2.  We believe that "all students can perform at rigorous academic levels" and that we can "prepare every student for higher intellectual engagement by starting the development of skills and acquisition of knowledge as early as possible. " (The AP Vertical Teams Guide for English xii).  We will teach college readiness and equip students to manage and master abstract concepts.

3.  Develops potential in the classroom and beyond  Builds good study habits  Improves writing skills  Helps students shape goals  Challenges their thinking

5.  Pre-AP classes are more rigorous than regular classes  They involve deeper concentration  They involve more time and energy  They require higher expectations

6.  Have excellent study skills and habits  Ask questions and participate in class  Persevere when faced with challenging material  Possess self-discipline to plan and work ahead  Read on or above grade level

7.  Limit number of outside activities  Start small with Pre-AP; take on the subjects you excel in or love  Ask for work prior to absence or immediately after  Manage due dates accordingly

9.  Outside reading (student purchases new novels to annotate)  Critical thinking, reading, and writing  Deep connections with and across texts  College Board Strategies  Assignments designed to challenge and prepare students for AP courses

11.  A change from 6 th grade regular math to 7 th grade Pre-AP math means you are skipping 7 th grade math  7 th grade Pre-AP follows along with 8 th grade math curriculum  If you take 7 th grade Pre-AP math, as an 8 th grader you will take Algebra

13.  Pre AP tests are different than regular science tests - increased rigor.  Pre AP classes will complete (on average) one project per six weeks. These projects will require considerable time outside of class - in other words, “homework.”  Science classes require the use of technology. Please expect homework in Pre-AP classes that will require the student to have access to technology.

15.  Use a variety of AP strategies to develop historical thinking  Explore primary and secondary sources  Create and analyze both written and visual sources  Teach the AP writing process  Conduct debates, participate in Socratic seminars, and support point of view with evidence.

16.  Please involve your child in the decision making process regarding how many and which courses to take. English-Jeanne Hays jeanne.hays@rockwallisd.org Science-Joshua Puckett Joshua.puckett@rockwallisd.org Social Studies-Nicole Rodgers nicole.rodgers@rockwallisd.org Math-Dawn Johnson dawn.johnson@rockwallisd.org