Courses
7th Grade Course List
Course |
Description |
|
|---|---|---|
| 7 ELA* |
7th Grade ELA meets for two periods (in a row) each day. During this time, students will read and analyze both literature and informational texts, write a variety of text types, and sharpen their language, speaking, and listening skills. Class assignments and assessments will include projects, presentations, papers, and discussions. |
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| 7 Math* | Many topics are covered which include: ratio and proportion, number system, writing and solving equations, probability, and geometry. We do many activities and work with an online program (Buzzmath) throughout the year. | |
| 7 Science* | A high-quality science education means that students will develop an in-depth understanding of content and develop key skills such as communication, collaboration, inquiry, problem-solving, and flexibility, all of which will serve them throughout their educational and professional lives. We learn about Science safety, metric system, forces and energy, genetics, ecosystems, moon phases, and seasons. | |
| 7 Social Studies | Students will explore global issues and how nations are connected by those issues. Students will examine challenges facing the world community and how those challenges are resolved. Some of the possible issues of study are: hunger, over-population, conflicts and wars, global environmental challenges, human rights issues, poverty, energy shortages, global health issues, access to education, immigration and refugee issues, and/or global economies. | |
| 7 Physical Education | The focus of this course is the application of movement skills and knowledge to individual and dual physical activities; the assessment and maintenance of physical fitness to improve health and performance, and the knowledge of physical fitness concepts, principles and strategies; and the application of psychological and sociological concepts, including self-responsibility, positive social interaction, and group dynamics, in the learning and performance of physical activity. This is a year-long course that meets every other day. | |
| 7-8 Unified P.E | Unified PE is a smaller PE class that includes students with intellectual disabilities. This class will do many of the same activities as the other PE classes, but with some modifications. Practicing for Special Olympic sports will also be included. This class allows you to be a role model for students with special needs. | |
| 7th General Music (Chorus) | This is an every-other-day year-long course. Students new to the North Scott Jr. High will be placed in 7th Grade General Music/Chorus. Music will be sung in 2-4 parts. Students will also be introduced to Solfege, Solfege Hand Signs and the TaKaDiMi rhythm counting method. A number of concerts are scheduled throughout the year for students interested in public performance opportunities to show growth of skill and technique. Students not interested in public performance will have non performance opportunities to show growth of skill and technique. Students may also be considered for numerous small groups and/or honor choirs that perform during the school year. | |
| 7 Art | In 7th grade art, we focus on developing our art skills with a variety of media, using art as a form of communication, and making connections to art of many times and places. This class meets all year every other day. We make art, look at art, and talk and write about art! | |
| 7 Band | 7th Grade Band meets as a class every day. The Band learns techniques in not only how to play your instrument, but learning how to work together and perform as a group. The Band has three concert performances each year. Students learn individual responsibility and teamwork. | |
| 7 Orchestra | 7th Grade Orchestra is a class that meets every day and includes small group lessons throughout the school year. Students learn to play their chosen instrument through class instruction and practice. Orchestra learns a variety of music and has three concerts during the school year and . This class also focuses on self motivation, positive thinking and overcoming obstacles. | |
| Ag Tech | Ag Tech is an exploratory agriculture class that meets all year every other day. By 2050 there are going to be an extra 2 billion mouths to feed with the same amount of land resources we currently have. What can you do to help this? This course is a very basic agriculture class to help improve agriculture literacy. This class offers hands-on learning, real-life problem solving and collaboration with others to learn about what agriculture is, and why it is important for everyone to learn about it. | |
| Guided Technology | Explore a variety of technology resources using Chromebooks and Macs. Resources include digital tools, coding, Google products and more. This class meets all year every other day. | |
| Spanish 1 |
Students will acquire listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through lessons incorporating culture, music, games, videos, readings, novels and presentations. Students will be able to request and provide information by asking and answering a few simple questions on very familiar and everyday topics, using a mixture of practiced or memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences. While this is a two year commitment at the junior high, any student who is enrolled in and successfully completes this course with a passing grade all 4 semesters will receive high school credit. *Successful completion of Novice Mid A (7th grade) is required to continue on to Novice Mid B (8th grade). |
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| PACE | PACE is a small (no more than 8), structured time to work on coursework with support of a teacher, organize materials, check grades, and set and monitor goals. If the class is not needed, as the year goes on, schedules can change, but that is a team decision (teacher, student, etc.) This placement was a team decision between 6th grade teachers and counselor and 7th grade counselors. Some students have PACE every day, some every other. | |
| Study Hall | A quiet time for students to work on schoolwork or read independently. Most students enrolled in study hall attend every other day while some attend every day. | |
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7 TAG (Talented and Gifted)
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This class is an exploration of student gifts, talents, and passions. The program follows the Autonomous Learner Model. Within this model, students choose an area of interest and are assigned various projects to research and explore their chosen area while under the direction of the instructor. Students are enrolled in this class based on elementary achievement data. This class meets all year every other day. | |
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Comprehension Focus Group (listed as CIM in PowerSchool)
|
The CFG intervention is a daily OR every other day lesson that uses a structured framework with procedural steps to scaffold students’ learning. The framework is designed to promote students’ knowledge of genre and text structures through in-depth units of study. CIM Interventionists use explicit teaching and concrete examples to assist students in building connections between the reading and writing processes. The CFG intervention is designed to help struggling readers acquire effective strategies for problem solving in texts, while maintaining a focus on deep comprehension. The materials provide students with authentic opportunities to learn about the reading and writing processes. |
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| Second Chance Reading (SCR) | SCR is a daily focus on higher order comprehension tasks with fiction and nonfiction text; but, vocabulary, fluency, and reading rate are addressed as well. Based on a comprehensive analysis of research on reading, SCR combines multiple strategies and practices into a structure for reading instruction. | |
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Writing Aloud (listed as CIM in PowerSchool)
|
North Scott Junior High Writing Aloud is a daily OR every other day intervention designed for students who are reading and writing below grade level. The goal of the writing-aloud intervention is to assist students in understanding that writing is a process of generating ideas, drafting a message, revising, editing, and preparing a piece for a particular audience. The writing-aloud intervention uses clear demonstrations, explicit teaching, guided practice, and scaffolding techniques to enable young writers to acquire knowledge of the writing process. The intervention includes four essential components: 1) mini-lesson on a writing skill, strategy, or craft; 2) group composition around a common event; 3) independent writing; and 4) teacher/student conference. |
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| Resource | Resource classes are designed to provide specially designed instruction to help students who have Individual Education Plans make progress in their goal areas. Additionally, depending on the individual student’s goal area(s), various resource classes provide differentiated support so that students can demonstrate their learning in general education classes. | |
| Language Arts Strategies | Some students who have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) participate in this course, which meets for two periods each day. The focus is on decoding, comprehension, writing, speaking and listening strategies. | |
| Math Strategies | This class provides support for skills and computation that need reteaching. Skills we will be reviewing are ratio and proportion, number system, writing and solving equations, probability, and geometry. | |
| Level 3 MD | All academic subjects are taught with a focus on learning how to learn and increasing independence. Functional and social skills are embedded throughout the day. Community Based Learning is incorporated 2-3 times a month to work on generalizing skills and building social skills. AVBA and TEACH methods are used as needed. Direct instruction curriculum is utilized. | |
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AT (Advisory Time)
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As a home room concept, each student has AT at the beginning of the day. A child’s social-emotional development, which is fostered in AT, motivates them to learn critical skills such as the ability to communicate, connect with peers and adults, resolve conflict, and cope with challenges. This time is also used to communicate important school-wide information such as policies and emergency procedures. | |
| Boost | Each student attends this 30-minute intervention period at the end of the day where students can ask teachers for help and teachers can assign students. During this time teachers assist students with learning skills and concepts and provide them with additional opportunities to demonstrate proficiency. | |
*Honors sections offered. Students qualify for Honors courses based on achievement data. |
8th Grade Course List
Course |
Description |
| 8 ELA* | In 8 ELA, students build off what has been previously learned in English classes. Based around the eighth grade standards, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening, students will use a variety of formats to think critically about their lives and the world around us, as well as how to communicate effectively in many different settings and situations. This course meets for two periods each day. |
| 8 Math* | Many building blocks of algebra are investigated during this course. Units include: Pythagorean Theorem, Solving Equations, Geometry Transformations, and Linear/Exponential Relationships. Many of our activities are done in groups to improve collaborative problem solving. |
| 8 Science* | The Next Generation Science Standards is a multi-state effort to create new education standards that are "rich in content and practice, arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally benchmarked science education. The standards are written as three-dimensional performance expectations that integrate science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts. This year we will concentrate on Newton's third law of motion, biological evolution, weather and the effects humans are having on the environment. |
| 8 Social Studies | 8th Grade Social Studies begins with the colonization of North America and progresses through the American Civil War. We will read a variety of primary source documents, take part in multiple hands-on simulations, and debate the actions of key figures in History. |
| 8 Physical Education | In 8th grade, the content standards emphasize working as a team to solve problems. The focus of this course is the application of movement skills and knowledge (including defensive and offensive strategies) to team physical activities; the assessment and maintenance of physical fitness to improve health and performance; the knowledge of physical fitness concepts, principles and strategies to improve health and performance; and the application of psychological and sociological concepts, including self-responsibility, positive social interaction, and group dynamics, in the learning and performance of physical activity. This is a year-long course that meets every other day. |
| 7-8 Unified PE | Unified PE is a smaller PE class that includes students with intellectual disabilities. This class will do many of the same activities as the other PE classes, but with some modifications. Practicing for Special Olympic sports will also be included. This class allows you to be a role model for students with special needs. |
| 8 Grade Choir | This is a year-long every-other-day course with a prerequisite of 7th grade choir. All 8th grade students should audition before enrolling. Music will be sung in 3-4 parts. Students will be reviewing/expanding on Solfege, Solfege Hand Signs and the TaKaDiMi rhythm counting method. A number of concerts are scheduled throughout the year for students to show growth of skill and technique. Students may also be considered for numerous small groups and/or honor choirs that perform during the school year. |
| 8 Art | In 8th grade art, we experiment and explore new forms and meanings in art. We focus on contemporary artworks. Projects in this class are based on the interests and abilities of the students. This is a year-long course that meets every other day. |
| 8 Band | This is a continuation of 7th Grade Band. This group will continue to expand our musical learning while improving play on our instruments. We will perform at 3 concerts and one contest per year outside of the school day. Jazz band is offered an an auditioned group, determined in the spring of 7th grade year. This is a year-long course that meets every other day. |
| 8 Orchestra | This is a continuation of 7th grade orchestra. Eighth grade orchestra focuses on new techniques that involve higher level of playing while still refining skills developed in 7th grade. There are 4 concerts during the school year and orchestra students will learn a variety of new music. This class meets daily and students have individual lessons throughout the year. |
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Ag Tech |
Ag Tech
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PLTW (Project Lead the Way)
|
PLTW is a pre-Engineering class that introduces students to Robotics and Computer Aided Drafting. Students will participate in hands on activities to explore the world of engineering. PLTW meets daily for one semester. |
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FACS (Family and Consumer Science)
|
FACS is a class that offers a unique focus on families and their interrelationships, career and technology, and provides skills for success for all students. The class is divided into three main categories: Clothing and Textiles, Food Preparation/Nutrition and Wellness, and Skills for Adolescence(Human Growth and Development.) Students participate in cooperative learning activities, hands-on projects, and lab experiences. FACS meets daily for one semester. |
| Spanish 1 |
Students will acquire listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through lessons incorporating culture, music, games, videos, readings, novels and presentations. Students will be able to request and provide information by asking and answering a few simple questions on very familiar and everyday topics, using a mixture of practiced or memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences. While this is a two year commitment at the junior high, any student who is enrolled in and successfully completes this course with a passing grade all 4 semesters will receive high school credit. *Successful completion of Novice Mid A (7th grade) is required to continue on to Novice Mid B (8th grade). |
| PACE | PACE is a small (no more than 8), structured time to work on coursework with support of a teacher, organize materials, check grades, and set and monitor goals. If the class is not needed, as the year goes on, schedules can change, but that is a team decision (teacher, student, etc.) This placement was a team decision between 6th grade teachers and counselor and 7th grade counselors. Some students have PACE every day, some every other. |
| Study Hall | A quiet time for students to work on schoolwork or read independently. Most students enrolled in study hall attend every other day while some attend every day. |
|
8 TAG (Talented and Gifted) |
This class is an exploration of student gifts, talents, and passions. The program follows the Autonomous Learner Model. Within this model, students choose an area of interest and are assigned various projects to research and explore their chosen area while under the direction of the instructor. Students are enrolled in this class based on 7th-grade achievement data. This class meets all year every other day. |
|
Comprehension Focus Group (Listed as CIM ) |
The CFG intervention is a daily OR every other day lesson that uses a structured framework with procedural steps to scaffold students’ learning. The framework is designed to promote students’ knowledge of genre and text structures through in-depth units of study. CIM Interventionists use explicit teaching and concrete examples to assist students in building connections between the reading and writing processes. The CFG intervention is designed to help struggling readers acquire effective strategies for problem solving in texts, while maintaining a focus on deep comprehension. The materials provide students with authentic opportunities to learn about the reading and writing processes. |
| Second Chance Reading (SCR) | SCR is a daily focus on higher order comprehension tasks with fiction and nonfiction text; but, vocabulary, fluency, and reading rate are addressed as well. Based on a comprehensive analysis of research on reading, SCR combines multiple strategies and practices into a structure for reading instruction. |
|
Writing Aloud (Listed as CIM ) |
North Scott Junior High Writing Aloud is a daily OR every other day intervention designed for students who are reading and writing below grade level. The goal of the writing-aloud intervention is to assist students in understanding that writing is a process of generating ideas, drafting a message, revising, editing, and preparing a piece for a particular audience. The writing-aloud intervention uses clear demonstrations, explicit teaching, guided practice, and scaffolding techniques to enable young writers to acquire knowledge of the writing process. The intervention includes four essential components: 1) mini-lesson on a writing skill, strategy, or craft; 2) group composition around a common event; 3) independent writing; and 4) teacher/student conference. |
| Resource | Resource classes are designed to provide specially designed instruction to help students who have Individual Education Plans make progress in their goal areas. Additionally, depending on the individual student’s goal area(s), various resource classes provide differentiated support so that students can demonstrate their learning in general education classes. |
| Language Arts Strategies | Students who have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) participate in this course. The focus is on decoding, comprehension, writing, speaking and listening strategies. |
|
Math Strategies II |
This course provides support for previously taught skills and computations that need reteaching. It also supports seventh grade skills identified in the Common Core, including but not limited to: ratio and proportion, number system, writing and solving equations, probability, and geometry. |
| Level 3 MD | All academic subjects are taught with a focus on learning to learn and increasing independence. Functional and social skills are embedded throughout the day. Community Based Learning is incorporated 2-3 times a month to work on generalizing skills and building social skills. AVBA and TEACH methods are used as needed. Direct instruction curriculum is utilized. |
|
AT (Advisory Time) |
As a home room concept, each student has AT at the beginning of the day. A child’s social-emotional development, which is fostered in AT, motivates them to learn critical skills such as the ability to communicate, connect with peers and adults, resolve conflict, and cope with challenges. This time is also used to communicate important school-wide information such as policies and emergency procedures. |
| Boost | Each student attends this 30-minute intervention period at the end of the day where students can ask teachers for help and teachers can assign students. During this time teachers assist students with learning skills and concepts and provide them with additional opportunities to demonstrate proficiency. |
*Honors sections offered. Students qualify for Honors courses based on achievement data. |