7th Grade Course Selection 2018-2019

Essential Question What are the middle school promotion requirements, what criteria will be used to place me in core classes next year, and how will I select my classes for next year? In this presentation we will be discussing middle school promotion requirements, how you will be placed into your core classes, and how you will select your elective courses

Learning Goals By the end of this presentation, students will be able to: Identify what courses are needed to complete middle school requirements Understand the criteria used to schedule students into the most appropriately rigorous courses Register for classes for the next school year By the end of this presentation we want all students to identify the courses need to complete middle school requirements, we want all students to understand the criteria that will be used to schedule students into the most appropriately rigorous courses, and we want all students to know how to pick their elective choices

Scale: Where Are You? Score 4 I understand how to use course progression and other resources to plan my classes. Score 3 I can identify what courses are needed to complete middle school. I know the criteria used to place me in core classes. I know how to select my classes. Score 2 I know some of the middle school requirements and I know how to select my classes. Score 1 I am not sure what it takes to complete middle school. I do not know the criteria used to place me in core classes. I do not know how to register for my classes for next year.

Middle School Requirements Required Curriculum 1) 3 years/credits in Mathematics. 2) 3 years/credits in Language Arts/English. 3) 3 years in Science. - to include instruction Comprehensive 1 , Comprehensive 2 and Comprehensive 3. 4) 3 years in Social Studies - to include the study of the World Geography, Civics , and US History. Before we talk about next year’s courses, let’s review the promotion requirements for middle school. You need earn a total of 12 credits in order to be promoted to high school. You need to earn 3 credits in math, 3 credits in language arts, 3 credits in science, and 3 credits in social studies with 1 credit having to be in civics.

Course Requests: Core Classes You will be selecting your 4 core classes as listed Honors courses are high school level classes Gifted courses require gifted staffing All courses will have either an EOC or CFE exam The following data points will be used to determine the most appropriately rigorous core courses for each student FSA: ELA & Math Scores (2 year history) Unweighted GPA Credits earned and in progress Grade history of D’s or F’s EOC(algebra) Completed subject thru virtual school When it comes to placing students in their core classes (math, science, language arts, social studies) we will again be placing students based on data, so students do not select these on their course request forms. The following data points will be reviewed for each student to place them in the most appropriately rigorous classes: FSA ELA& math scores-their 2 year history, their unweighted GPA, credits earned and in progress (what classes have they earned credit in or are currently earning credit in), their grade history of Ds and Fs, and their end of course exam score (algebra). This data will help us place you in courses in which you can be both challenged and successful. Please remember all courses will have either an end of course exam or a common final exam. Honors classes are high school level course such as algebra honors, science honors. Advanced classes are middle school courses. If you are staffed gifted, your gifted curriculum will be completed through science and social studies classes.

Course Request Form Please complete all student information including your parent's email. Please select one course per core category.

Core Subjects –select one in each subject English Language Arts II Advanced Language Arts II Math Grade 7 Mathematics Advanced Grade 7 Mathematics Grade 8 Pre-Algebra Honors Algebra Social Studies Civics Advanced Civics Science Comprehensive Science 2 Advanced Comprehensive Science 2 Honors Earth/Space Science

Filling out the Course Request Form Rank your 3 choices One elective will be from Performing/Fine Arts Band Chorus Orchestra Keyboard Guitar I Music Theory Drama 2D Art 3D Art Creative Photography Digital Art Design Information and Communications Technology II (CTE) Fundamentals of Visual and Preforming Arts (CTE) Introduction to Arts A/V Technology and Communication (CTE) On the course registration form you will receive, you will only be selecting your elective choices. Remember, the school will refer to your data when placing you in your core classes. Please be sure to review the course descriptions carefully as we will NOT be changing electives after the June 2nd deadline. You will need to rank your elective choices from 1 to 5, where 1 is the elective you want to most. Again, be sure to rank your 5 electives carefully as you may receive your 5th choice as your elective. We will do our best to place you in an elective you want, but we have many students and limited space. If you have any questions related to your advanced placement in any music class, please see the relevant teacher. Please note that if you need reading or math intervention, you will have an intensive reading and/or math class on your schedule IN PLACE of your elective.

One elective will be from Academic Rank 3 choices French Beginning Spanish I (HS) Spanish for Spanish Speakers American Sign Language Journalism I Speech and Debate I Creative Writing I Student Government/Leadership Law Studies Personal, Career, and School Development, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Learning Strategies Agriscience I (CTE) Agriscience II (CTE) Agriscience III (CTE) Project Lead the Way I (CTE) Project Lead the Way II (CTE) Tech Support Internship Peer Counseling I Research I Research II

Physical Education/Elective 1 credit This includes: Semester 1 Dance, Grade 7 Team Sports Outdoor Pursuits Grade 7 Comprehension Grade 7 _____ Full Year of P.E. Semester 2 This includes: Introduction to Art History, Art in World Cultures Engaged Citizenship through Service Learning Career Research and Decision Making Career and Educational Planning Basic Music Theory Basic Theatre Please note you may be placed into an intensive reading or math class in lieu of one of your electives.

PE Waiver Final decisions for PE waiver requests will be determined by school principal Course offerings are subject to availability The P.E. Waiver is available on the Bridgewater Web site. You have the potential to take 3 elective classes. It is the expectation that one of these electives will be PE, unless you have an approved PE Waiver on file with your counselor. Please keep in mind that PE waivers are a REQUEST and are subject to course availability. You can obtain a course request form from the website on this slide, or by searching “Middle School PE Waiver” on the OCPS website.

Course Request Deadline: February 27th Your completed forms will be reviewed on February 27th. Your course request form is due to your language arts teacher by February 24th. Again, your course request form is due to your language arts teacher by February 24th.

Elective Change Requests Choose your classes carefully. Any requests for changes will be addressed during the add/drop period at the beginning of the 2018/19 school year. Requests that WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED: Teacher changes Lunch changes Period changes If, for some reason, you would like to change your ELECTIVE request, you will need to submit your request via the Google Doc link that will be available from February 27th to June 2nd. Elective change requests submitted any other way WILL NOT be processed. The link information will be on the Bridgewater website and will also be sent to your language arts teachers. The requests that will not be addressed are teacher changes, lunch changes, period changes. The counselors will be returning to your language arts class at a later date to answer any questions that you have regarding course selection.

Scale: Where Are You? Score 4 I understand how to use course progression and other resources to plan my classes. Score 3 I can identify what courses are needed to complete middle school. I know the criteria used to place me in core classes. I know how to select my electives. Score 2 I know some of the middle school requirements and I know how to select electives. Score 1 I am not sure what it takes to complete middle school. I do not know the criteria used to place me in core classes. I do not know how to register for electives next year. Now that we have reviewed all of the information related to your course form, please take a moment to reflect on your understanding by revisiting the scale provided.