1. 6th & 7th Grade Curriculum Night January 19, 2017
Mahopac Middle School
6th & 7th Grade Curriculum Night
January 19, 2017
Welcome! We are happy to have you here with us tonight. Let me introduce the people who will be helping me tonight: Anna O’Connor,
The content is a little harder, the skill sets are more involved, and the expectations are higher.
As we proceed through our presentation this evening, keep in mind things like:
How your child manages time ?
Are their organizational skills keeping pace with the workload?
Are study and work routines in place and do they match the new expectations of 7th and 8th grade?
What are your expectations for your children?

2. Overview of MMS 7th and 8th Grade
Expectations – 6th grade is the “last bastion of Elementary School…” so yes the work load does increase 6th into 7th grade. i.e. Social Studies from 8 – 18 chapters!!
From 7th to 8th the course load demands depends on course of study –Keys to Success remain the same – Effort, Organization, and Time Management are the Big 3!
4. Communication – still vital despite perceived “Independence”
5. Keep them involved:
Student Council
The Torch
MMS Theater Company – Stage Crew
Yearbook
School Store
Steel Drum Ensemble / Jazz Band
Intramurals

3. NYS High School Diploma 22 Credits
Pass 5 Regents Examinations
English
Math
Global Studies
U.S. History
Science
Advanced Regents
+2 more Math
+1 more Science
3 years of Language and Pass LOTE B Exam
Looking ahead to HS graduation requirements for a moment
Regents Diploma issued to those who pass 5 exams with a >64
Regents Advanced Diploma same as above but 8 exams required.
Everyone has to complete 23 units of study.

4. MMS – PROGRAM OF STUDIES 2016_2017 7th Grade Course of Study
4-Core (ELA, SS, Math, Science)
Call Back Period
Phys. Ed. / Music, Orchestra, Band, Chorus
20 Weeks AB/CD: Health, Art, Tech, Home/Careers (Aligns AIS, etc.)
Lunch
IST (Independent Study Time)
Acceleration offered in Math (Common Core Algebra I Exam)
I am going to take you through the Program of Study for the 7th and 8th grades respectively.
Your child has four core course: English, Math , Science and Social Studies.
Acceleration in Math starts in the 7th grade.
In Science it is a one year program in the 8th grade. One course, Living Environment, is offered.
Your child automatically gets the other one in 9th grade.

5. What is Looping?
Looping is the practice of keeping groups of students together for two or more years with the same teachers. Occurs 6th to 7th grade only.
: Saultz, Hafemann, May, Fox, Woodrow, Wheeler

6. 8th Grade Course of Study
4-Core (ELA, SS, Math, Science)
Call Back Period
World Language (German, Italian, Spanish)
Phys. Ed. / Elective
Electives:
Culinary / Technology & Engineering
Art / Music, Orchestra, Band, Chorus
Lunch
IST (Independent Study Time)
Acceleration offered in Living Environment (LE Regents Exam)

7. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Mahopac offers world language courses beginning in grade 8. Grade shows on HS transcript
All students, per NYS requirements, must take two years of language - grade 8 and grade 9.
In addition, all students must pass a final exam at the end of grade 8/9 LOTE A / B.

8. LANGUAGE COURSES OFFERED
Spanish 1,2,3, College Spanish, Advanced Placement Spanish.
Italian 1,2,3, College Italian, Advanced Placement Italian.
German 1,2,3, College German, Advanced Placement German.
SURVEY SAYS…
When Debbie is done intro Helen.

9. Special Education
Integrated Co-Teaching Schedule (1 Special Education Teacher and 1 General Education Teacher in the 4 Core Subjects with no more than 12 Special Education ICT students in the class)
Integrated Co-teaching- Modified (ICT-M)
Resource Room
SKILLS I and SKILLS II Schedule 12:1: Students

10. CLASS PLACEMENT 4 TEAMS in grades 7 & 8 (March / April / May)
Same curriculum
Advanced Courses/Special Education Program may determine limits to team
Balance male/female and needs of all S’s
Challenges:
Friends together
Keep apart
Have this teacher(s) specifically or not

11. NJHS Improvements
Currently: 6th and 7th grade grades ‘count’ for eligibility. High Honor Roll 89.5% nothing below 85
Induction at end of 7th grade
Updated: Grade point averages (GPA) for all four quarters of 7th and first three of 8th grade, (94, overall GPA without accelerated class; 92, overall GPA with one accelerated class) and 90 overall GPA with two accelerated classes).
Essay
20 hours Community Service by May 1* of 8th grade – then inducted end of June

12. Mahopac Middle School Academic Support
In the classroom
After school extra help
Homework Center
Academic Intervention Services
Instructional Support Team
After school help with their content teachers is the best way for students to get clarification and assistance on the content. Teachers are in the best position to help students to understand what has been taught and practiced in class. All students are encouraged to stay after school for extra help with their teachers whenever the students feel they don’t understand a concept, or just need some extra help.  
Homework Center is a quiet place for students to get a start on their homework. It is located in the school library, and students who attend must come with work to do. There is no direct assistance provided for students in the homework center. M-TH
Academic Intervention Service (AIS) is provided for students who did not score at or above Level 3 on a State Assessment, and for other students in need of assistance. This additional instruction in skills is provided during students’ lunch period. Teachers give students a pass to come from lunch for AIS. If your child is given a pass to attend AIS, please ask them to attend.
Instructional Support
An Instructional Support Team at the building level, whose purpose it is to problem-solve interventions for students:
Whose struggles were not able to be solved at the team level
Whose struggles may be behavioral and/or emotional which negatively affect academics.
Outcomes may include connecting the student and family with other resources and services, instructional recommendations to the team, a behavior plan, or a referral for further evaluation.
At this time I’d like to introduce you to Christine Shea-Coelho our MS Administrator for Special Education.

13. Mahopac Middle School Social Support
Flexible Support Program (FSP)
PTO After School Programs
Falls Academy
Psychologist per grade level
Embedded instruction; Digital Citizenry, Empathy (Wingman, JennaJack Pack, CARES, etc)
After school help with their content teachers is the best way for students to get clarification and assistance on the content. Teachers are in the best position to help students to understand what has been taught and practiced in class. All students are encouraged to stay after school for extra help with their teachers whenever the students feel they don’t understand a concept, or just need some extra help.  
Homework Center is a quiet place for students to get a start on their homework. It is located in the school library, and students who attend must come with work to do. There is no direct assistance provided for students in the homework center. M-TH
Academic Intervention Service (AIS) is provided for students who did not score at or above Level 3 on a State Assessment, and for other students in need of assistance. This additional instruction in skills is provided during students’ lunch period. Teachers give students a pass to come from lunch for AIS. If your child is given a pass to attend AIS, please ask them to attend.
Instructional Support
An Instructional Support Team at the building level, whose purpose it is to problem-solve interventions for students:
Whose struggles were not able to be solved at the team level
Whose struggles may be behavioral and/or emotional which negatively affect academics.
Outcomes may include connecting the student and family with other resources and services, instructional recommendations to the team, a behavior plan, or a referral for further evaluation.
At this time I’d like to introduce you to Christine Shea-Coelho our MS Administrator for Special Education.

14. What you can do to help your child succeed
Check Homework
Build Study Habits
Monitor Work
Know Strengths and Weaknesses
Talk to Teachers
Expect the Best
Support Outside Reading
Don’t ask what happened today? Ask what was the funniest thing that happened? Saddest? Most exciting? Most boring?
Set routines for study habits. What does studying look like?
Check to see that homework is done. But it’s their HMWK !
Create challenge in everyday situations.
Neutralize the fear factor. It’s OK for parents to know that you have certain weaknesses. Get on board – become a partner.
Meet with the teams to get a better idea of your child’s performance.
Set family standards. Always looking for ways to apply their learning.
The A&P, Trade books, take recommendations from your kids, go to B&N for a cappuccino.
Watch a DVD middle back and beginning.