1. 15-16 Advanced Courses: Get the Facts Parent Meeting Fairhope Middle School

2. 7 th Grade: Chesley Bowling 8 th Grade: Kathryn Doyle FMS Guidance Counselors

3. From the Counselors The advanced classes are an exciting opportunity to prepare students for higher level high school courses. All advanced class students have parent permission letters and have completed the summer assignment. The commitment is for the full school year. There will be no schedule changes. A’s, B’s, and C’s are acceptable grades at Fairhope Middle School. Please do not ask for conferences with teachers if your student is making these grades. If your student is not meeting your expectations with these grades, please work with your student to determine how he/she may improve to your standards. Please encourage your students to use their planners, and check them on a regular basis to see that they are writing down their assignments. To stay updated on events, activities, and what’s going on at FMS, please check the school website at least weekly.

4. Math: Diana Ringers, Donna Ferrill, Ashley Lathan English: Katie Perry, Mary Kinggard Science: Janice Kinard, Melody Early 7 th Grade Advanced Course Teachers

5. Math: Tonya Harrelson, Erica Lee English: Crys Hatcher, Kelly Lanicek Science: Angela Boyer 8 th Grade Advanced Course Teachers

6. Please write your question on an index card with your name and email address. We will compile and address the questions in a FAQ format that will be posted on the FMS website. Questions during the presentation…

7. All Advanced courses address the Alabama Course of Study as well as College and Career Readiness Standards. Each course curriculum is enriched through the use of A+ College Ready / Laying the Foundation practices. What is the Advanced Curriculum?

8. Students will be learning the same material, but in greater depth and at a faster, more challenging pace. Students will have extended academic responsibilities and expectations. How are the Advanced Courses Different?

9. Participating in Advanced Courses in middle school will better prepare students for the content and expectations of Pre-AP/AP/IB courses when they transition to high school. Students will have the opportunity to develop self- discipline and time management skills necessary for academic success. How are Advanced Courses Beneficial?

10. Students should talk with their teachers if they need additional help. Many teachers offer before or after school tutoring and/or help during break. Encourage your child to advocate for themselves if they need help. Can My Student Get Additional Help?

11. Grades may be lower than they were in regular classes, but it is better to adjust now. Students will have increased independent/ outside of class assignments. Students should take ownership of their learning and advocate for themselves. Students involved in multiple extracurricular activities will need to purposefully schedule time to complete their assignments and to study. Things to think about…

12. Each teacher posts Assignments/Due Dates in the classroom and students are responsible for copying them into their agenda. Moodle (use your student’s log-in info) FMS website Remind (Text app) Where are Assignments/Due Dates posted?

13. 1.Homework Time: Provide a designated, quiet space that allows your student to focus Limit cell phone, TV, and other distractions 2.Encourage self-advocacy skills 3.Support independent thinking 4.Emphasize the importance of time management & planning. 5.Have supportive academic expectations How can you help at home?

14. Absences: It is the student’s responsibility to ask for makeup assignments when absent Teachers are not responsible for teaching students the information that they missed due to an absence. Missed work/tests must be made up/turned in no later than 3 days after returning to school Missed work/tests not made up in the required time will be counted as a ‘0’. Teachers use an "I" in INOW to indicate that students need to make up work. The "I" averages as a "0" so students need to get their work completed within the 3 day period. The "I" is replaced with a grade after the work is made up, or stands as a "0" if the work is not made up. Important Reminders

15. Assignments will not be accepted after the due date. No partial credit for late work. No extra credit assignments. Plagiarism is cheating and will result in a ‘0’ and disciplinary action. Homeroom time is more structured this year. Students should not plan on using this time to complete work that is due that day. Important Reminders

16. NJHS Requirements The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) GPA requirement is a 3.5. Advanced course grades in middle school are not weighted.

17. Grade Categories in INow: Assessments/Projects/Quizzes are worth a greater % of the total grade than Classwork/Homework Teachers are communicating and working as a team to try to be sure that major tests and project due dates do not occur on the same day. Important Reminders

18. Students will be required to show work There are some specific ways that the AP teachers want the high school students to write certain answers, and we will start writing them that way in middle school 7 th Grade Advanced Math

19. Students will do more explaining in words what they are doing to solve problems Example: Instead of writing 60 mph, the students will be asked to write it 60mi 1 hr because that is how they need to do it for dimensional analysis later on in AP classes 7 th Grade Advanced Math

20. 8 th Algebra 1 Algebra I is a formal, in-depth study of algebraic concepts and the real number system. In this course students develop a greater understanding of and appreciation for algebraic properties and operations. The pace is fast with students expected to learn to solve problems within a minute framework for standardized testing. Homework is assigned daily. Mrs. Harrelson and Mrs. Lee provide tutoring on Tuesday mornings at 7:10 am. Parents may choose for their student to take the Algebra 1 credit for high school at the end of the school year, or have the student re-take the course in high school.

21. Advanced English The curriculum moves at an accelerated pace with a more concentrated focus on independent reading, writing, analysis, and problem solving. Opportunities are provided for students to develop questioning and research strategies that assist them in organizing and presenting information in oral, visual, and written formats. Advanced English classes will have a dual focus; an in-depth approach to reading and interpreting literature in various genres and an emphasis on reading strategies to help master required skills, as well as a scaffold approach to the usage of grammar and mechanics through writing practices. Students will have at home reading assignments.

22. 7 th Advanced Science Students will study an overview of life science including scientific methodology, human body, cells, DNA, genetics, disease, classification, organisms, ecology and more. Class activities will include participating in class demonstrations and investigations, lectures with note-taking, watching science video clips, lab activities, and more. The science curriculum consists of LTF (Laying the Foundation) infused lessons.

23. 8 th Advanced Science This science course is an inquiry-based program that enhances scientific literacy and prepares students for life in the 21st century. 8th Grade Advanced Physical Science consists of 2 large subgroups -Physics and Chemistry. We will explore Physics first focusing on kinetics, energy, and forces. Chemistry’s main topics included atomic structure and interaction, molecular structures, and chemical elements. Instructional strategies include hands on science investigations and the incorporation of technology in the classroom The science curriculum consists of LTF (Laying the Foundation) infused lessons.

24. Resources Digital textbook tutorials USATestprep -Students are able to use USATestprep outside of school from any computer with web access. USATestprep is easy to use and provides many features that will help students succeed. Subjects included are: English/Language Arts, 7 th Math, 8 th Algebra 1, 8 th Physical Science, 7 th Life Science, 8 th World History, 7 th Civics, 7 th Geography, and Writing. Students have created their accounts and can now log in using their Moodle username and their lunch code for the password (with 0 before 5 digit lunch code). http://www.usatestprep.com/Member-Loginhttp://www.usatestprep.com/Member-Login Khan Academy - Video tutorials; free resource for all students for Algebra1, 7 th and 8 th Math; https://www.khanacademy.org/https://www.khanacademy.org/ Homework Alabama - Free online tutoring; http://webmini.apls.state.al.us/apls_web/apls/apls/homework/ http://webmini.apls.state.al.us/apls_web/apls/apls/homework/