Academics

Junior high students read major works of fiction and nonfiction from all over the world and different time periods.  Teachers focus on developing students’ literacy skills:  reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking.  Students will continue to learn how to comprehend what they read, respond to what they read, and evaluate an author’s assumptions and claims.  They will conduct research that will require the analysis of resources and accurate interpretation of literary and informational text.

Students in 7th grade will refine their mathematics skills through the common core curriculum.  Students will need to solve complex problems with precision through accurate mathematical practices. The curriculum includes computation with rational numbers through simplifying expressions and solving equations and inequalities. Students need to have a solid understanding of fractions, decimals, and percents. Other curricular focuses include geometry, proportional relationships, statistics, and probability.  

• Unit 1: Proportional Relationships 
• Unit 2: Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities
• Unit 3: Angle Relationships
• Unit 4: Ratios and Proportions 
• Unit 5: Area, Surface Area, and Volume
• Unit 6: Probability and Statistics

Students in 8th grade will be focusing on application of algebraic math concepts, introducing multiple variables.  Students will need to solve multi-step and systems of linear equations accurately using the computations skills that are mastered in previous curricula. Students will develop a strong understanding of graphing on the coordinate plane along with applications of transformations on two dimensional figures. Eighth grade students will be able to solve real world problems by applying their understanding of functions. Curriculum will also include solving problems with radicals and exponents, statistical problems, and problems with two and three dimensional figures.  

• Unit 1:  Rational and Irrational Values
• Unit 2: Congruence and Angle Relationships
• Unit 3: Integer Exponent and Scientific Notation
• Unit 4: Linear Equations 
• Unit 5: Functions 
• Unit 6: Systems of Linear Equations
• Unit 7: Linear Inequalities

Jefferson’s 7th and 8th grade science curriculums focus on teaching the skills necessary for students to problem solve and explore science as it applies to real life issues. Incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards, we foster a love of science and the ability to follow the scientific method and analyze data to make decisions about the natural world. Students create and use models and follow the design cycle to build awareness and develop solutions for modern health, technology and environmental problems.

The aim of our program is to equip students with the skills and attitudes needed to reach decisions about social, political and economic issues, and then exercise political influence based on those decisions. This includes but is not limited to selecting information relevant to solve a problem, identifying values involved in the decision, and considering the likely consequences of the chosen action. Further, students will understand and empathize with others’ perspectives that differ from their own.

A varied physical education program is conducted using our two gymnasiums, our fitness facility, two outdoor fields and our health/wellness instruction room. The curriculum emphasizes individual fitness development, team and individual sports and dance. All students have physical education five days a week. Required uniforms are purchased as part of the registration process and are available for replacement purchase throughout the school year.

Debate and Discourse will give students the opportunity to engage with a variety of communication platforms, discussion techniques, and argumentative structures. Students will investigate, evaluate, and critique a variety of current events and issues that impact daily student life with peers. The spirit of this class is to allow students to evaluate evidence on both sides of an issue presented in an argument, formulate their individual stance on the issue, utilize accountable talk, and learn a variety of strategies to effectively communicate their position. Students will experience social media discourse, written discourse, and verbal discourse utilizing high-interest topics. This course will also help students to value the diverse ways of thinking in their classroom, school, and community.

Students will explore basic concepts of economics and how those concepts relate to the global economy, corporations, and their personal living experiences. Students will understand what a stock represents and the correlation among assets, liabilities, and owner’s equity. Further, students will understand how to interpret a balance sheet and the relationship between the organization and its owners. Students will apply these concepts by participating in a stock market simulation, working collaboratively with peers and acting as portfolio managers. They will utilize digital and print resources to research corporations and assess trends that may affect the stock market.

Communication:  Innovation and Influence provides students with a variety of communication strategies to ensure their voice is heard.  Students will be exposed to a variety of platforms and tools (improvisation, storytelling, news/sports casting, etc.) to influence a variety of audiences.  Through the development of verbal and nonverbal communication techniques, students will learn to influence their audiences.

This course will help students learn to inform, persuade, and entertain their audiences, while sending an impactful message.

Music Mindfulness is a course that goes beyond learning the principles of music, music appreciation, and exploration of instruments such as guitar and keyboard.  In addition to these themes, students will begin the process of acquiring skills to recognize and manage emotions, develop empathy for others, make responsible decisions, establish positive relationships, and handle challenging situations effectively through the power of music.

Music Production will provide students with the opportunity to create their own music like a professional producer in the music industry, without requiring knowledge of theory or instrumental skills. Using music creation and editing software, students will gain the knowledge needed to edit, manipulate and re-imagine pre-recorded music files, as well as create new original compositions. In order to understand the motives behind composition choices made by emerging artists, students will also learn about the basic elements of music.

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) prepares students for the global economy by providing rigorous and innovative science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education curricular programs for middle (and high) schools. The PLTW Gateway to Technology (GTT) program features a project-based curriculum designed to challenge and engage the natural curiosity and imagination of middle school students. Students envision, design and test their ideas with the same advanced modeling software used by companies like Lockheed Martin, Intel and Sprint. The knowledge students gain and the skills they build from GTT create a strong foundation for further STEM learning in high school and beyond. Throughout GTT, students acquire knowledge and skills in problem solving, teamwork and innovation as well as explore STEM careers. Students will participate in the following modules:

This course provides an experience where students build upon their knowledge of studio arts (drawing, painting, etc.) through the design thinking process.  The intention is for students to create art to meet the wants and needs of a target audience.  Students will work independently and cooperatively to communicate their artistic message and showcase their creativity.

Flexibility. Adaptability. Creativity. Critical Thinking. Problem Solving. Collaboration. These are the skills of a successful 21st century citizen in the workforce. This class will focus on teaching the essential life, career, and innovation skills needed to be successful, regardless of career choice. Through engaging critical thinking scenarios, students will learn to effectively collaborate with peers as well as learn strategies and specific processes to use when solving a problem.

This course will provide students with hands-on learning experiences, where students will have the opportunity to create art using software programs such as Canva.  Students will have opportunities to work collaboratively to simulate the experience of working on a team of designers.  Students will engage in marketing and advertising simulations where students will have the opportunity to create logos and participate in personal/business branding.

Students enroll in Spanish for two years at Jefferson Junior High and learn to communicate in Spanish via reading, writing, speaking and listening. By taking both Spanish I & II students are able to earn credit for high school Spanish, allowing them to enroll in Spanish 2 as a freshman in high school. Students begin by learning to ask and answer questions in Spanish as well as share information. Throughout the two years, students listen to one another and provide feedback to peers to improve pronunciation. The teacher acts as a role model by speaking almost exclusively in Spanish beginning 2nd semester of the first year. Integrated into the curriculum are technology tools for students to practice their Spanish (such as Mango and Duolingo) and exploration into world cultures that speak Spanish. Through performance assessments in reading, writing, speaking and listening, students gain a solid foundation for Spanish 2 in high school.

The Jefferson Junior High School Band program is an award winning program that can boast some amazing accomplishments. The Jefferson bands have worked with collegiate directors from Illinois State University, Northwestern University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, Wheaton College, and Carthage College; performed for Grammy Award winning musicians such as Frank Mantooth and Jeff Coffin; commissioned works from top rated composers such as Timothy Loest and Robert Sheldon; and have worked with multiple top rated Chicagoland studio musicians.  The Jefferson bands have also performed at many venues outside of Woodridge including Orchestra Hall Symphony Center in Chicago.

All 7th grade students are eligible to join band. While previous experience is preferable, no previous experience is necessary in order to join the Jefferson band program as long as the student is studious and willing to work to catch up to the rest of the class. A student with no prior experience in band must have the permission of the band director to join the band program.

Jefferson also has a jazz band, Friends of Jazz, that is only open to students in the Jefferson band program. Rehearsals for Friends of Jazz are before school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Students in Friends of Jazz will have many opportunities to perform in other venues and work with professional jazz musicians. Participation in evening events is required.