Moving on Up to 7th Grade!!

Ms. Rush

Spring 2015

Purpose of Lesson/Desired Outcomes

• Reflect on your first year of middle school - complete the Reflection Bubbles form

• Review all registration materials

• Using PENCIL, begin ranking electives

• Have necessary materials and knowledge to plan with parents tonight

Overview of Materials

• Front side of registration form = Student Information Card

• Back side of registration form = Elective Sheet

• Reflection bubbles form

• Letter to parents

• You will need a PENCIL!!

Reflection Bubbles

• Think about yourself as a student – what did you do well this year as a 6th Grader?

• What areas of improvement do you see for 7th Grade?

• You can include any information you would like, ie, social, personal and/or academic.

First Things First….

• Check your student information card:

• Is your address correct?

• Phone numbers?

• Make any necessary corrections in pencil!

Registration Form

• Review this at home tonight with your parents

• You sign the bottom of the form

• Make sure your parents sign the form

• Your parents may write any comments that they would like to include at the bottom

• Return the form tomorrow!

Registration form data (top of form)

Rel. Level = Relative level = how close the level of your EOG score is to the next level

Ex. If a student makes a 1.82 on the

EOG, he/she scored a Level I but was

close to making a Level II Scale score = numbers in a range that make up the corresponding EOG

Level

Ex. If a student has a scale score of 464 on

the Reading EOG, the student has scored a

Level IV

EVAAS Score = future predictor of performance in Math I/indicates the probability that a student will pass the course

Ex. If a student has an EVAAS score of 73.8, that

means the he/she has almost a 74% chance of passing

Math I

Scale Scores

Sample Student

Data/recommendations

• What data do your teachers use to make Math & LA recommendations?

• EOG scores

• EVAAS Score

• Report card grades

• Teacher observations of student’s work ethic

Very important to know!! Ms. Rush’s Soapbox Speech

You, as a student, are so much more than just these numbers. The numbers tell us a lot about how you are performing academically, but you cannot assign a number to work ethic and that is what counts the

most!!

Math Courses

If you start with…

7th Grade

8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade

Math 6 Math 7 Math 8 Math I (HS)

Math II (HS)

Math 6 Plus

Math 7 Plus

Math I (HS)

Math II (HS)

Math III (HS)

Compacted Math 6/7+

Math I (HS)

Math II (HS)

Math III (HS)

Pre-CalculusWCPSS Math Recommendation guidelines suggest that students

score a Level IV on Math EOG and 70% or higher EVAAS, in order to be recommended for advanced Math.

What happens if I don’t agree with my teacher’s recommendation?

• You and your parents can decide to waive the teacher’s recommendation.

• Your parents will need to complete a waiver form and turn it in with your registration form.

• In some cases, the teacher feels that the student can be successful in higher level Math or LA, despite not meeting the WCPSS guidelines for placement – the teacher can complete a teacher waiver form.

• The forms are turned in to Dr. Battle, so that she can review them.

• Remember the importance of self-advocacy – you can always talk with your teachers about your recommendations, if you have questions.

Parent Waiver Form

Yearlong Electives

• Intermediate French

• Intermediate Spanish

• Intermediate Band

• Honors Chorus

Yearlong Foreign Language

• If you took semester long Beginning French this year → yearlong Intermediate French next year

• If you took semester long Beginning Spanish this year → yearlong Intermediate Spanish next year

• We do not offer any beginning levels of foreign language in 7th Grade

• Ms. Clarke and Ms. Domalain have made recommendations on your form if they think you should continue with French/Spanish

• If you are not recommended, but want to continue…you may still register for the course. In this instance, I would recommend that you talk with either Ms. Clarke or Ms. Domalain about why you were not recommended for Intermediate (before you make a decision).

Yearlong Honors Chorus and Band

• Please read the description carefully before making a decision about Honors Chorus!

• See Ms. Petteway for a brief/informal “audition” if interested in Honors Chorus.

• Ms. Petteway will initial your registration form.

• Meets daily all year long!

• Ms. Yosai will initial your registration form if she recommends that you continue in Band

• Band students – please speak with Ms. Yosai if you decide not to continue in Band. If you are not recommended, but would like to continue, please talk with Ms. Yosai before making a decision.

Semester Long Electives

• **remember – Health/PE will be added to your schedule – every student must take it UNLESS you are taking 2 year long electives**

• Exploratory Chinese – an introduction to Chinese language

• Peer Helpers – working with very special needs students, need counselor recommendation

• Computer Skills & Apps 1 – Keyboarding instruction (don’t sign up for this if you took Keyboarding this year)

• Computer Skills & Apps 2 – (CS & A 1 is prerequisite) Word processing, databases, presentations

• Video News – production of AM news, everyone must be in front of the camera! Teacher recommendation required

Semester Long Electives (cont)

• Exploring Family & Consumer Sciences (FACS) – Family Focus – Relationships, cooking, childcare, interior design

• Exploring Family & Consumer Sciences (FACS) – Consumer Focus – Finance, hospitality, and sewing

• Yes, you can sign up for Exploring FACS again if you took it this year in 6th Grade – you will complete different activities in 7th Grade

A Note About Yearlong and Semester Long Electives

• Think carefully before you choose!

• Foreign Language electives require as much homework and studying as a “core” class. Band requires practice at home.

• Some of the courses, such as Video News, require working well independently and in groups.

• Are you willing to commit the time and energy?

Quarter Electives

• Visual Arts Composition

• Chorus

• Junior Great Books

• Poetry

• Dramatics

• World Awareness

• Science Lab

• Technology Design & Innovation (Part A)

• Technology Design & Innovation (Part B)

• Design and Modeling

↓

Quarter Electives (descriptions)

• Visual Arts – painting, weaving and printmaking

• Chorus – introductory course, no singing experience needed

• Junior Great Books – students will read, discuss and complete fun activities for stories

• Poetry – exploration of lyric, narrative and dramatic poetry

• Dramatics – an introduction to theater and acting, students will participate in role-playing activities

Quarter Electives (cont)

• World Awareness - This course focuses on 20th century themes/study of current events

• Science Lab – involves the observation, prediction and testing of science related concepts

• Technology Design & Innovation Parts A and B – students apply the design process by invention of a new product or system

• **strike through Automation and Robotics** – write Design and Modeling – students will use modeling software to design/represent solid objects

What Ms. Rush Needs You to Do Right Now

• Peruse your materials quietly

• Using pencil, rank your electives in order of preference (from 1-9)

• If you are taking Curriculum Assistance or ESL, rank those classes as your 1st choice

• Raise your hand if you need help

Example of Completed Form

Last Bit of Information

• It is your responsibility to secure any necessary teacher recommendations for electives (ie, Video News and Honors Chorus)

• Video News = Recommendation form, you give it to one of your teachers to complete.

• Your registration forms are due back tomorrow!

• I will meet with you individually for mini-conferences tomorrow to review your forms, discuss your performance this year, and answer any questions you may have.

• If you can’t return your form tomorrow because your parents are unable to sign it, just let me know when we meet for a mini-conference.

Thanks!

• Most importantly, if you do not turn in a registration form at all…your electives will be selected for you after the rest of the schedules have been created. Get your form turned in!!!

• Thank you for your attention