North Ridge Middle School Future 8 th Grade

North Ridge Middle School Future 8 th Grade Course Selection

Required Courses What do I have to take? English Ø Math Ø Social Studies Ø Science Ø Ø Elective Choices 8 th grade: English/Reading = 1 class You gain an Elective!!!

On-Level v. Pre-Advanced Placement Classes: Pre-Advanced Placement Classes Also called PAP Classes: (All Core Classes Offered) n n Courses are more challenging Take more time Increased Reading load Sophisticated writing assignments and projects

BLOCKED MATH CLASS *On level math class will be blocked for the 20172018 school year for 8 th grade students. This means that students will have 2 class periods of math. *PAP math class will be for only one class period.

PAP Math Class PAP Math Sequence: § § 7 th PAP Math is a COMPACTED course that COMBINES 7 th and 8 th grade math 8 th is Algebra I (This is a high school credit class) You have to qualify to take PAP math in 7 th grade and 8 th Grade

Qualifications for PAP Classes Overview of Qualifications for PAP Classes *Teachers have to recommend students for all PAP Classes based on two criteria: 1. Readiness to Learn - Students ability to learn the required content and academic preparation. 2. Task Commitment – Students desire to participate and complete tasks which might require perseverance. (If the student receives a NO in either category from a teacher, the student is switched over to an on level class)

QUALIFICATIONS FOR PAP Math and PAP English Language Arts Entrance into 8 th grade PAP math and English Language Arts will be determined by a combination of 3 data points: *May STAR Universal Screener n *Final grade in current math course n *Raw score on STAAR test n

3 Data Points PAP Algebra I (8 th Grade)

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS 8 th Grade: English and Reading is combined to ONE class. Students will have only one teacher for this class.

3 Data Points PAP English/Language Arts 8 th Grade

Electives P E

Electives h t l a e H Sp ee ch College & Careers h s i n a Sp Principles of Information Mgmt. (PIT) computer class

Physical Education in Middle School Physical Education – Students can sign up for athletics, tennis, gymnastics, or PE class. There is a cost for a PE or athletic uniform. 8 th grade – Not required to take physical education class. Student choice.

Electives – Year Long Athletics Competitive team sports requiring time involvement outside the school day. Physical is required ($) Boys – Football, Basketball, Cross Country, and Track Girls – Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, and Track

Boys Athletics No off season for Football – Everyone Plays If I only want to play: Basketball – Everyone is welcome to tryout for basketball. Tryouts will be before/after school. If you make the team a schedule change will be made. Cross Country – Everyone is welcome to tryout for cross country. Practice is before and after school. No schedule change needed. Track – Everyone is welcome to tryout for track. If you make the team a schedule change will be made.

Electives – Year Long Gymnastics/ Tennis – Competitive classes offered before 1 st period at the Shannon Center for gymnastics and the Richland Tennis Center for tennis. Parents are responsible for transportation to those facilities. Bus service from the facility to campus provided by the district. Tryouts required.

Electives – Year Long Band *Play self-owned or school-rented instruments *Private lessons are also offered ($) *Practice time & some extra curricular time is a requirement *Cost for performance attire *Students will be placed into a band *Sectionals before and after school are required *Concerts are mandatory

Electives – Year Long Choir *Learn fundamental vocal technique and music theory *Some extracurricular time is required outside the school day for concerts *Private lessons are also offered ($) *Cost for performance attire and choir shirt *Concerts are mandatory

Electives – Year Long Theatre – Students learn the mechanics of stage production and actually perform in a play.

Electives – One Semester Career Tech Education (Wood Shop) – Students learn to operate machinery. Design and construct projects. Introductory class ($) for materials.

Electives – One Semester n Art – Introductory class for those students who have never taken Art before. Small cost for art supplies.

Gateway to Technology One Semester ½ credit Engineering Classes: Gateway to Tech 1: Design & Modeling/Automation & Robotics – Introduction to the engineering design process and tools used. Model mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation and computer control systems. Gateway to Tech 2: Science of Technology/Magic of Electrons – Explore science and relevance of chemistry, physics and nanotechnology. Acquire knowledge and skills in the behavior and parts of atoms, basic circuitry design and sensing devices. Gateway to Tech 3: Energy & the Environment/Flight & Space – Investigate the importance of energy in our lives and explore the history and science behind aeronautics and space flight. (Any of these classes meets the technology credit for high school graduation)

College and Careers – ½ Semester n Requirement for all 8 th grade students n n n Students will take an interest and aptitude assessment to determine areas of interest and academic strength, learn about all of the endorsements and BISD courses that fulfill the endorsement requirements. Students will develop a personal graduation plan utilizing an electronic system that will be accessible to counselors. Students will take this course during one semester of each student’s 8 th grade year.

Electives – Year Long One High School Credit Spanish A very intensive class which includes grammatically correct verbal and written assessments. Students are expected to orally communicate in proper Spanish. (High School graduation requirements: Students need a minimum of 2 years of foreign language for graduation)

Electives – One Semester Principals of Information Technology Students will study various components of Microsoft Office. The student will develop skills in the areas of word -processing, database, Power. Point, spreadsheets, and desktop publishing. This class meets the high school graduation requirement for ½ credit of technology.

NRMS Semester Classes Are: n *Offered in the fall or spring semester. n Have a “Bank” class to go along with it. n *Bank classes are taught the same class period but different semester. For Example: A student might take art the fall semester and theatre the spring semester. These two classes are considered “BANK” classes.

REMEMBER ELECTIVES ARE… *Not guaranteed – they are requests *Based on class size *might not fit into your schedule

Course Selection Computer Lab Day 7 th Grade Students Tuesday, February 14, 2017 (During Math Class)