Grade Level: Grade 8

Goal 1: Skills for Learning
The student acquires the attitudes, knowledge, aptitudes, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school.

The student will:

1. List reasons for having and meeting deadlines.
2. Demonstrate independence in managing school responsibilities.
3. Compare and contrast learning styles and their implications for academic achievement.

Goal 2: School Success
The student employs strategies to achieve success in school.

The student will:

1. Demonstrate independence in managing school responsibilities.
2. Review 9th grade course selections in light of high school graduation requirements.
3. Select high school electives that reflect abilities, goals, and graduation requirements.

Goal 3: Academics to Life Success
The student understands the relationship of academics to the world of work and to life at home and in the community.

The student will:

1. Demonstrate an awareness of the similarities and differences between the school environment and the world of work.
2. Be able to balance academic assignments, extracurricular activities, family life, and leisure time activities in a healthy and productive manner.

Goal 4: Investigate Careers
The student acquires the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make career choices.

The student will:

1. Complete a career interest inventory.
2. Investigate an individual career based on results of the interest inventory and knowledge of career clusters.
3. Use career materials, technology, and related sources to acquire career information.

Goal 5: Career Success
Students will employ strategies to achieve future career success and satisfaction.

The student will:

1. Discuss available secondary school opportunities.
2. Explore course opportunities and requirements of the high school program.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of academic and vocational programs offered in the high school.

Goal 6: Relationship Between School and Work
The student will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education and training in the world of work.

The student will:

1. Identify two ways decisions about education and work relate to other major life decisions.
2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of various life role options influencing career planning.
3. Discuss the correlation between personal qualities and various occupations.

Goal 7: Respect Self and Others
The student acquires the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help understand and respect self and others.

The student will:

1. Discuss the importance of valuing race, culture, gender, and religious differences.
2. Be able to discuss one's individuality in order to accept differences as necessary and desirable rather than negative.
3. Demonstrate ways of communicating feelings appropriately.

Goal 8: Goal Setting and Attainment
The student makes decisions, goal sets, and takes action.

The student will:

1. Identify long and short term educational and career goals.
2. Discuss the importance of volunteer work in the school and community.
3. Describe how personal, social, educational, and career goals are interrelated.

Goal 9: Survival and Safety Skills
The student understands safety and survival skills.

The student will:

1. Demonstrate effective conflict resolution techniques.
2. Review ways of managing anger as an alternative to violence.
3. Discuss the effects of peer pressure.

Benchmarks at the end of the middle level (Grade 8)