theatre; respond to art. • Educational Technology. Use online global newspapers to compare point of view or bias of the same event. • English Language Arts (ELA). Compare and contrast the structures of two or more texts; develop writing by planning, revising, editing, and rewriting. • Health and Fitness. Set goals, track progress, and participate in activities to improve fitness; understand the origins and causes of diseases. • Math. Use linear equations to represent, analyze, and solve problems and analyze functions using representations such as tables, graphs, or equations. • Science. Learn about engineering, develop models, and examine feedbacks between systems. • Social Studies. Investigate the ideas, issues and events from the framing of the Constitution through Reconstruction and Industrialization. Washington also has learning standards in Integrated Environment and Sustainability, World Languages, Career and Technical Education (frameworks and industry standards for middle and high school), English Language Proficiency (in ELA, math and science), as well as guidelines for HIV & Sexual Health and Early Learning (birth–3rd grade) that complement a well-rounded education for all students. Special education: Students who receive services have accommodations, modifications, and supports identified in their individual education plans. English language learners: Students who are learning to speak English have language proficiency standards that help teachers plan instruction across subjects that is appropriate to each student’s level of language development. August 2015, Publication No. 15-0043 Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction www.k12.wa.us