Future 7th Grade Students Course Request 2017-18 Future 7th Grade Students

Materials Parent letter PreAP information Course Request Sheet Course Catalog http://www.katyisd.org/dept/campusadmin/Documents/Graduation%20Requirements/2017-2018%20Course%20Catalog.pdf

Course Request Sheet Due to your Social Studies teacher by Friday, January 27, 2017 If you are moving or planning to move, you still need to complete a course request worksheet Parent and student must both sign

Welcome to 7th Grade! Higher expectations More responsibility More independence for your own learning More homework More juggling with extra curricular activities - No Pass, No Play Curriculum is challenging and demanding You must learn how to study Organization is a key to success

How To Request a Course All students must sign up for the following: *English, Math, Science, Social Studies, PE, one elective, and two Alternate Electives (please number them 1-3 in order of preference) GT Language Arts- choose 2 electives and 2 alternates Select your courses by placing a check on the line Before deciding about PreAP placement, you should talk to your teacher (see info on back of parent letter) Example: MATH ____J711 Math 7 ____ J712 PREAP Math 7 ____G712 GT Math 7

Choosing Courses Consider the following when choosing which class level to sign up for: Past grades in school and the kind of grades they like to make Motivation and attitude Standardized test scores Study habits Willingness to complete homework Outside interests and activities How quickly they catch on to new material Independence level

Degrees of Difficulty Academic Pre-AP Moves at a faster pace For everyone On grade level More time to review concepts More tutoring provided Prepares students for college as well as other post secondary education Moves at a faster pace More academically challenging Requires more independent learning Requires more homework than academic courses Recommended 85+ in current core class If you would like to try Pre-AP for the first time, talk to your current teacher. They can make an honest recommendation on whether they feel you are ready for the challenge of Pre- AP.

Choosing Math Level Concepts taught are the foundation for all higher level math courses and therefore should not be rushed 7th grade Academic - on grade level curriculum - Math homework is given each night to practice concepts 7th grade Pre-AP – second half of 7th grade and most of 8th grade curriculum - A new concept is learned each day

Advancing Math Levels If you choose to advance from 6th grade Academic math to 7th grade Pre-AP math, you will be advancing from 6th grade concepts to second semester 7th grade concepts. You will be missing instruction on at least 1/3 of 7th grade math concepts but accountable for knowing the missed information.

Selecting PreAP Math Must have a strong foundation in fractions, decimals, and integer operations as well as proportion solving Level of instruction/curriculum will focus on preparing students for Algebra I in 8th grade Must work at an accelerated pace, engage in independent learning, and persevere through challenging material

Language Arts In Pre-AP Reading, students will be required to read more novels than in Academic. - There is also higher rigor, more complex reading, and higher expectations for writing. If you enroll in Pre-AP or G/T Reading you will have a summer reading assignment. Since Reading and English are a combined class in 8th grade, students enrolling in PreAP Reading must also enroll in PreAP English. Students who qualify for G/T Language Arts will enroll in a combined Reading/English class and therefore will sign up for two electives instead of one.

Science Subjects covered in 7th Grade include: PreAP/GT - Lab safety and procedure - Living Systems: cell parts and function, body systems, molecular compounds, genetics and adaptations - Physics: calculating work, energy transformations within organisms - Chemistry: physical and chemical changes, composting & biomass - Earth and Space: space exploration, catastrophic events, watersheds, and erosion & weathering - Energy: food chains and pyramids, photosynthesis, internal & external stimuli, and survival instincts *This is NOT a complete list, just a taste of what our future 7th graders have to look forward to soon! PreAP/GT - moves at a faster pace - more academically challenging - requires more independent learning - requires more homework than academic courses

Social Studies 7th grade Academic - Students will focus on major events in the history of Texas. 7th grade Pre-AP - Students will study the same concepts in depth through more complex reading, required essays, higher rigor and enrichment activities. All 7th graders will participate in CollegeEd through their social studies class. CollegeEd presents information to students about exploring their future, as well as choosing, applying, and paying for college.

Gifted and Talented Program Students who are currently being screened should not request GT classes.  You can only sign up for the ones for which you have qualified.   - The counselors will get a list of who qualifies and make those changes. You will not need to request a change—it will happen.   If you HAVE qualified for GT classes, you must sign up for them or you will be exited.  -To get back in later would require another screening.

Possible Required Courses Math Lab – designed to help refine basic math skills and help with preparation for STAAR Read 180– designed to help improve reading level and help with STAAR skills You will be required to attend one or both of these if you do not pass that portion of STAAR. The class will take the place of an elective.

Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, Track, & Tennis Physical Education & Athletics Athletics PE PE cost: $15.00 All students are required to be in PE or Athletics Athletics Cost: $25.00 Athletics is only for football, volleyball, and basketball No one is exclusively in athletics for the other 3 sports. Remember: UIL “No Pass, No Play” is in effect – any grade below 70 on the report card will prevent participation. Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, Track, & Tennis NOTE: Boys playing football should sign up for Athletics; all other athletes should sign up for PE and coaches will determine placement.

Class is open to 7th & 8th grade only Electives Teen Leadership What will I learn?        About yourself – how to develop your strengths & overcome personal constraints        Decision making skills that will help you make healthy choices        Create better relationships with friends/family/teachers/coaches        Become an effective communicator        How to serve others        To work effectively with a group How will I learn?        Teen Leadership – Flip Flippen curriculum        Service project/fundraising opportunities        Class discussion, role plays and team building games Class is open to 7th & 8th grade only

Electives Junior High Art I, II A study of art in the areas of drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, technology. Students will explore many exciting projects in both 2D and 3D formats, as well as many different mediums like colored pencil, acrylic paint, paper mache and more. All students will have the opportunity to develop both their artistic and creative skills. Prerequisite: Students interested in taking the High School credit art in 8th grade must have taken art in either 6th or 7th grade. Publications I – Application and interview required Students will learn how to work as part of a team as a staff member in the process of building a yearbook. Basic photography and journalism techniques will be explored, as well as building leadership and communication skills.

Electives Career Readiness Course Fee: $15.00 Grades: 7 - 8 Students explore college and career planning within the 16 career clusters. Students participate in career preparation activities. Students are exposed to basic skills and projects within the career clusters that are essential for independent adult living. Theater II (7th/8th grade theater)- Focus on vocabulary and theatrical terms, building sets, creating scripts and performing, creating Greek masks, performing short scenes from published works, and playing theater games such as improvisation.

Electives Band – Woodwind, Brass, Percussion Students are grouped by audition into a performing band. Auditions will be held at the end of this school year. Performances and fun social events include: Football Game, Fall Party, Instrument Clubs, Band Socials Three concerts per year Contests and festivals throughout the year Perform a variety of music. Classical, pop, movie music, jazz Designed to enhance skills of self-confidence, team work, problem solving, creativity and communication through the art of music performance.

Electives Orchestra – Stringed instruments (violin, cello, viola and bass) Students are divided into 4 separate orchestras based on ability and experience. Auditions are held at the end of the previous school year and at the beginning of the current school year for “move in” students.  Violins and violas are student owned. Students playing the cello and bass are encouraged to have a “home” rental instrument and use a school instrument during the day ($100 maintenance fee) Students will learn and practice skills necessary for playing in large and small ensemble performance. Among those skills are teamwork, responsibility, and persistence. Music played is from a wide variety of resources; classical, jazz, fiddling, contemporary, baroque, etc. Private lessons encouraged but not required.

Electives Choir – Vocal Development, Music Literacy, and Performance Music literacy in preparation for lifelong enjoyment of music ABC’s of vocal sight-reading and auditory skills Learning to use the voice appropriately as a musical instrument Development of necessary skills for musical theater Use of skills related to language, math, science, history, and social studies Perform a variety of music including: classical, movie music, Broadway, folk songs, holiday, pop, and foreign language Four concerts per year including pop show Opportunities for solos and small groups Preparation for participation in high school choir, show choir, and the All-State Process

Electives (Not for High School credit) Independent Study Pre-AP/GT This course will explore various topics as students learn strategies for long-term research. Students will develop research plans, implement research, and design products to demonstrate their learning. Students will also focus on communication skills to enable them to be successful and confident in delivering their ideas.

Electives Spanish Spanish 1- only available in 8th grade. Spanish 1, Part 1 (one-year course) This class is the prerequisite to Spanish 1, part 2 (taken in 8th grade) A baseline assessment of English grammar will be administered to all students who request this course to help determine potential success An end of year grade of 70 or higher is required to take Spanish 1, Part 2 No High School credit will be given for Spanish 1, part 1 High School credit will be given after completion of Spanish 1, Part 2 in 8th grade Students enrolled in Spanish 1, part 1 cannot take Spanish 1 in 8th grade, they must take Spanish 1, part 2 to receive High School credit Spanish 1- only available in 8th grade. One credit in one year Ideal for students wanting to continue Band, Orchestra or Choir AND take a foreign language Recommended for students to be in Pre-AP ELA in 7th grade

Alternate Electives Choose 2 Alternate Electives A class may be full A class may not fit into your schedule A class may not make the master schedule NOTE: Elective changes will not be made after the 2nd week of school.

Verification Process Verification Sheets – given out February 28, 2017 No changes will be made to courses prior to verification sheets being distributed. Make changes on verification sheet and return to your social studies teacher by March 6, 2017. If we do not receive it back, we assume no corrections need to be made to classes. The verification sheet is only a list of courses requested. We are not able to guarantee electives that are listed on the verification sheet.

Reminders Course Sheet due Friday, January 27, 2017 to your social studies teacher Think carefully about classes and choose wisely Talk to teachers about PreAP placement Choose 2 alternate electives Verification sheet given out February 28, 2017 - this is the only time to make changes to courses

Questions? Please click on the link below to ask the counselors any questions you may have. We will provide a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) once all questions have been collected. https://docs.google.com/a/katyisd.org/f orms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcE_BL5Kx0- t37Psy6so4WCSlHmJID0FaiA2DBJsAnZEgpa A/viewform