Greendale Middle School Grade 7 Course Description Booklet Can t Hide Our Panther PRIDE! Greendale Middle School 6800 Schoolway Greendale, WI 414 423-2800 www.greendale.k12.wi.us
ACADEMICS AND PROGRAMMING FOR GREENDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL Making Course Choices 1. How can we make the best choices for our child(ren)? Consider your child s interests, strengths, and areas that need further exploration or work. Consult with your child s current teachers; what do they advise? Don t hesitate to talk with the middle school counselor; the counselor has an excellent overview of the entire middle school program, as well as what is being offered in the high schools. Make the course selection based on your child s interests, not on the teacher as staffing changes from year to year. 2. Does what my child takes in middle school affect high school? Middle school courses may help a student identify areas of interest to them that they d like to pursue in high school, particularly in allied arts subjects. Greendale School District requires that a student have 23 credits to graduate from high school. This includes the following requirements: ENGLISH 04.0 SOCIAL STUDIES 03.0 MATH 02.0 SCIENCE 02.0 PHYSICAL ED. 01.5 HEALTH 00.5 ELECTIVES 10.0 TOTAL 23.0 It s also not too early to consider post-high school plans. Many colleges and universities require some World language as part of their entrance requirements, as well as a third credit of math and science. Looking ahead can help ensure that students have the flexibility to take the courses that best meet their interests and future plans. Meeting Special Needs How will children s special needs be met? The middle school program is designed to provide support within the school for students with special needs. Special education teachers, a reading resource teacher, the library media specialist, guidance counselor, GT coordinator, social worker, and school psychologist are all available at various times in the school. Are accelerated math classes available? Yes. All students are tested at the end of each school year to determine appropriate math placement.
My child was identified as gifted and talented in elementary school. What services are available for him/her in the middle school? Students identified as gifted and talented learners are accommodated in the classroom with differentiated learning activities that offer appropriate levels of challenge. The GT coordinator collaborates with classroom teachers to alert them to specific learning needs and offer resources and planning suggestions to support these differentiated learning experiences. GT students are also clustered in flexible groups in the classroom to provide opportunities for peer collaboration. Individual counseling or group counseling is offered by the GT coordinator and/or the guidance counselor to help meet the unique social-emotional needs of gifted students. What if my child struggles academically? The first response should be to work closely with your child s classroom teachers to ascertain what the problem is and to develop some steps towards improving achievement. If more help is needed, the middle school offers support in the following ways including: Resource Block (on days students do not have a music class) o Flexible grouping for Core Remediation and/or Enrichment o Organizational Skills o Individualized Support AIMS (Achieving in Mathematics), ACES, and READ 180 Class Students scheduled in a math or reading intervention course receive prescriptive instruction based on individual needs. These courses replace World Language in the student schedule. School personnel determine placement in these courses. Special Education Needs Students with identified special education needs, including those with cognitive, physical, speech, learning or emotional disabilities, have individual education plans which outline the types of assistance they need. Special education teachers or aides may work with these students within a class or, at times, in small groups or individually. What is the grading scale for middle school students? The following is the grading scale used by our teachers in all subjects for the 2015-16 school year will be: A 90 100 D 60 69 B 80 89 F 59 and below C 70 79
SEVENTH GRADE Students are placed in four teacher teams in the seventh grade with each teacher instructing in their content area (English, Social Studies, Math, or Science) Seventh grade students will choose the world language (French, German, or Spanish) taken in sixth grade. They will also choose one Fine Arts class (Band, Chorus, Orchestra, or General Music). 7th Grade Course Offerings Required Core Courses Daily English Social Studies Math Science Required Encore Courses - Two and one-half Days per Week (rotating Fridays) Physical Education World Language Quarterly - Every day Technology Education, Healthy Choices, Art, Information Technology Year long - Required up to three days per week Music Orchestra, Band, Choir, (General Music-2 days per week for 1 semester) Placement in these courses determined by school personnel Advanced Math AIMS (Achieving in Mathematics) ACES (Achieving Educational Success) READ 180 Course Descriptions for Seventh Grade Core Classes English 7 In 7th grade English, students continue to develop strong reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. They practice strategies used by good readers and apply them to a variety of texts and genres. Seventh grade students read and analyze a variety of literature at home, in class, and in book clubs. They incorporate traits of good writing in their own material, and continue to develop spelling, grammar, and punctuation skills. Finally, they develop listening and speaking skills embedded in the curriculum. Students conduct research on a variety of topics and then organize their findings. Students also maintain a work portfolio, reflecting on their skills as a reader, writer, thinker, and learner. Social Studies 7 7 th Grade Social Studies: In 7 th grade we will be focusing on the big idea of the Birth of a New Way of Governing. Beginning in 1607, we have four units of study that we will focus on throughout the year. They are: Moving Day (colonists coming to America to begin a new life)
Rights: Developing the concept of rights in the new nation We have a job to do: Writing the Constitution and the Bill of Rights The Struggle to Keep it Together The classroom text is (Holt McDougal) United States History: Beginnings to 1877 Math 7 In seventh grade math the pre-algebra covered will include working with the four operations of integers and rational numbers, and solving one and two step equations and inequalities. Time will be spent applying proportional thinking, as well as understanding percents and some three-dimensional geometry involving surface area and volume, and finally, some probability. The 7 th grade math curriculum is taught using the Big Ideas math series, Course 2 Book. It has an online component to provide additional practice and enhance understanding. Advanced Math 7 The advanced math 7 curriculum is designed to prepare the students for the 8 th grade algebra course. Students will work with algebra concepts such as solving one and two step equations and inequalities, and graphing and writing linear equations. They will apply knowledge of 3-dimensional geometry in real world problems as well as explore the Pythagorean Theorem and its uses. The curriculum is taught using the Accelerated Big Ideas math series. It has an online component to provide additional practice and enhance understanding. Science 7 The 7 th grade science curriculum concentrates on the life sciences building on the concept of cells and cell processes. 7 th grade students will understand cells, cell process, heredity genetics, viruses, bacteria, animal anatomy, plants and flowers. All units are taught using lab-based experiences including heavy emphasis on the scientific method. Students will also complete an individual inquiry science project in class to demonstrate their understanding and application of the scientific process. The texts used in 7 th grade science are a combination of life science books from the Holt, Rhinehart &Winston series. Fine Arts 7 Th Grade Concert Band This course is open to all students who currently play a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. Its main focus is on instrumental techniques pertinent to the student's chosen instrument and solo and large group performance. The band performs in at least two concerts: both held in the evening at 7:15PM, one in December and one in May. All students are required to attend all scheduled performances. Band students may also participate in the WSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival held on a Saturday (morning/afternoon) in March or early April. Students will receive an award based on their performance for this event. All band students must purchase a "Tradition of Excellence Book 2 Comprehensive Band Method" and have a playable band instrument.
Band class meets during the day every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and also requires students to be excused from half of a core class once a week to attend small group lessons given on a rotating basis. The class is for a full year and is graded quarterly. 7 th Grade String Orchestra This course is open to all students who currently play a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, string bass) and may be open to beginners. Beginners, however, are expected to take a minimum of eight private lessons prior to the start of the school year, as continuing students will have had three years of previous instrumental study. The Orchestra has a minimum of three performances each year all are held in the evenings at 7:00 PM. All students are required to participate in these performances. Orchestra students also participate in the WSMA Solo & Ensemble Contest held on a Saturday (morning/afternoon) in March. Students will receive an award based on their performance at this event. A small entry fee of $ 5 is required. Orchestra class meets during the school day every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The class also requires students to be excused from a core class for 30 minutes once a week to attend a small group lesson that is scheduled on a rotating basis. This class is for a full year and is graded quarterly. Choir 7 This course is open to all students who are looking to become better singers; students need no prior experience to join. This class will continue to expand a student s ability to sing harmony by adding three-part music, as well as continue to foster individual vocal skills. Choir is a singing based class, but in addition knowledge in music theory, sight singing, and music history will be expanded. The Choir has a minimum of two performances each year both are held in the evening at 7:00PM. All students are required to participate in these performances. Choir class meets during the school day every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. General Music 7 The seventh grade general music program consists of a number of mini-units. There will be a strong emphasis on exploring the music of different world cultures, with a big focus on world drumming. Each unit has at least one of the following incorporated into it: listening exercises, instrumental playing, singing, composition or group projects. Composers and performers are also explored. Encore Courses - All students in seventh grade have the opportunity to experience the following courses. The purpose of these exploratory courses is to provide exposure to the skills needed to be a productive citizen in the 21 st Century.
World Language 7 Students continue with their chosen language from 6th grade. Seventh grade students continue to learn vocabulary and grammar in order to increase their communication skills. At this time, successful completion of the three years of language in the middle school equals one year of high school world language. The students can then register for level two in their chosen language. This is based on grade point average in the language class and teacher recommendation. Art 7 The 7 th grade art course continues to focus on the elements and principles of art, but emphasizes the application of these concepts at a higher level of creative thinking and artistic craftsmanship. Students will work on several two- and threedimensional projects (including painting, digital photography, and clay.) They will learn about art history, art criticism, and conceptual ideas commonly created by contemporary artists. Grades are based on effort, craftsmanship, application of techniques, design, and creativity. Healthy Choices 7 Seventh grade students will learn various strategies to help them live happier, healthier lives! Strategies include communication skills, anger management, stress management, and suicide prevention. We will also cover nutrition, physical activity, body image, and human growth and development. The goal of 7th grade Healthy Choices is to promote positive decision-making and awareness of how to handle real life situations. Information Technology 7 Students are exposed to multiple areas of computer and media literacy in their seventh grade Information Technology coursework. The focus of this class is to digitally communicate information using creativity tools. Students explore multiple aspects of the ilife suite, including iphoto, GarageBand and imovie. They will create podcasts, incorporating audio and video elements. Students will also be introduced to computer programming using Scratch software. They will learn appropriate terminology for all technology topics. Tech Ed: Design and Modeling Course The purpose of this unit is to introduce the student to the design process using a solid modeling software package called Inventor. Students will understand how this technology has influenced our society and lives. Using the design brief, students will create models and documentation that represent solutions to problems. Concepts: Technology is the study of how humans change the natural world to meet human needs and wants. Design is a creative process that leads to useful products and systems.
Systems thinking involves considering how every part relates to others. Expressing ideas to others verbally and through sketches and models is an important part of the design process. Estimating and using measurement tools correctly are used to recognize when a measurement is reasonable. Two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional solutions can take many forms, including graphic, mathematical, and physical. Physical Education 7 Students are required to change clothes for class. A uniform t-shirt is required and may be purchased at the beginning of the school year. Our goal is to provide our students with the knowledge, skill, and self-confidence they need to participate in a variety of physical activities. Our program is designed to help students understand the link between physical activity and good health, instill personal desire to improve their level of fitness, teach basic motor skills necessary to participate in a variety of activities, provide a working knowledge of the skills taught in each of the units, and encourage teamwork, sportsmanship, and selfesteem. Units include fitness assessment, LaCrosse, team handball, social dance, volleyball, human growth and development, basketball, fitness training, fitness evaluation, racket sports, and disc golf/ultimate frisbee.