MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM OF STUDIES An Overview of Course Options and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM OF STUDIES An Overview of Course Options and Program Enhancements

OVERVIEW ▪ Overall goal to develop academic skills, build content knowledge, and expand learning into new areas of study. ▪ 6th, 7th & 8th Grades: ▪students take classes with different peers in departments ▪ Expos: ▪students have self-selected options for Expos and a variety of academic course options ▪ 8 period day (students will only really have 6 daily classes): ▪2-89 Minute Blocks of Math and ELA ▪Science and Social Studies ▪4 Expos on A/B Day Schedule

REQUIRED CORE COURSES Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 English Language English Language English Language Arts Arts Arts Math Math Math Science Science Science Social Studies Social Studies Social Studies

Sample Student Schedule Time Time Block (minutes) Period (minutes) A Day B Day 1 43 1 89 ELA 2 43 3 43 2 89 Math 4 43 5 43 Science 3 89 6 43 Social Studies 7 43 Expo 1 Expo 2 4 89 8 43 Expo 3 Expo 4

2018-2019 Bell Schedule Third Lunch Second Lunch First Lunch Block Period Time Block Period Time Block Period Time 8:00-8:52 1 8:00-8:52 1 1 8:00-8:52 1 1 1 8:55-9:38 2 8:55-9:38 2 2 8:55-9:38 9:41-10:24 3 9:41-10:24 3 3 9:41-10:24 2 2 2 10:27-11:10 4 10:27-11:10 4 10:27-11:10 4 11:13-11:56 5 11:13-11:56 1st Lunch 11:13-11:43 5 3 3 11:59-12:42 2nd Lunch 11:59-12:29 5 11:46-12:49 6 3 12:45-1:15 6 12:32-1:15 6 12:32-1:15 3rd Lunch 3 1:18-2:00 7 1:18-2:00 7 1:18-2:00 7 4 4 4 2:03-2:45 8 2:03-2:45 8 2:03-2:45 8

REQUIRED EXPO COURSES Expo Department Grade Sixth Grade Seminar (all new 6th-graders only) 6 Art 6 Business, Computers, & Information 8 Technology Family and Consumer Science 7 Music 6 Physical Education/Health 6 & 7

EXPO COURSE OPTIONS Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Sixth Grade Seminar Family & Consumer Science Personal Finance/Career Exploration Health/Physical Education Health/Physical Education Lifetime Fitness Band/Chorus/Orchestra or Music 6 Band/Chorus/Orchestra Band/Chorus/Orchestra Art 6 Art 7 Music 8 *Gifted Seminar/ATE 6 Innovation & Exploration Art 8 *Academic Literacy 6 Programming/Consumer Media Innovation & Exploration STEM/Robotics 7 Family & Consumer Science 8 **STEM/Mobile Lab 7/8 STEM/Design *Gifted Seminar/ATE 7 **STEM/Mobile Lab 7/8 *Academic Literacy 7 Lights, Camera, Action *Gifted Seminar/ATE 8 *Academic Literacy 8 ***World Language * Program recommendation; ** Combined 7 & 8 course; *** Full year course

COURSE SELECTION TIMELINE ▪School Administrators and Counselors met with each grade level on Monday, March 12th ▪ Students received an overview of the middle school schedule. ▪Expo courses ▪ Program of Studies will be E-Alerted home, posted on the schools websites and social media sites on Wednesday, March 7th . ▪ Course Selection Sheets will be distributed on Tuesday, March 13th (and need to be returned on Friday, March 16th to their Social Studies Teacher. ▪ Teachers will discuss course options with students on Tuesday, March 13th . ▪ Teachers will explain honors/advanced options. ▪ Teachers will explain Expo options. ▪Students will select courses between March 20th through March 23rd

7th-Grade Course Selection Sheet

8th-Grade Course Selection Sheet

NEW COURSES COMING TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS ● Sixth Grade Seminar ○ Required of all incoming 6th-grade students ● STEM Design Mobile Lab ○ Log College 18-19 ○ KMS 19-20 ● STEM Robotics ● Music 8

HONORS/ADVANCED COURSES AND CRITERIA COURSES AVAILABLE ● Grade 8 ○ Algebra I Honors CRITERIA ○ English Honors ▪ Rubrics will be used with various ○ Science Honors criteria for each course which include ○ Social Studies Honors ▪ Course Grades ▪ PVAAS Projection Scores ● Grade 7 ○ Pre-Algebra 7 ○ English Honors ○ Science Honors ○ Social Studies Honors

AT HOME ▪ Review the Program of Studies with your child. ▪ Talk about course options, especially Expos. ▪ Talk about other commitments outside of school. ▪ Teacher recommendations for honors and advanced courses are based on multiple criteria: ▪ Course average ▪ Local and state testing predicted performance ▪ Teachers make recommendations based on a variety of factors. If you would like to discuss a recommendation, please contact your child’s teacher.

COURSE SELECTION SHEETS Course Selection Sheets must be signed and returned by Friday, March 16th to the Social Studies Teacher

STUDENT COURSE SELECTION ●Students will enter their course choices with the School Counselors. ●Any conflicts in scheduling will be reconciled as follows: ■ Student’s second choice and third choice, etc. ■ School Counselor meetings ■ Principal contacts over the summer

FAQ- MUSIC ▪ Can my child begin Yes! Students can begin an instrument in middle school. playing an instrument in Pull out lessons will continue middle school? for all students throughout middle school if the student is enrolled in performance music.

FAQ- MUSIC ▪ Can my child be in band Yes! Students can be enrolled in both performance and chorus? music classes. They will alternate between both ensembles, and music teachers will make accommodations to the curriculum and rehearsal schedule.

FAQ- Expo Changes ▪ What has changed with All Expo courses are now offered for the full year on an Exploratory Courses every other day basis. This compared to prior makes scheduling more years? flexible for our students.

FAQ- Gifted ▪ When will my child have Advanced Thinking Enrichment (ATE) is an Expo gifted? option that students in grades 6-8 have. They will meet every other day for the entire year.

FAQ- HONORS COURSES ▪ I would like my ● Honors courses extend beyond the academic curriculum. It is important for parents and students to child to take an understand that academic courses are designed to honors course, but prepare students for a post secondary career. It is not unusual for students to move into honors-level the teacher did not courses later in high school. Teachers make recommend my recommendations at the middle school level based on child. What multiple criteria. It is in everyone’s interest for the student to be successful; however, parents are should I do? encouraged to discuss their concerns with their child’s teacher for more information and/or clarification on the recommendation.