Parent Articulation Meeting Incoming: Grades 6, 7 & 8 January 25, 2012

Parent Articulation

Meeting

Incoming:Grades 6, 7 & 8

January 25, 2012

Welcome!

Articulation Timeline

A Typical School Day

Courses Overview

Q and A

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January 20th Teacher recommendations due for current 5th,6th and 7th graders

January 25th Parent Articulation Meeting

January 25th -27th Counselors distribute course bulletin and registration forms to students in grades 5, 6 and 7

February 2nd/ 3rd Course registration forms due from returning AND incoming students. FIRM DATE!

By May 31st 2012-2013 course requests mailed to students (grades 5, 6, and 7). THIS IS NOT A SCHEDULE. ELECTIVES ARE NOT GUARANTEED. SCHEDULES ARE PROVIDED TO ALL STUDENTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

July – August 2012 TBD: Summer Orientation Dates for 6th grade students and their parents

A Typical School Day

7:30 – 7:55 Students arrive to school, go to locker/bathroom/media center/counseling, report to 1st period, eat breakfast within the classroom, watch morning announcements, catch up with friends.

7:55 Seated in class with materials and ready for instruction for first class of the day

Period 1/2 7:55-9:30

Period 3/4 9:35 – 11:05

Period 5/6 11:10-1:15

lunch 11:10-11:40

lunch 11:50-12:20

lunch 12:35-1:05

Period 7/8 1:10-2:40• 5 minute transition between classes• Planner, binder, pen, pencil and completed assignments (if

applicable) are required for each class period.

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Students who successfully complete the following courses will earn high school credit :

• Mathematics• Algebra 1, Honors Geometry, Algebra 2

• English• Advanced English Grade 8

• World Languages• All French and Spanish courses

What does it mean to successfully complete a high school course

According to Montgomery County Public Schools’ Policy 1SB-RA, page 7, high school credit may be earned if:

• For the course, the student has a passing final grade for semester 1 (the weighted average of MP1, MP2, Exam 1A)

• For the course, the student has a passing final grade for semester 2 (the weighted average of MP3, MP4, Exam 1B)

• For the course, the student has a passing final exam grade.

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Grade 6

Math 6

Math 7

Investigations In Math

Algebra I*

Grade 7

Math 7

Investigations In Math

Algebra I*

Honors Geometry*

Grade 8

Algebra I*

Honors Geometry*

Algebra II*

Mathematics Courses

*High School Credit Course

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Math 6Math 6 Algebra 1Algebra 1

Algebra 1Algebra 1

Algebra 1Algebra 1

HonorsGeometry

HonorsGeometry

Honors Geometry

Honors Geometry

Algebra 2 with Analysis

Algebra 2 with Analysis

GRADE 6 GRADE 7 GRADE 8 GRADE 9

Math 7Math 7

Math 7Math 7

Algebra 2 with Analysis

Algebra 2 with Analysis

Algebra 1Algebra 1 Honors Geometry

Honors Geometry

Pre-CalculusPre-Calculus

Investigations in

Mathematics

Investigations in

Mathematics

Investigations in

Mathematics

Investigations in

Mathematics

GeometryGeometry

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Math Course Placements

• Math 6

• Math 7

• Investigations in

Mathematics (IM)

• Algebra 1 (high school

credit course)

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• High School Assessments (HSA) are administered in May after completing the appropriate coursework

• Beginning with the class of 2007, graduation requirements include passing grades on (HSA) in:

English Government Algebra 1 Biology

• All students taking Algebra 1 in middle school are administered the Algebra HSA.

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Advanced EnglishAdvanced English 6 and 7

Designed for able and motivated students w/ a lively interest in the power and versatility of languageRead challenging texts written in various time periods and rhetorical contextsDevelop ability to express ideas with clarity and precision by writing increasingly complex compositions for a variety of purposes

Literary analysisPersuasionResearch

Advanced English 8Designed for able and motivated students w/ a lively interest in the power and versatility of languageRead challenging texts written in various time periods and rhetorical contexts making interdisciplinary connections with historical events and concepts developed in their Grade 8 U.S. History class Develop ability to express ideas with clarity and precision by writing increasingly complex compositions for a variety of purposes

Literary analysisPersuasionResearch

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Advanced English Placement

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Grade 6 English/Reading Placement Criteria

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6th Grade Reading Placement

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World Language (Above Grade Level

Reading Skills)

• Reading MSA scores at advanced level

• MAP-R scores above grade level

• Independent Reader • See World Language

requirements

On Grade Level Reading Skills

• Reading MSA scores at the proficient level

• MAP-R scoes at grade level

• Reading comprehension skills appropriate for grade level

Reading Intervention

• Reading MSA scores below level

• MAP-R scores below grade level

• Basic (emerging) reading and writing skills

• Low to moderate reading comprehension skills

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English for Speakers of Other Languages

Level 1 (double period)and Academic Language class

Level 2 and English

Level 3 and English

-placement is determined by the ESOL office and the ESOL team in the building

ScienceFlowchart

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Investigations in Science 6 

Investigations in Science 7

Investigations in Earth Space Systems

(Grade 8)

All Students

• Problem/project based curriculum. Instruction is interwoven around a relevant problem/project to allow a focus for student learning.

• Students engage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in order to propose solutions to identified problems.

Investigations in Science

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Science Placement

Above Grade Level

• Independent Reader, Writer, and Thinker

• High level of motivation and interest in Science

• High level of Science content knowledge

• High level of understanding of Science processes and skills

• Reading and/or Math MSA scores at advanced level

• MAP-R scores above grade level

• Critical thinker- ability to analyze advanced concepts beyond those presented at grade level

• Organized (good at managing self and tasks)

On Grade Level

• Moderate level of motivation or interest in Science

• Moderate level of Science content knowledge

• Moderate level of understanding of Science processes and skills

• Reads on or slightly below grade level

• Reading and/or Math MSA scores at the proficient level

• MAP-R scores at grade level

• Able to analyze concepts at grade level

• Needs some prompting managing self and tasks

• Needs some prompting when working independently

• Does not meet the criteria for 1 or 3

Below Grade Level

• Little or no interest in Science

• Little or no Science content knowledge

• Little or no understanding of Science processes and skills

• Reads below grade level • Reading MSA scores at

the proficient level or below level

• MAP-R scores below grade level

• Currently receives assistance when reading and writing

• Needs support when managing self and tasks

• Needs support when working independently

• Does not meet criteria for a 1 or 2 outlined above

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World Studies Courses• Advanced World Studies 6

• Provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history.

• Advanced World Studies 7• Extends current units with a greater

focus on primary source analysis and the challenges of historical interpretation.

• Advanced US History Grade 8• Extends grade 8 units by introducing

AP course skills including historical document-based analysis and projects.

Social Studies Placement

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Above Grade Level

• Independent Reader, Writer, and Thinker

• High level of motivation and interest in Social Studies

• High level of Social Studies content knowledge

• High level of understanding of Social Studies processes and skills

• Reading and/or Math MSA scores at advanced level

• MAP-R scores above grade level

• Critical thinker- ability to analyze advanced concepts beyond those presented at grade level

• Organized (good at managing self and tasks)

On Grade Level

• Moderate level of motivation or interest in Social Studies

• Moderate level of Social Studies content knowledge

• Moderate level of understanding of Social Studies processes and skills

• Reads on or slightly below grade level

• Reading and/or Math MSA scores at the proficient level

• MAP-R scores at grade level

• Able to analyze concepts at grade level

• Needs some prompting managing self and tasks

• Needs some prompting when working independently

Below Grade Level

• Little or no interest in Social Studies

• Little or no Social Studies content knowledge

• Little or no understanding of Social Studies processes and skills

• Reads below grade level • Reading MSA scores at

the proficient level or below level

• MAP-R scores below grade level

• Currently receives assistance when reading and writing

• Needs support when managing self and tasks

• Needs support when working independently

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Language Acquisition: French or Spanish

• High School level course credit

• Levels 1, 2, and 3

• Focus –establishing and building student capacity in four skill areas:

• Speaking Listening

• Reading Writing. 

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Spanish For Spanish Speakers: Grades 7 and 8 only• Designed for students with a high

level of Spanish language fluency• Spanish is 1st or home language

• High School level course credit• Focus for heritage speakers of Spanish

• history and culture• grammatical structures and spelling • literary readings• written composition

Placement based on completion of prerequisite course or diagnostic test

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Required course that offers a variety of activities focusing on skill development

A nine-week unit on health is taught as part of the Physical Education course

Coordinated by MCPS curriculumClassroom settingSeparate grade

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BeginningTheatre

FACS (Family and Consumer Science)

Visual Art

General Music

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Readers’ Theatre

FACS (Family and Consumer Science)

Visual Art

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Chorus

MusicInstrumental

General

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Lights,Camera,Literacy!

Perspectives in the Arts

Lights,Camera, Film,Literacy!

Lights,Camera, Media,Literacy!

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IEP driven programs:• Hours-Based Middle School Program • Resource• Speech/Language• Occupational Therapy• Physical Therapy• Deaf and Hard of Hearing

 Resource Teacher in Special Education (RTSE) will attend your child’s annual review meeting and consult with the elementary school team to discuss placement recommendations

Afterschool Activities• Wide variety of

offerings

Activity buses take students home at 4:15

Outdoor Education

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• Closing Remarks

• Q and A