Socorro Independent School District PreAdvanced and Advanced Placement

Socorro Independent School District Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program 2016 -2017

What is Pre-Advanced Placement? • Courses taught by the College Board trained teachers. • Courses that allow students to participate in college preparation courses leading to college level AP courses offered in high school • Provides rigorous courses in grades 6 -10 • Develops the skills, habits of mind, and concepts students need to succeed in college Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program

Pre-AP Beliefs • All students can perform at rigorous academic levels • Courses will prepare every student for higher intellectual engagement by the development of skills and acquiring of knowledge as early as possible Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program

Why should my student take Pre-AP classes? • Pre-AP strengthens the skills students need to think critically and analyze problems – much like any college level course. • Students are prepared to deal with the rigors of an Advanced Placement course in high school. • College Admissions Counselors recommend students for admissions based on a rigorous high school course transcript. • Students who succeed in Pre-AP courses are college ready. Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program

A Pre AP student… …is highly motivated, mature, and disciplined. …enjoys learning …has a strong foundation in core academic areas. …possesses good speaking, writing, reading and listening skills. …contributes to class and group discussions. …completes all work consistently and independently. …can manage their time well. Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program

How do Pre-AP classes compare to other school courses? • Curriculum and instruction will be presented at a rigorous academic level. • Pace is accelerated and teachers can delve deeper into the content. • More project based learning in which students will be expected to meet deadlines. • Late work will not be accepted. Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program

Late Work/Redo Policy • Late work will not be accepted. • Redos will be allowed for failing scores. An average of the first and second scores will be entered into the gradebook.

Pre AP Courses Available 6 th Grade 7 th Grade 8 th Grade Honors 6 th Grade Pre AP ELAR Spanish I (Native) Pre AP Math Pre AP Science Pre AP Social Studies Spanish II (Native) Algebra I

Pre AP Application 1. Teacher Recommendation (1 per content area) 2. Personal Narrative (1 per applicant) 3. Signed student/parent Pre AP Agreement

Where to access Application Packet? http: //www. sisd. net/johndruganp 8

ü General Application ü Personal Narrative Sheet ü Parent/Student Agreement ü Summer Assignments

7 th Grade Math and Algebra I A District created qualification test for 7 th Grade Pre AP Math and Algebra I will be given after the STAAR Exam. Those scores will be included at the bottom of the Teacher Recommendation page.

Personal Narrative Writing Prompt (Choose 1) v. What was the worst mistake or decision you have ever made in life? What could you have done differently? v. Write about something you now know that you wish you knew earlier in your life? How could this knowledge have helped you? v. What 5 traits do people first notice when they meet you for the first time?

Pre AP Student/Parent Agreement

All Pre AP students will be expected to… …complete the summer assignment for each course enrolled. …maintain an average above 80% in all Pre AP courses. Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program

If a Pre-AP student does not maintain an average above 80% at… • 3 weeks, student will meet with teacher and academic committee member to discuss strategies for improvement. • 6 weeks, academic committee member will speak with parents to discuss whether or not the student is in the proper academic setting. • 9 weeks, counselor in charge of grade level will call parent to discuss removal of student from Pre AP and placement into a regular education setting.

Application Due Date All applications will be due to Mr. Mc. Donald or Mrs. Bustamante no later than May 16 th.

Upon Acceptance • Students will receive an acceptance letter indicating which courses they qualified. • Students will receive codes for to join groups in Edmodo for each of the courses they are qualified

www. Edmodo. com

Summer Assignments 6 th Grade The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

7 th Grade Summer Assignments ELAR – When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr Science - Science Project Research Paper SS - Indian Chiefs by Russell Freedman Math - Buying a Car

8 th Grade Summer Assignments ELAR - Malcolm X by Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers Science - Science Project Research Paper SS – The Real Importance of Christopher Columbus Math – Mathematical Scrapbook Algebra I – Famous Mathematicians

Where to purchase books

Questions? Frank Mc. Donald SCEI Coach fmcdon@sisd. net Liz Bustamante SCEI Coach ebusta 03@sisd. net School Phone: 937 -6800 Discovery Lab Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program