Hingham Middle School

Program of StudiesFor Students Entering

Grades 7 and 8

Why Are We Here?

Our goal is to work together to design a schedule that will best meet your child’s academic needs. It should be . . .

■ Engaging■ Appropriately challenging■ Well-rounded

TIMELINE FOR COURSE SELECTION PROCESS

■ March 13 Teachers Post Recommendations

■ Early March Counselors meet with students

■ March 14 - 20 Request Page Open to Students and Families

■ April 12 Last day to submit Parent Override Forms

Your Resources:

■ THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES GUIDE■ PROVIDES INFORMATION ON EACH COURSE FOR GRADES

6-12■ AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.HINGHAMSCHOOLS.COM

■ Link to HMS and click on Program of Studies

■ PASSWORDS AND INSTRUCTIONS■ Issued earlier this year. Contact the guidance secretary if you need

help.

Who Can I Ask for Help?■ TEACHERS■ SCHOOL COUNSELORS■ ADMINISTRATORS■ DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS

Your Child’s Schedule

REQUIRED COURSES ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES,

PHYSICAL EDUCATION, FOREIGN LANGUAGE

RECOMMENDED COURSES READING LAB, MATH PREP, STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING

ELECTIVE COURSES SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

ELECTIVE COURSES FOR GRADE 7

Based on the number of recommended courses, the number of electives your child can select may vary. Requests for changes in electives will not be honored after the end of the second week of school.

❖ Art 7❖ Drama 7❖ Wood Technology❖ Family & Consumer Science 7❖ STEM Elective❖ Middle School Concert Band❖ Middle School Chorus❖ Middle School Strings Ensemble (Orchestra) ❖ Directed Study

ELECTIVE COURSESFOR GRADE 8

Based on the number of recommended courses, the number of electives your child can select may vary.Requests for changes in electives will not be honored after the end of the second week of school.

❖ Art 8❖ Drama 8❖ Introduction to Television Production❖ Technology Education❖ Family & Consumer Science 8❖ STEM Elective❖ Middle School Concert Band❖ Middle School Chorus❖ Middle School Strings Ensemble (Orchestra) ❖ Directed Study

Course Selection ProcessStep 1 – Log-in at ma-hingham.myfollett.com

The Course Selection Process Step 2 – After logging in, click on the “My Info” tab

Step 3 – Click on the “Requests” side tab

Step 4 – View Course Selections

Click on Select to view recommended courses.

Step 5 – Select Courses

View recommended courses for each subject area. If you wish to select a different course, check the

“select” button.

Primary Requests

Select three electives under “Primary requests”

Alternate Requests

Alternate requests

Select two DIFFERENT electives under “Alternate requests”. Indicate alternate priority.

The course selection window will be open from March 14-20.

HMS Departmental Recommendations

Academic Levels at HMS

■ Level 2 – Challenging coursework that will require a good deal of independence on the part of the student.

■ Level 3 – Majority of students are recommended for this level. High academic standards and rigorous daily work.

■ Level 4 – Recommended for students who require additional support within the classroom.

Factors Used in Making Level Recommendations

■ Reading■ Writing■ Communication Skills (Speaking and

Listening)■ Critical Thinking Skills■ Student’s Level of Independence

HMS English Department Reading Writing Speaking/Listening

Level 2

Demonstrates independence in the following areas:∙ Critical reading and

thinking∙ Inferential reasoning∙ Pace, fluency

Demonstrates independence in the following areas:∙ Structure, logic, and

development of ideas∙ Mechanics∙ Expression

Demonstrates independence in the following areas:∙ Verbal articulation of

ideas∙ Analysis/synthesis of

ideas

Level 3

Needs some support in the following areas:∙ Critical reading and

thinking∙ Inferential reasoning∙ Pace, fluency

Needs some support in the following areas:∙ Structure, logic, and

development of ideas∙ Mechanics∙ Expression

Needs some support in the following areas:∙ Verbal articulation of

ideas∙ Analysis/synthesis of

ideas

Level 4

Needs ongoing support in the following areas:∙ Critical reading and

thinking∙ Inferential reasoning∙ Pace, fluency

Needs ongoing support in the following areas:∙ Structure, logic, and

development of ideas∙ Mechanics∙ Expression

Needs ongoing support in the following areas:∙ Verbal articulation of

ideas∙ Analysis/synthesis of

ideas

HMS Math Department Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 12

Honors Pre-Algebra Honors Algebra 1 Honors Geometry Honors AP Calculus*Honors Calculus*

AP Statistics

Accelerated College Prep

L3 Pre-Algebra Algebra 1 Quadratic Geometry Quadratic Emphasis

Honors Calculus*Intro to Calculus*

AP Statistics

College Prep Math 7 or L3 Pre-Algebra Math 8 with Algebra Algebra 1 Quadratic Pre-CalculusAP Statistics

Targeted College Prep

Math 7 Math 8 Algebra 1 Linear Topics and StatisticsPre-Calculus

Students who earn Not Meeting Expectations or Low Partially Meeting Expectations on MCAS may also take an additional support class, Math 7 Prep or Math 8 Prep, for 2 periods each cycle.

*Please note that, nationally, only 16% of students take Calculus. That should not be the goal in choosing courses. It should be focused on developing strong Algebra 1 skills and that takes time.

HMS Math DepartmentGrade 6 to Grade 7:

The following factors are considered in recommendations :

– Speed and accuracy of basic facts and skills including fractions, decimals, percents, and proportions

– Mathematical intuition– Student independence – Grade 5 MCAS– First semester grade in 6th grade (focus on Term 2) – 6th grade chapter 5 test

HMS-HHS Science Scope & SequenceLevel Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 11-12

Electives

L2 7 Advanced

Science*8 Advanced

Science

Biology

(MCAS)*Chemistry *Physics

AP Biology

*AP Chemistry

*AP Physics

Anatomy & Phys.

Greenhouse Botany

Environmental Sci.

Biotechnology

Electronics

L3/L4 7 US/S

Science

8 US/S

Science

Integrated

Science

Biology

(MCAS)*Chemistry *Physics

Oceanography

Greenhouse Botany

Environmental Sci.

Biotechnology

Electronics

*Course emphasizes quantitative skills; see Program of Studies for math prerequisites.

HMS Science Recommendation Criteria

HMS Social Studies Department

Course Scope and Sequence

Grade 6: Ancient World HistoryGrade 7: World Geography

(Levels 2, 3, 4)Grade 8: U.S. History and Civics

(Levels 2, 3, 4)

Grade 9: Humanities/World History I (Levels 2, 3, 4)

Grade 10: World History II (Levels 2, 3, 4 plus A.P. World History)

Grade 11: American Studies/United States History (Levels 2, 3, 4 plus A.P. United States History)

Grade 12: Electives (Levels 2, 3, 4 plus A.P. European History)

HMS Social Studies Department

Reading Writing Historical Thinking

Level 2 Demonstrates independence in the

following areas:● Critical reading and thinking● Inferential reasoning● Pace, vocabulary

Demonstrates independence in the following areas:

● Structure, logic, and development of ideas

● Mechanics● Expression

Demonstrates independence in the following areas:

● Causation, comparison and contextualization

● Analysis/synthesis of historical evidence

Level 3 Needs some support in the following

areas:● Critical reading and thinking● Inferential reasoning● Pace, vocabulary

Needs some support in the following areas:

● Structure, logic, and development of ideas

● Mechanics● Expression

Needs some support in the following areas:

● Causation, comparison and contextualization

● Analysis/synthesis of historical evidence

Level 4 Needs ongoing support in the following

areas:● Critical reading and thinking● Inferential reasoning● Pace, vocabulary

Needs ongoing support in the following areas:

● Structure, logic, and development of ideas

● Mechanics● Expression

Needs ongoing support in the following areas:

● Causation, comparison and contextualization

● Analysis/synthesis of historical evidence

Foreign Language Course Sequences

Differences between Level 2 and Level 3 Courses:

Instruction· Level 2 classes will move at an accelerated pace. In these classes,

there will be less repetition of material.· In Level 3 classes, there will be substantial re-teaching of previously

learned material and more opportunities for practice.· Instruction in Level 2 classes will include supplementary information

including additional readings, vocabulary, and cultural information.Assessment· Assessments in Level 2 courses will be longer and more complex

than those in upper standard courses. They will require more open-ended application of the vocabulary and grammar learned in class.

· Assessments in Level 3 courses will be shorter, less complex, and more concrete.

Seventh Grade Medical Requirements

In accordance with Massachusetts state law, all students entering seventh grade are required tohave a physical. In addition, state regulations require written documentation that each childhas satisfied the following immunization requirements:■ 1. A second Measles, Mumps, and Rubella shot (MMR#2)■ 2. A series of #3 Hepatitis inoculations■ 3. A Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td) inoculation, given within the last 5 years.■ 4. One dose of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or a physician’s verification that the child has a

reliable history of the disease.

Failure to comply with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations will result in your child’s exclusion from school. Exemptions are allowed only for the following two situations:■ 1. A medical exemption, if a physician submits documentation that an immunization is medically

inadvisable.■ 2. A religious exemption, if a parent/guardian submits a written statement that immunizations

conflict with their sincere religious beliefs.

Philosophical exemptions are not allowed by Massachusetts state law.You will be receiving a letter from the school nurse regarding these requirements. Please complete andreturn all forms to the school nurse before the start of school in September so that yourchild can begin school with his/her class.

Thank you!

We’re glad you could join us thisevening!

If you have additional questions, or need more information, department directors and teachers are available in the cafeteria.