Course Selection Night 6 th and 7 th Grade Parents February 4, 2019
Course Description Guides • Distributed to 6 th grade students in homeroom on 1/29/19 • Digital version sent to 7 th grade student laptops • Available on the WCASD website • http://www.wcasd.net • Curriculum • Course Selection 2019-2020 • Middle School Course Description Guide
What 6 th & 7 th grade parents need to know about the course selection process…
Timeline Teacher Feb. 1 – 12 Recommendations Students/Parents select UA Feb. 13 – 20 Electives 1 st Review of March 4 – 15 Recommendations/Course Change Request Window 2 nd Review of March 18 - 22 Recommendations and Requests/Course Change Requests Window Course Change DEADLINE March 29
Placement Decisions • Placement of students into appropriate courses is an important factor that contributes to student success. • Multiple data points: PSSA, PVAAS, student performance in class (report card grades), and teacher recommendations. • Additional assessment data may be considered should any be available for individual students.
7 th Grade Schedule
Daily Schedule: Seven full periods plus lunch. 1. English 2. Social Studies 3. Unified Arts 4. Unified Arts 5. Lunch 6. Science 7. Reading Through Time OR World Language 8. Math
English • 6th Grade Teachers will complete recommendations • Course Options Accelerated English English Level 1 English Level 2
Science and Social Studies • Science Course Options Unlevelled • Social Studies Course Options Unlevelled
Mathematics 6 th Grade Teachers will complete recommendations • Course Options Algebra 1 Mathematics Level 1 Mathematics Level 2
World Language OR Reading Reading teachers will make recommendations • If recommended for World Language: • 6 th grade students MUST complete the Course Request Form with choice selected: • French 1 • Spanish 1
World Language OR Reading Reading teachers will make recommendations • If recommended for Reading: • Reading 7 Level 1 • Reading 7 Level 2 • Reading Plus
World Language • High-proficient or advanced in reading PSSA in 5 th and 6 th grades. • Grades of A’s and B’s in English and Reading classes in 6 th grade. • Parents/Students must fill out the World Language Selection form to indicate language choice.
Reading Reading Through Time Students will apply reading skills and strategies developed in this class in all content areas. Reading Plus Provides intense, formal reading intervention by a reading specialist. Students who are required to take this course will be selected based on need as determined by multiple criteria.
7 th Grade Unified Arts UA Period #1 UA Period #2 2-Day year long 6-Day Quarterly classes Classes • Health • Art • P.E. • Computer Science • *Music (band, • Family and chorus, orchestra Consumer Sciences OR classroom • Technology music) Education *Students must choose a music class.
8 th Grade Schedule
Daily Schedule: Seven full periods plus lunch 1. Unified Arts 2. Unified Arts 3. U.S. History 4. Reading & Writing for Life OR World Language 5. Science 6. Lunch 7. Math 8. English
English 7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations Course Options • Accelerated English • English Level 1 • English Level 2
Mathematics 7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations Course Options Geometry 8 Algebra 8 Pre Algebra 8
Science 7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations Course Options Level 1- Above Grade Level Level 2- On Grade Level
Social Studies 7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations Course Options Level 1- Above Grade Level Level 2- On Grade Level
World Languages OR OR Reading • Students will be recommended for World Language OR Reading & Writing for Life • Students may choose Reading & Writing for Life even if they are recommended for World Language.
Reading & Writing for Life • This course is an elective designed for students who wish to explore reading and writing in the areas of short stories, non-fiction, journalism, living on your own, the law, and script writing.
World Language Options 7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations Spanish 1 Spanish 2 (must pass Spanish 1 and be recommended by teacher) French 1 French 2 (must pass French 1 and be recommended by teacher) Latin 1 Italian 1 German 1
World Language • Students who took Spanish I or French I this year may want to choose Spanish II or French II, but they don’t have to. They should check online to see their current teacher’s recommendation for next year. • Requests to switch languages will not be accommodated after 3/29/19. • There will be no high school credit offered for these courses.
UA Period #1 (6-Day Cycle) 2 day full year 2 day quarter classes classes • Health 8 • PE 8 • Performing Music (either Chorus, Band, or Orchestra) All four of these 2 day OR quarter classes • Exploring Design • Teen Impact • Design for the Real World • Classroom Music
Performing Music Performing Music Students will select: Chorus, Band, or Orchestra. • Students in Band, Chorus, or Orchestra will perform individually, in small groups, and in an ensemble. • Students in music classes will receive a grade. • Students in a performing music class must have an interest in improving their singing or playing an instrument.
UA Period #2 (6-Day Cycle) 2-day quarter 4-day quarter classes (all students classes (students take all four) choose four) • Guidance 1- Q1 or Q2 Art 2D • Guidance 2- Q3 or Q4 Art 3D • Comp Sci 1- Q1 or Q2 Creative Chef • Comp Sci 2- Q3 or Q 4 Early Child Develpmt. • Trans. Eng. & Design • Sustainable Design • Popular Music
Just to reiterate and clarify… • After choosing a music class, 7 th grade students will request their 4 Unified Arts preferences. • We will do our best to accommodate all UA requests. • Requests to switch any of a student’s Unified Arts preferences will not be accommodated after 3/29/19.
8 th Grade Unified Arts Electives Current 7 th grade students must choose 4 of the following…
Popular Music • Provides an overview of the musical roots and trends which have influenced today’s popular music styles. • Explore many popular music styles, including hip hop, rap, jazz, blues, reggae, musical theatre, punk, funk, heavy metal, and much more. • Students achieve a greater understanding of music fundamentals and stylistic influences that make up the music they enjoy.
Early Childhood Development Focuses on learning the developmental stages of infants, toddlers and pre- schoolers. We also play with kids!
The curriculum follows a culinary Creative path around the globe, cooking and learning from America to Mexico to Chef China and Italy. It also includes a section on dietary restrictions.
Sustainable Design - Challenges students to research, analyze and create solutions to specific problems involving technology. - Trash Collection - Water Filtration - Insulation - Hydroponics
Transportation, Engineering, & Design - Hands-on course emphasizing innovation and engineering skills using the technological design process. - Students are required to research, design and produce a working model of a transportation device. - Dragsters - Rockets - Gliders
Course Selection Procedure
During the week of February 13 – 20 , go on Parent Portal with your child: 7 th graders 6 th graders • View teacher • View teacher recommendations recommendations • Choose Music Class • Choose Music Class • If recommended for • Choose a World World Language, Language or Reading complete Course Request form and class submit to HR teacher • Choose 4 Unified Arts Electives
Special Education Students & the Course Selection Process • Regular Education teachers will make recommendations for special education students in their classes. • Special Education students will be able to view these recommendations on-line.
Special Education Students & the Course Selection Process • SPECIAL EDUCATION students in DIRECT INSTRUCTION classes will be hand- scheduled into their DIRECT INSTRUCTION classes this summer. • The recommendations for scheduling into DIRECT INSTRUCTION classes are made by the IEP team at an IEP meeting.
Special Education Students & the Course Selection Process • IEP needs of each student is paramount and may exclude Special Education students from taking requested Unified Arts classes. • Special Education students should still request their preferred Unified Arts Electives.
March 4 th - March 15 th • 1 st Course Verification Window • 1 st Opportunity to Request Changes • Changes can be made through the office using the Course Request forms during this period. Course Request Forms will be available in the office and on-line.
March18 th - March 22 nd • 2 nd Course Verification Window • Change requests from 1 st verification will be reflected in Parent Portal at this time • 2 nd Opportunity to Request Changes Course Request Forms will be available in the office and on-line.
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