On the Twelfth  day of Christmas my teachers gave to me: 12 math assignments, 11 handwriting pages, 10 story elements, 9 grammar pages, 8 measurement problems, 7 essay questions, 6 science experiments, 5 minutes REST, 4 U.S. History timelines, 3 schedule changes, 2 volunteer projects, and 1 week to get it all wrapped up.

11 handwriting pages - Handwriting and letter formation are becoming a lost art.  Practicing cursive writing helps build muscle memory and fine motor skills.

10 story elements - One of the greatest gifts we give our children is the ability to read.  Understanding who the protagonist and antagonist of a story is, helps them gain a deeper appreciation for the work of literature they are                                reading.

9 grammar pages - Speaking and writing fluently and in a concise manner is becoming more critical than ever for our youth.  The use of technology is making it easier for "slang" to be used instead of proper English.  Direct instruction on grammar helps students think, speak, and write more fluently.

8 measurement problems - The U.S. customary systems and the Metric system are both covered in the 8th grade science and math curriculums.  Using the tools appropriate to each measurement task, and learning to convert units, are skills that we will use repeatedly as adults.

7 essay questions - One word answers are not acceptable practice for responding to an essay question.  Identifying the main goal of the question, formulating a response that is thorough, and supporting your statements with details takes practice.  At this point in the school year 8th grade students are gaining a greater assurance in the way they attack essay questions in all classes.

6 science experiments - Since anyone can be a scientist, 8th graders are encouraged to look critically at the world around them, ask questions, and seek solutions.  Laboratory experiences that range from multiple weeks to a single period enhance the learning tasks we complete here at St.                        Michael's.

4 U.S. History timelines - As a focus during this school year students have been asked to read and interpret information contained within a timeline as well as use information they have gathered to create their own timelines.

3 schedule changes - Similar to the weather here in New England the most consistent thing about the 8th grade schedule is that if you give it a minute it will change.  8th graders should be celebrated for their ability to adapt quickly to daily changes and still persevere to do their best.

2 volunteer projects - Many opportunities are provided to the students of St. Michael's to support the local community, specifically during the holidays.  We have had collections for food donations, good neighbor cards, and candy cane sales to raise money for purchasing Christmas presents for those less fortunate. 

1 week to get it all wrapped up.  When we leave for the Christmas holidays, the 8th grade students will have completed the first half of their last year here at St. Michael's.  They will return from break looking ever forward to their final months here and preparing for their new adventures in high school.  We are always busy here in the 8th grade and the learning never stops

Hats off to the members of the National Junior Honor Society for selling and delivering over 500 candy canes! 

Tune in next week to the Messenger to find out how they used the money they raised.