Reports, guides, handbooks Middle school registration guide 2018-19 | Page 8

Course Selection

ART BUSINESS ED . EL ELA

Art Courses
Art 6 [ required , every other day ] Intended Audience : Grade 6 Major Outcomes :
• Develop an understanding of the elements and principles of art .
• Focus on world cultures Projects / Activities : Activities may include drawing , clay sculpture , painting , printmaking and working with a variety of other materials . Instructional Focus : Instruction includes teacher guided art demonstrations ; individual and / or group art projects ; and opportunities for reflection and revising artwork .
Art 7 [ elective , every other day ] Intended Audience : Grade 7 Major Outcomes :
• Focus on American Art . This class explores using American art and artists as inspiration for their work .
• Expand the understanding of the elements and principles of art , with a focus on revision and creation of an artist statement .
Projects / Activities : Activities may include working with a variety of materials in sculpture , painting , drawing , crafts and design . Instructional Focus : Instruction includes teacher guided art demonstrations ; individual and / or group art projects ; and opportunities for reflection and revising artwork .
Art 8 [ elective , every other day ] Intended Audience : Grade 8 Major Outcomes :
• Explore art as a personal journey .
• Explore and expand knowledge of the elements of art and principles of design .
• Advance art skills using drawing , sculpture and painting with focus on revision .
Projects / Activities : Activities may include drawing , painting , clay , sculpture , jewelry making and working with a variety of other materials . Student work reflects research , a developed plan , production and self-evaluation . Instructional Focus : Instruction includes advanced teacher guided art demonstrations ; individual and / or group art projects ; and opportunities for reflection and revising artwork .
Business Education Courses
Computer Explorations [ elective , every other day ] Intended Audience : Grade 8 Major Outcomes :
• Acquire or improve computer skills in keyboarding , graphics , slideshows , and desktop publishing in order to enhance school assignments and explore computer-based careers .
• Become familiar with current computer applications .
Instructional Focus : This is a hands-on course in which students engage in a combination of individual and group activities using : Google Earth , i movies , Garage Band , Comic Life , etc . Emphasis throughout the course is learning and using the ability to share documents via cloud computing by means of the Google Classroom .
English Learners [ EL ] Courses
Qualifying English Learners will be placed in an [ EL ] ELA course in place of a mainstream , grade-level ELA course and / or an [ ELD ] English Language Development course . This placement is based on state and district test scores and teacher recommendation . For more information about the [ EL ] program , please see the Assistance for Students section in this guide or contact your child ’ s school .
English Language Arts [ ELA ] Courses
Students performing below grade level in reading may be assigned to additional reading support courses .
Advanced English Language Arts 6 [ full year , two periods ] Prerequisite / Selection Process : Test scores , district guidelines and teacher recommendation Intended Audience : Grade 6 students who read and write significantly above grade level Major Outcomes :
• Same as ELA 6 with more challenging reading and writing expectations
• Additional emphasis on interpretive / analytical and critical / evaluative reading , writing and discussion
Projects / Activities : Writing , independent reading , research Instructional Focus : Teachers will model instructional strategies , and students will participate in guided and independent practice , whole group , small group and independent activities ; all students are expected to read independently outside the school day .
English Language Arts 6 [ full year , two periods ] Intended Audience : Grade 6 Major Outcomes :
• Read and analyze a variety of literature and informational texts .
• Write frequently in a variety of forms , emphasizing compare / contrast , and argumentative techniques .
• Develop language skills including vocabulary , sentence structure , and grammar / mechanics .
• Develop skills in speaking , listening , inquiry , and media literacy .
Projects / Activities : Writing assignments , research , and independent reading .
6 Middle School Registration Guide