2016 NFC ACADEMY ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSES
NFC ACADEMY Program Information Elementary Middle School 2015-16 Page 1 of 28
Table of Contents Bible... 7-8 History... 9-10 English... 11-15 Math... 16-17 Science... 18-19 Languages... 20-23 Electives... 24-25 Page 2 of 28
Dear Academy Parents and Students: Welcome to NFC Academy a virtual school program that is a fully accredited Christian school offering students a high school preparatory program in grades 3-8. The NFC Academy program is from a Biblical Worldview from Kindergarten through High School. Our commitment as a Christian school is to provide our students the finest in Christian education preparing them for the next step in their lives. Our program offers both the full-time and part-time student a program to achieve their educational goals. Our full-time students will have our Guidance Department working with them as they prepare for graduation. NFC Academy is a program that embraces innovation and new technology for educational programs. Some students find the traditional school program is best for their needs, but a growing number of students find the experience of an academic program online is their best learning environment. While as an NFC Academy student you may find yourself being separated by distance from other online learners and your teachers, you should always find yourself connected with peer learners and teachers in the NFC Academy using the various technologies and programs that connect you together. This learning environment does require personal self-discipline, combined with consistent work habits. Regular participation in course assignments and collaborative work with your teachers on your assignments is important for success. The courses and learning model is carefully structured to ensure your learning of the materials, preparing you for college and your career. Successful homeschooling requires everyone to be engaged in the process, keeping students moving ahead and meeting educational goals. We would welcome the opportunity to tell you more about NFC Academy. Page 3 of 28
Accreditation and Memberships NFC Academy is registered with the State of Florida Department of Education. NFC Academy is fully accredited by the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS) which is a member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation. NFC Academy is fully accredited by the regional accrediting organization, The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools with their Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. NFC Academy is a member of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning. Mission Statement The mission of NFC Academy is to prepare the leaders of tomorrow by providing a program of academic excellence through Christian education, thereby equipping them to glorify God. Vision Statement Using innovative technology guiding future generations to know the truth of God s Word and His works in order to fulfill the will of God for their lives. Core Values Nurturing personal growth and development of students Family values are integrated in every decision. Christ-centered curriculum is used to encourage Biblical thinking. Achieving success when students live out Godly values in their present culture Academic Program Kindergarten 2 nd Grade is our print program which uses the same curriculum philosophy as in our online program which starts in third grade. Parents will love our NFC Academy Daily Lesson Planner which takes the guess work out of how much to plan for each day so you finish your year as you expect to do so. You will have an NFC Academy Resource Teacher available to you all year long to answer your questions. We do your report cards and take care of those records as we work together. Standardized testing is done in the spring of the year, and this is required by many states for those who homeschool. Online Grades 3-5 is our Elementary program where all work is done online. All the student needs wherever you may go is their computer and Internet access. You may select our Homeschool Edition where you are the teacher at home, or our Homeschool Advantage Program using our NFC Academy Page 4 of 28
teachers. If you use the HSE where you are the teacher, we provide an NFC Academy Resource Teacher to answer your questions during the year. We do the report cards and keep those records for you. Standardized testing is done in the spring of the year, and this is required by many states for those who homeschool. Middle School Grades 6-8 begins our program for these growing young people as they are preparing for their entry to high school. Just like grades 3-5, all work is online, and you have the option to be the teacher through grade 7. After seventh grade, our teachers must be the teachers for the program. The courses are preparing the students for success as they step into high school in the ninth grade. Some students may start earning some credits toward high school graduation as early as the eighth grade. High School Grades 9-12 begins the academic program which culminates in graduation from high school preparing students as they enter college or step into a career field. The core curriculum is standard, and students will have the opportunity for electives in a field of interest to them if they chose. An honors program is available as well as some dual-enrollment options to start earning credits in college that can also count toward high school graduation. See How It Works Let us show you how the program works with one of our videos on each of our programs. For the K-2 nd Grade video, just click here to go to See How It Works (hold down control and click) for K-2 nd grade. The Grades 3-5 video will show you the online program for those grades. Click See How It Works (hold down control and click) and you can see it now. The Grades 6-8 in our Middle School video will show you the details of the program. Click See How It Works (hold down control and click) and you can see it now. Page 5 of 28
The High School video will show you what it is like working toward high school graduation; click See How It Works (hold down control and click) and you can see that now. Start Your Application Now Visit our website at NFC Academy (hold down control and click) and you may begin your application now. If you have questions, let our Admissions Specialist answer your questions. Review the following pages for a general description of the courses available for our online program for 3 rd -8 th grade. Need information on Kindergarten-2 nd Grade or High School grades 9-12, contact us and we will get it to you. Page 6 of 28
Bible GRADES 3-5 Bible 300. Bible 300 begins a developmental and in-depth academic study of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. It focuses on Christian living, the lives of Jesus and Joseph, Bible study methods, Bible archaeology, friendship, and Christian service. These areas target five content strands: biblical literature, biblical background, Christian growth, Christian evidences, and friendship. Bible 400. Bible 400 provides a developmental and in-depth academic study of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. It focuses on the lives of Peter and Paul (also known as Saul), the existence and knowledge of God, Bible study methods, Psalm 23, Old Testament geography, and Christian witnessing. These areas target five content strands: theology, the attributes of God, biblical literature, biblical background, and Christian evidences. Bible 500. Bible 500 provides a developmental and in-depth academic study of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. It focuses on biographies of faithful people, angels, the presence of God, Bible study methods, the Christian's relationships, and Paul's missionary journeys. These areas target five content strands: theology, the attributes of God, biblical literature, biblical background, and Christian evidences. Page 7 of 28
GRADES 6-8 Bible Bible 600. Bible 600 provides a developmental and in-depth academic study of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. It focuses on a brief survey of the Old and New Testaments, with special emphasis upon the key people, places, and events from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation. These areas target three content strands: theology, biblical literature, and biblical background. Bible 700. Bible 700 provides a developmental and in-depth academic study of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. It focuses on worship, mankind, the attributes of God, prophecies about Christ, the living of balanced lives, and the book of Psalms. Special emphasis is given to the life of Christ from His preexistence and birth to His resurrection and ascension. These areas target five content strands: theology, the attributes of God, biblical literature, Christian growth, and the life of Christ. Bible 800 Practical Christianity and Church History. Bible 800 provides a developmental and in-depth academic study of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. It focuses on prayer, salvation, the attributes of God, the book of Proverbs, and interpersonal relationships. Special emphasis is given to a survey of Church history from the early Church through the Reformation. These areas target five content strands: theology, the attributes of God, biblical literature, Christian growth, and Church history. Page 8 of 28
GRADES 3-5 History History/Geography 300. History and Geography 300 continues the process of developing in students an understanding of and appreciation for God s activity as seen in the record of man and his relationships. It focuses on different types of communities and their local industries, such as farming and fishing, placing special emphasis on a variety of manufacturers in Michigan. Additionally, the course presents a survey of several 19th and 20th century inventors and inventions. These areas of focus target three major content strands: Geography, History, and Economics. History/Geography 400. History and Geography 400 continues the process of developing in students an understanding of and appreciation for God s activity as seen in the record of man and his relationships. The course focuses on World Geography, describing the surface of the Earth and its natural features (biomes). It also teaches about cultural distinctives, placing special emphasis on North American geography and culture. Then, expanding on instruction, it presents a survey of Earth and space explorations. These areas of focus target three major content strands: Geography, History, and Social Studies Skills. History/Geography 500. History and Geography 500 continues the process of developing in students an understanding of and appreciation for God s activity as seen in the record of man and his relationships. It focuses on two major areas, American History and Geography. The course covers American History from early exploration through the Reconstruction, with special emphasis given to inventions and technology of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and geography of the Americas, with special emphasis on Mexico, Canada, and U.S. regional geography. These areas of focus target four major content strands: History, Geography, Government and Citizenship, and Social Studies Skills. State Histories (1 semester). See description under Grades 6-8. Page 9 of 28
GRADES 6-8 History History/Geography 600. History and Geography 600 continues the process of developing in students an understanding of and appreciation for God s activity as seen in the record of man and his relationships. The course focuses on World History, with an emphasis on Western Europe. World Civilizations 700. History and Geography 700 continues the process of developing in students an understanding of and appreciation for God s activity as seen in the record of man and his relationships. The course surveys the social sciences, covering history, geography, anthropology, sociology, economics, and political science. These areas of focus target all five major content strands: History, Geography, Government and Citizenship, Economics, and Social Studies Skills. History/Geography 800. History and Geography 800 continues the process of developing in students an understanding of and appreciation for God s activity as seen in the record of man and his relationships. The course focuses on American History, covering the subject from early exploration through the present day, with special emphasis given to the Civil War and to inventions and technology of the 19th and early 20th centuries. These areas of focus target three major content strands: History, Geography, and Government and Citizenship. State Histories (1 semester). Five Unit courses include lessons, quizzes, projects and tests examining the history, culture, government, economy, and citizenship of the state. One Unit courses use a project format to cover the same topics. Page 10 of 28
English (Language Arts) GRADES 3-5 Language Arts 300. Language Arts 300 focuses on the sequential development and integration of communication skills in four major areas reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Reading introduces students to basic reading skills, including the identification of main ideas, supporting details, sequence, and facts and opinions; shows students how to identify parts of speech in sentences; helps students develop basic literary comprehension skills through the reading of short stories, a short play, and haiku poetry. Writing develops students understanding of sentence structure, providing hands-on experience with complete sentences and parts of speech; introduces students to roots and affixes, and basic word relationships, including homographs, synonyms, and antonyms; develops students vocabulary and spelling skills; gives students the opportunity to develop their abilities in writing paragraphs, haiku poetry, short stories, and friendly letters. Special Topics introduces basic research skills, including the use of atlases, dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspaper and magazine articles, and textbooks. Language Arts 400. Language Arts 400 focuses on the sequential development and integration of communication skills in four major areas reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It most specifically focuses on deepening and furthering students' understanding in the following ways: Reading introduces students to basic reading skills, including the identification of main ideas, supporting details, sequence, and facts and opinions; shows students how to identify parts of speech in sentences; develops students capacity for identifying basic elements of narrative prose; introduces students to types of nonfiction, including biographies, autobiographies, and short essays; helps students develop basic literary comprehension skills through the reading of short stories, nonfiction pieces, and poetry. Writing develops student s understanding of sentence structure, providing hands-on experience with subject-verb agreement and parts of speech; emphasizes parts of speech and Page 11 of 28
GRADES 3-5 English (Language Arts) Language Arts 400 continued. their roles, including adjectives, nouns, and verbs; familiarizes students with roots and affixes, and basic word relationships, including homonyms, synonyms, and antonyms; develops students vocabulary and spelling skills; gives students the opportunity to develop their abilities in writing paragraphs, four-line poetry, and short stories; guides students through planning, organizing, writing, and revising a report. Special Topics teaches basic research skills, including dictionary, encyclopedia, and safe Internet usage Language Arts 500. Language Arts 500 continues to build on the sequential development and integration of communication skills in four major areas reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It most specifically focuses on deepening and furthering students' understanding in the following ways: Reading- develops students basic reading skills, including the identification of main ideas, supporting details, sequence, and facts and opinions; introduces more advanced reading skills, showing students how to make inferences and derive implied meanings; shows students how to identify parts of speech in sentences, with emphasis on nouns, adverbs, and verb tenses; develops students capacities for identifying basic elements of narrative prose; introduces students to types of nonfiction, including biographies, autobiographies, and short essays; helps students develop basic literary comprehension skills through the reading of excerpts from Beowulf, Call it Courage, and Gulliver s Travels and of various short stories, nonfiction pieces, and poetry. Writing- develops students understanding of sentence structure, providing hands-on experience with subject-verb agreement and parts of speech; emphasizes parts of speech and their roles, including adjectives, nouns, and verbs; familiarizes students with roots, affixes, and basic word relationships, including homonyms, synonyms, and antonyms; develops students vocabulary and spelling skills. Page 12 of 28
English (Language Arts) GRADES 6-8 Language Arts 600. Language Arts 600 continues to build on the sequential development and integration of communication skills in four major areas reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It most specifically focuses on deepening and furthering students' understanding in the following ways: Reading develops students reading skills, including the identification of main ideas, supporting details, sequence, and facts and opinions; introduces more advanced reading skills, showing students how to analyze propaganda, make inferences, and determine the author s authority; shows students how to identify parts of speech in sentences, with emphasis on kinds and uses of nouns, pronouns, and verb tenses; develops students capacities for identifying basic elements of narrative prose; enhances students abilities for reading newspaper articles and informative nonfiction; helps students develop basic literary comprehension skills through the reading of short stories, nonfiction pieces, and poetry. Writing develops students understanding of sentence structure, providing hands-on experience with subject-verb agreement, participles, and phrases; emphasizes parts of speech and their roles, including adjectives, nouns, and verbs; familiarizes students with roots, affixes, and basic word relationships, including homonyms, synonyms, and antonyms; develops students vocabulary and spelling skills; gives students the opportunity to develop their abilities in writing paragraphs, business letters, poetry, and short stories; guides students through planning, organizing, writing, and revising a report. Special Topics teaches dictionary skills and comprehension of graphic visual aids; introduces students to Biblical literature topics. Page 13 of 28
English (Language Arts) GRADES 6-8 Language Arts 700. Language Arts 700 continues to build on the sequential development and integration of communication skills in four major areas reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It most specifically focuses on deepening and furthering students' understanding in the following ways: Reading develops students reading skills, including the identification of main ideas, supporting details, and sequence; teaches students how to reach logical conclusions as well as use appropriate reading rates; shows students how to identify parts of speech in sentences, with emphasis on adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, pronouns, and verb types; helps students develop basic literary comprehension skills through the reading of biographical and autobiographical pieces, poetry, and character analyses. Writing develops students understanding of sentence structure, providing hands-on experience with coordination, conjunctions, subject-verb agreement, participles, and phrases; familiarizes students with roots, affixes, and basic word relationships, including homonyms, synonyms, and antonyms; develops students vocabulary and spelling skills; gives students the opportunity to develop their abilities in writing paragraphs, character analyses, character sketches, short biographies, and summaries; develops students critical thinking skills through speculative writing on morality. Speaking teaches skills that enable students to become effective speakers and communicators, weaving the skills together throughout the course. Listening teaches effective listening comprehension skills, weaving these together throughout the lessons; builds upon students' study skills. Page 14 of 28
English (Language Arts) GRADES 6-8 Language Arts 800. Language Arts 800 continues to build on the sequential development and integration of communication skills in four major areas reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It most specifically focuses on deepening and furthering students' understanding in the following ways: Reading reinforces reading comprehension skills by teaching students how to analyze propaganda and other forms of writing, including biographies, autobiographies, formal essays, and informal essays; shows students how to make denotative, symbolic, and connotative readings of a text; introduces both Old English and Middle English languages and literature to develop students' understanding of English language formation and development; prepares students for the higher level literary comprehension skills required in the upper grades. Writing develops students' understanding of sentence structure, providing hands-on experience with conjunctions, transitions, clauses, and common sentence errors; teaches language histories and etymologies to help students build on knowledge of word structures, including topics like prefixes, roots, and suffixes; expands on students' vocabulary and spelling skills; gives students the opportunity to develop their abilities in writing business letters, friendly letters, informal essays, and basic literature analyses. Speaking offers students experience in delivering oral reports; teaches skills that enable students to become effective speakers and communicators, weaving these skills together throughout the course. Listening teaches effective listening comprehension skills, weaving these together throughout the lessons; builds upon students' study skills, as well as helping them become reliable and efficient note takers. Page 15 of 28
GRADES 3-5 Mathematics Mathematics 300. Math 400 is a full-year elementary math course focusing on number skills and numerical literacy. In it, students will gain solid experience with number theory and operations, including decimals and fractions. This course also integrates geometric concepts and skills throughout the units, teaches measurement skills, and introduces students to statistical concepts. Mathematics 400. Math 400 is a full-year elementary math course focusing on number skills and numerical literacy. In it, students will gain solid experience with number theory and operations, including decimals and fractions. This course also integrates geometric concepts and skills throughout the units, teaches measurement skills, and introduces students to statistical concepts. Mathematics 500. Math 500 is a full-year elementary math course focusing on number skills, numerical literacy, and geometric concepts. In it, students will gain solid experience with number theory and operations, including whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. In addition, students will develop their understanding of measurement and two- and three- dimensional figures. This course also integrates mathematical practices throughout the units, as well as introducing students to algebraic, statistical, and probability concepts. Page 16 of 28
GRADES 6-8 Mathematics Mathematics 600. Math 600 is a full-year math course focusing on number skills and numerical literacy, with an introduction to the number skills needed for algebra. In it, students will gain solid experience with number theory and operations, including decimals and fractions. This course also integrates geometric concepts and skills throughout the units, as well as introducing students to statistical and probability concepts. Mathematics 700. Mathematics 700 is designed to prepare junior-high students for Pre-algebra. This course focuses on strengthening needed skills in problem solving, number sense, and proportional reasoning. It also introduces students to integers, equations, and geometric concepts. Students will begin to see the "big picture" of mathematics and learn how numeric, algebraic, and geometric concepts are woven together to build a foundation for higher mathematical thinking. Pre-algebra. Pre-algebra is an introductory algebra course designed to prepare junior-high school students for Algebra I. The course focuses on strengthening needed skills in problem solving, integers, equations, and graphing. Students will begin to see the "big picture" of mathematics and learn how numeric, algebraic, and geometric concepts are woven together to build a foundation for higher mathematical thinking. Algebra I and Algebra I Honors. Algebra I is a full year, high school credit course that is intended for the student who has successfully mastered the core algebraic concepts covered in the prerequisite course, Pre-Algebra. Within the Algebra I course, the student will explore basic algebraic fundamentals such as evaluating, creating, solving and graphing linear, quadratic, and polynomial functions. (Available to students who have completed successfully Pre-Algebra in 7 th grade with a minimum of an average of 85). Page 17 of 28
GRADES 3-5 Science Science 300. Science 300 is a basic elementary course intended to expose students to the designs and patterns in God s physical universe. This course provides a broad survey of the major areas of science. Some of the areas covered in Science 300 include the human body, plants, animals, health and nutrition, matter, sound waves, earth science, and heat energy. The course seeks to develop the student s ability to understand and participate in scientific inquiry. The units contain experiments and projects designed to build on children s natural curiosity. The student will explore, observe, and manipulate everyday objects and materials in their environment. Science 400. Science 400 is a basic elementary course intended to expose students to the designs and patterns in God s physical universe. This course builds on concepts taught in Science 300, providing a broad survey of the major areas of science. Some of the areas covered in Science 400 include the study of plants and animals, ecology, work and simple machines, electricity and magnetism, properties of water and matter, weather, solar system, and the different spheres of earth. The course seeks to develop the student s ability to understand and participate in scientific inquiry. The units contain experiments and projects to capitalize on children s natural curiosity. Science 500. Science 500 is a basic elementary course intended to expose students to the designs and patterns in God s physical universe. This course expands on the Science 300 and Science 400 courses, providing a broad survey of the major areas of science. Some of the areas covered in Science 500 include the study of cells, plants and animals, ecology, energy, geology, properties of matter, and the natural cycles of life. The course seeks to develop the student s ability to understand and participate in scientific inquiry. The units contain experiments and projects to capitalize on the students natural curiosity. Students at this level should begin to understand interrelationships between organisms, recognize patterns in ecosystems, and become aware of the cellular dimensions of living systems. Page 18 of 28
GRADES 6-8 Science Science 600. Science 600 is a basic intermediate course intended to expose students to the designs and patterns in God s physical universe. This course expands on the Science 300-500 elementary courses, providing a broad survey of the major areas of science. Some of the areas covered in Science 600 include the study of plant and animal systems, plant and animal behavior, genetics, the structure of matter, light and sound, kinematics, planet Earth, the solar system, and astronomy. The course seeks to develop the student s ability to understand and participate in scientific inquiry. General Science I. General Science I is a basic intermediate course intended to expose students to the designs and patterns in God s physical universe. This course expands on the Science 600 course, providing a set of basic scientific skills and a broad survey of the major areas of science. Some of the areas covered in General Science I include the scientific method, overview of the four major areas of science, mathematics in science, astronomy, the atmosphere, natural cycles, weather and climate, human anatomy and physiology, and careers in science. The course seeks to develop the student s ability to be aware of and participate in scientific inquiry. General Science II. General Science II is a basic intermediate course intended to expose students to the designs and patterns in God s physical universe. This course expands on the Science 600 and General Science I courses, providing a set of basic scientific skills and a broad survey of the major areas of science. Some of the areas covered in General Science II include the history of science, structure and properties of matter, health and nutrition, types of energy, electricity and magnetism, work, energy, forces, simple machines, balance in nature, natural cycles and resources. The course seeks to develop the student s ability to be aware of and participate in scientific inquiry. Page 19 of 28
GRADES 5-6 Languages (World) Elementary French (1 semester). Elementary French introduces students in grades 3-6 to the French language and culture. This five-unit course focuses on developing and integrating language skills through communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and communities. Course materials rely heavily on visual and audio media and encourage students to take an active part in listening and responding. Students are also encouraged to use the French language in creating stories similar to the ones they see and hear in the course. Upon successfully completing the course, the student should have mastered the following concepts: Learn sufficient vocabulary and structures in the French language to allow for elementary communication; Interpret written French on a variety of basic topics; Use the language in the learning setting; Use the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. Elementary Spanish (1 semester). Elementary Spanish introduces students in grades 3-6 to the Spanish language and culture. This five-unit course focuses on developing and integrating language skills through communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and communities. Course materials rely heavily on visual and audio media and encourage students to take an active part in listening and responding. Students are also encouraged to use the Spanish language in creating stories similar to the ones they see and hear in the course. Upon successfully completing the course, the student should have mastered the following concepts: Learn sufficient vocabulary and structures in the Spanish language to allow for elementary communication; interpret written Spanish on a variety of basic topics; Use the language in the learning setting; Use the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. Page 20 of 28
Languages (World) GRADES 7-8 Secondary French. Designed for grades 7-12, Secondary French builds on Elementary French, teaching students to speak and write in French as they undertake a mission as secret agents. Secondary French includes language resources, memory aids, songs, and cultural insights. All audio recordings are French speakers. Upon successfully completing the course, students should have mastered the following concepts: Use words and phrases for introductions and greetings; Pronounce French vowels, semi-vowels, nasal sounds, and consonant sounds correctly; Comprehend, understand, and perform instructions in French, using numbers, points, lines, and figures; Develop speed and fluency in spontaneous speech using interrogatives; Gain information and appreciation for other cultures; Recognize sentence patterns and build comprehension skills. Secondary French, while not required, is a good course preparation for French I to complete the high school credit in World Languages. Secondary Spanish. Designed for grades 7-12, Secondary Spanish builds on Elementary Spanish, teaching students to speak and write in Spanish as they undertake a mission as secret agents. Secondary Spanish includes language resources, memory aids, songs, and cultural insights. All audio recordings are Spanish speakers. Upon successfully completing the course, students should have mastered the following concepts: Use words and phrases for introductions and greetings; Pronounce Spanish vowels, semi-vowels, nasal sounds, and consonant sounds correctly; Comprehend, understand, and perform instructions in Spanish, using numbers, points, lines, and figures; Develop speed and fluency in spontaneous speech using interrogatives; Gain information and appreciation for other cultures; Recognize sentence patterns and build comprehension skills. Secondary Spanish, while not required, is a good course preparation for Spanish I to complete the high school credit in World Languages. Page 21 of 28
Languages (World) GRADE 8 French I. In French 1, students begin to develop competence in four basic skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. While developing communicative competence in French, students gain and expand their knowledge of francophone countries and cultures. Emphasis is placed on learning the present tense, the near future and the past tense in French I through thematically designed units. Topics include home, school, family, holidays, and daily and leisure activities. Students develop the ability to: greet and respond to greetings; introduce and respond to introductions; engage in conversations on several themes; express likes and dislikes; make requests; obtain information; understand some ideas and familiar details; begin to provide information. By the end of French I, students will: communicate minimally by using short sentences, learned words and phrases, and simple questions and commands when speaking and writing; understand some ideas and familiar details presented in clear, uncomplicated speech when listening; understand short texts enhanced by visual clues when reading. (Available to students who have completed Secondary French in 7 th grade with a minimum grade of 85, or who have a minimum of a 92 in English in 7 th grade.) Page 22 of 28
Languages (World) GRADE 8 Spanish I. Entry level high school foreign language course which explores the Spanish language through communication, culture, connections, comparisons and communities. Course materials are designed to support students as they work to gain a basic proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural competency. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to do the following: Use Spanish in everyday situations in a basic manner and in both oral and written communication; Use vocabulary necessary to function as a tourist in Spanish-speaking countries; Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world; Listen to and understand basic passages in Spanish related to various themes; Read and understand basic passages in Spanish related to various themes; Compare and contrast cultural aspects of Hispanic countries and the United States. Spanish I introduce students to the mechanics of the Spanish language, acquaints them with the cultural differences of Hispanic countries, and helps them gain a keen awareness of their own culture. Page 23 of 28
Electives ELECTIVES Keyboarding and Applications (1 semester). Keyboarding and Applications is a semester-long elective that teaches students keyboarding skills, technical skills, effective communication skills, and productive work habits. In this course, students will learn about proper keyboarding technique. Once students have been introduced to keyboarding skill, lessons will include daily practice of those skills. Students will gain an understanding of computer hardware, operating systems, file management, and the Internet. In addition, they will apply their keyboarding skills and create a variety of business documents, including word processing documents and electronic presentations. Students in 8 th grade may request to take this elective if they are advanced in their computer skills. Taking the course in 8 th grade will not be for high school elective credit toward graduation requirements. Career Explorations I (1 semester). The Career Explorations 1 course is designed to give seventh- and eighth-grade students an opportunity to explore various CTE subjects. Specifically, students will be able to learn about careers involving human-related services. Each unit introduces one particular field and explains its past, present, and future. The goal is to whet students' appetites for these careers. Students can then explore that career in more detail as a high school student. The student will: Examine work, lifestyle, and a career; Evaluate the history of health care and the impact of science and technology has had on it; Explain why travel and tourism is important to our economy; Understand how geographic principles relate to traveler decisions; Explain the history the human services and how it functions in society; Analyze careers in the consumer services industry. Page 24 of 28
Electives ELECTIVES Career Explorations II (1 semester). The Career Explorations 2 course is designed to give seventh- and eighth-grade students an opportunity to explore various CTE subjects. Specifically, students will be able to learn about careers involving various technical fields from computers to agriculture. Each unit introduces one particular field and explains its past, present, and future. The goal is to whet students' appetites for these careers. Students can then explore that career in more detail as a high school student. Health Quest (1 semester). Health Quest is a health science elective course for upper elementary and junior high students. The curriculum introduces students to the concepts of what good health is, why good health is important, and what students should do in order to achieve good health. Units of study include: The development of the body; good practices of health in mental, physical, emotional, and social areas; nutrition and fitness; health maintenance; good health stewardship practices. Page 25 of 28
Virtual Partners Learning Partners Mathematics All math lessons aligned with daily supplementary instructional video presentations of the daily assignment. Primary partner is Kahn Academy and a variety of online videos. Page 26 of 28
Virtual Partners Learning Partners Science Science labs from 6 th grade and up are all done virtually online with our two lab partners Smart Science Labs and Late Nite Labs. Page 27 of 28
Learning Partners Virtual Partners Pearson Testing (Stanford Achievement Test Online) Students take the Stanford Achievement Test each spring online. Page 28 of 28