Holmes Middle SchoolCurriculum Night

Rising 7th GradeClass of 2024

Agenda● To meet the 7th grade team● To become familiar with the course offerings for the

2018-2019 school year● To understand the timeline for the transition program

Important Upcoming DatesFebruary 1st-22nd: Academic Advising

Holmes Middle School counselors provide academic advising to rising 7th grade students; signed courseselection sheets due back to Holmes February 23rd.

May: Course Selections Mailed Home

Course selection sheets mailed home with changes due back to Holmes by May 25th .

Classes● 5 required classes:

● English 7/English 7 HN● History 7/History 7HN● Science 7/Science 7 HN● Math 7/Math HN*/Algebra 1 HN*● Health & PE 7

● 2 periods of Electives: ● 2 Year long electives - OR -● 1 Year long elective and 2 half year electives - OR -● 4 half year electives

***Please note that a support class may take the place of an elective

Block SchedulingBlue Day Time White Day

1 7:30-9:00 (90) 2

3 9:05-10:35 (90)ER A 9:05 - 9:48 (43)ER B 9:53-10:35 (42)

Enrichment and Remediation (ER)

5 10:40 – 12:40

A Lunch 10:40 – 11:10 (30)

A Class 11:10– 12:40 (90)

B Class 10:40 – 11:10 (30)

B Lunch 11:10 – 11:40 (30)

B Class 11:40 – 12:40 (60)

C Class 10:40 – 11:40 (60)

C Lunch 11:40 – 12:10 (30)

C Class 12:10 – 12:40 (30)

D Class 10:40 – 12:10 (90)

D Lunch 12:10 – 12:40 (30

4

7 12:45-2:15 (90) 6

Level IV Services

English

English 7 vs. English 7 HNStudents will take the Reading 7 SOL

Unit 1 – Fiction * Unit 2 - Nonfiction & Research * Unit 3 - PersuasionUnit 4 - Poetry * Unit 5 - Literary Analysis

English 7 English 7 HN

● More teacher help

● More direct instruction

● More practice with new

concepts/lessons

● Increased amount of check-ins for

understanding

● Essential FCPS objectives

taught/assessed

● More independence

● Less scaffolding

● More student accountability for

getting work done and seeking

help/support as needed

● Essential and extension FCPS

objectives taught/assessed

Science

Science 7 and Science 7HNStudents will not take an SOL

Curriculum overview: Life Science

● Understanding our Environment

● Observing Living Things● Heredity

Science 7 Science 7 HN

-7th grade science standards as outlined by FCPS- Slower pace of instruction-More teacher interventions/remediation, “check-ins” -Scaffolded assignments-Working on building stronger study habits and becoming independent thinkers

-7th grade science standards AND additional extensions-Quicker pace of instruction-Higher level of student independence -Assignments may go “deeper” and have more rigorous expectations -Possess self-motivation and strong study habits

History

History 7 vs. History 7 HNStudents will not take an SOL

Curriculum overview: US History 1865 - Present

- Historical Thinking Skills:- Examples: Using evidence to draw conclusions, analyze and

interpret documents and charts, investigate/research problems

- Performance Based Assessments: - Primary Source Analysis, Document Based Questions, Essays

- Expectations of Honors Students:- Excellent Work Ethic/Study Skills, Independent Writers, Excited for

Challenges, Advanced Research Skills, Self-Motivated

Math

Math 7Students will take the Math 7 SOL

The seventh-grade standards continue to emphasize the foundations of algebra. Students who successfully

complete the seventh-grade standards should be prepared to study Algebra I in grade eight. Topics in grade

seven include proportional reasoning, integer computation, solving two-step linear equations, and

recognizing different representations for relationships. Students will apply the properties of real numbers in

solving equations, solve inequalities, and use data analysis techniques to make inferences, conjectures, and

predictions.

Math 7 HNStudents will take the Math 8 SOL - Students will follow the Math 8

Standards

The eighth-grade standards are intended to serve two purposes. First, the standards contain content that

reviews or extends concepts and skills learned in previous grades. Second, they contain new content that

prepares students for more abstract concepts in algebra and geometry. Students will gain proficiency in

computation with rational numbers and will use proportions to solve a variety of problems. New concepts

include solving multistep equations and inequalities, graphing linear equations, visualizing three-

dimensional shapes represented in two-dimensional drawings, and applying transformations to geometric

shapes in the coordinate plane. Students will verify and apply the Pythagorean Theorem and represent

relations and functions, using tables, graphs, and rules.

Algebra 1 HNStudents will take the Algebra SOL - Students will follow the Algebra 1

StandardsPlacement Criteria:

Advanced Math 6 or a year-long accelerated mathematics course

IOWA Algebra Aptitude (IAAT) score at or above the 91st percentile

A score of pass advanced (500 or above) on the Mathematics 7 SOL Test

These standards require students to use algebra as a tool for representing and solving a variety of practical

problems. Tables and graphs will be used to interpret algebraic expressions, equations, and inequalities and

to analyze behaviors of functions. Students should be helped to make connections and build relationships

between algebra and arithmetic, geometry, and probability and statistics. Connections should also be made

to other subject areas through practical applications.

Health & Physical Education

Health & Physical Education8 monthly PE units: these units are activity - based that teach a HPE benchmark skill

Examples: 1)Weight Room – Fitness and conditioning

2) Volleyball - Hand - eye coordination

2 months of Health: Content includes alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention, emotional and

social health, personal and community health and safety, injury and violence prevention. Also

including 1 week of human growth and development.

Fitness:

Holmes concentrates on Fitness on a daily basis. The mile, pacer test, sit and reach, push ups, curl

ups, shoulder stretch, and trunk lifts are all used to measure students’ progress.

Intervention Courses

Electives