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Middle SchoolOverview

Middle School Pre-AP Courses

Middle School Pre AP courses are intended to appropriately challenge high-achieving learners and prepare students for future academic pursuits, including the high school Advanced Placement courses.

The coursework requires students to engage in independent and analytical assignments and to complete a substantial amount of work outside of class. CBA assessments (district testing) will also be more rigorous and challenging in the Pre AP classes.

Students are encouraged to take Pre AP courses that are appropriate to their interests and academic strengths. It is important that parents have discussions with their student about appropriate placements and an understanding of the commitment and higher expectations involved with a Pre AP class.

Middle School Pre-AP Courses

If a student enrolls in a middle school Pre AP course the student is required to stay in that class for the first 6 weeks of the school year. If the student is struggling, they will be expected to create a plan including attending regular tutorials in order to help them to master the content. If at the end of the grading period, the student, the teacher and the parents agree that a change to on-level is necessary, as a last resort the student will be changed to on-level. This schedule change will often impact other portions of a student’s schedule as well.

It is always our goal that the student remain in the class and invest the time necessary to rise to the challenge. This is an important commitment to consider when completing registration paperwork. That is why we encourage you to look at your student’s previous grades, achievement and test scores, while also considering their motivation, organization skills, independence, time commitment and willingness to go above and beyond current expectations.

Middle School PreAP Classes

6th grade 8th gradePAP ILA PAP ILAPAP Math PAP 8th Math

PAP Science

7th grade PAP Algebra IPAP ILA PAP GeometryPAP MathPAP Science

***If you are currently identified as Gifted and Talented or if you qualify during the spring semester, you will be placed in a required GT PAP

ILA class. The GT program only impacts your ILA placement.

Middle School ILA

Overview

PRE-AP INTEGRATED LANGUAGE ARTS

Connecting reading and writing

Rigorous curriculum and pacing

Challenging Engaging

Expectations Be prepared

Work hard Communication Independently manage

time and resources

We encourage…

An independent work ethic Parental support and guidance Well-developed study habits A love of reading Possession of high level thinking skills Mastery of skills for standardized tests THINKING!!!

Variety of Genres Springboard curriculum (College

Board) Novels Newspaper articles / short

expository pieces Poetry Mythology, Shakespeare, Classics HIGH Expectations

Class Focus

Literature, Writing, Speaking, Listening

Analysis & interpretation – “Why?”

Communication skills Clear and concise academic

writing Timely and constructive

peer/teacher feedback Confidence and commitment to

an idea

GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM

You may contact our lead GT teacher to refer your child between January 7th – 21st, 2016: arndorfr@friscoisd.org.

Visit the following website: www.friscoisd.org/gt-referral for GT referral and screening information

Middle School Science

Programs

Pre-AP Science

Offered in grades 7 and 8

Provides a higher level of rigor in lab work, reading, writing, and assessments

Requires students to be organized and practice time management with study and work completion

Requires participation in Science Fair

Middle School Math

Programs

Middle School Math Courses

5th grade math

6th grade PAP

math

7th grade PAP

math PAP Algebra

I

6th grade math

7th grade math

8th grade math

8th grade PAP

math

***PAP Geometry is offered depending on success on EAs.

On Level vs. PreAP

On Level PreAP- On Level TEKS

(Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)

- TEKS taught with- Increased Rigor - More Depth

- In-depth Problem Solving Component

PreAP CBA’s

CBAs have been written with the College Board philosophy for PAP classes in mind

On-Level:

A concession stand earned a profit of $150 in July. This represented 25% of the profits made in June. How much profit did the concession stand make in June?

Pre-AP:

Chad works for Best Buy and is paid an hourly wage plus a 3% commission on his sales. Last week he worked 35 hours and sold $4500 worth of merchandise. His total earnings for the week were $530.50. How much does Chad earn per hour?

CBA Comparison

**Requires students to see that $150 is ¼ of June’s profit, so the answer is found by multiplying 150 by 4.

**Requires students to solve a multi-step equation by first calculating the commission, subtracting it from total earnings and then dividing by the number of hours worked.

In-depth Problem Solving Component

Changing workforce demands Critical analysis Decision making Higher order thinking skills

Helps students see the purpose of math

Engages and challenges students

Aligns with the College Board philosophy

What is the problem solving component for 6-8 Pre AP math?

Two problems/week Students work collaboratively Should challenge students’ thinking

Designed to help students become comfortable with being “uncomfortable” Teachers facilitate group participation Teachers do not offer mathematical

assistance

Polishing Days for Pre AP 6-8 Math

Once each grading period Students choose only one problem out of

the 8-10 they have worked on Polishing: writing up a complete solution

and explanation Unlike the collaboration days, polishing

days are to be done independently Major grade Focused on the problem solving process

and not necessarily the correct solution. Having the correct solution is worth 10 points out of 100 points total.

PAP Algebra I

HS Credit and counts toward HS GPA Students take Algebra STAAR EOC Accelerated course and considered

above grade level 8th grade PAP Algebra I students

should plan on taking a total of 5 years of math prior to HS graduation (5th year can either be AP Calculus or AP Statistics)

PAP Geometry HS Credit and counts toward HS GPA Non-traditional delivery – Blended/On-line course Twice-accelerated course and considered 2 grades above

level 8th grade PAP Geometry students should plan on taking a

total of 6 years of math prior to HS graduation Either 2 years of AP Calculus OR AP Calculus and AP Statistics

A single Exam for Acceleration between 5th and 6th grade should only be considered if your student: Is quantitatively gifted (based on Cogat score) AND Demonstrates emotional maturity, organization, and

academic focus well above and beyond their peers

Please use the link below to find important information about FISD CBE testing:

http://www.friscoisd.org/departments/testing/acceleration-credit-by-exam#q2