Course Selection Night 6 th and 7 th Grade Parents February 4, 2019 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Course Selection Night 6th and 7th Grade Parents February 4, 2019

Course Description Guides

• Distributed to 6th grade students in

homeroom on 1/29/19

• Digital version sent to 7th grade student

laptops

• Available on the WCASD website
• http://www.wcasd.net
• Curriculum
• Course Selection 2019-2020
• Middle School Course

Description Guide

What 6th & 7th grade parents need to know about the course selection process…

Timeline

• Feb. 1 – 12

Teacher Recommendations

• Feb. 13 – 20

Students/Parents select UA Electives

March 4 – 15

1st Review of Recommendations/Course Change Request Window

March 18 - 22

2nd Review of Recommendations and Requests/Course Change Requests Window

March 29

Course Change DEADLINE

Placement Decisions

• Placement of students into appropriate

courses is an important factor that contributes to student success.

• Multiple data points: PSSA, PVAAS, student

performance in class (report card grades), and teacher recommendations.

• Additional assessment data may be

considered should any be available for individual students.

7th Grade Schedule

Daily Schedule: Seven full periods plus lunch.

1.English 2.Social Studies 3.Unified Arts 4.Unified Arts 5.Lunch 6.Science

• 7. Reading Through Time OR World Language

8.Math

English

• 6th Grade Teachers will complete

recommendations

• Course Options
• Accelerated English
• English Level 1
• English Level 2

Science and Social Studies

• Science Course Options

Unlevelled

• Social Studies Course Options

Unlevelled

Mathematics

6th Grade Teachers will complete recommendations

• Course Options
• Algebra 1
• Mathematics Level 1
• Mathematics Level 2

World Language OR Reading

Reading teachers will make recommendations

• If recommended for World Language:
• 6th grade students MUST complete the Course

Request Form with choice selected:

• French 1
• Spanish 1

World Language OR Reading Reading teachers will make recommendations

• If recommended for Reading:
• Reading 7 Level 1
• Reading 7 Level 2
• Reading Plus

World Language

• High-proficient or advanced in reading

PSSA in 5th and 6th grades.

• Grades of A’s and B’s in English and

Reading classes in 6th grade.

• Parents/Students must fill out the

World Language Selection form to indicate language choice.

Reading

Reading Through Time Students will apply reading skills and strategies developed in this class in all content areas. Reading Plus Provides intense, formal reading intervention by a reading specialist. Students who are required to take this course will be selected based on need as determined by multiple criteria.

UA Period #1 2-Day year long classes UA Period #2 6-Day Quarterly Classes

• Health
• P.E.
• *Music (band,

chorus, orchestra OR classroom music)

• Art
• Computer Science
• Family and

Consumer Sciences

• Technology

Education

*Students must choose a music class.

7th Grade Unified Arts

8th Grade Schedule

Daily Schedule: Seven full periods plus lunch

• 1. Unified Arts
• 2. Unified Arts
• 3. U.S. History
• 4. Reading & Writing for Life OR World Language
• 5. Science
• 6. Lunch
• 7. Math
• 8. English

English

7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations

Course Options

• Accelerated English
• English Level 1
• English Level 2

Mathematics

7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations

Course Options

• Geometry 8
• Algebra 8
• Pre Algebra 8

Science

7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations

Course Options

• Level 1- Above Grade Level
• Level 2- On Grade Level

Social Studies

7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations

Course Options

• Level 1- Above Grade Level
• Level 2- On Grade Level

World Languages

OR OR

Reading

• Students will be recommended for World

Language OR Reading & Writing for Life

• Students may choose Reading & Writing

for Life even if they are recommended for World Language.

Reading & Writing for Life

• This course is an elective designed for

students who wish to explore reading and writing in the areas of short stories, non-fiction, journalism, living on your

• wn, the law, and script writing.

World Language Options

• Spanish 1
• Spanish 2 (must pass Spanish 1 and be

recommended by teacher)

• French 1
• French 2 (must pass French 1 and be

recommended by teacher)

• Latin 1
• Italian 1
• German 1

7th Grade Teachers will make recommendations

World Language

• Students who took Spanish I or French I this

year may want to choose Spanish II or French II, but they don’t have to. They should check online to see their current teacher’s recommendation for next year.

• Requests to switch languages will not be

accommodated after 3/29/19.

• There will be no high school credit offered

for these courses.

UA Period #1 (6-Day Cycle)

2 day full year classes 2 day quarter classes

• Health 8
• PE 8
• Performing Music

(either Chorus, Band, or Orchestra) OR All four of these 2 day quarter classes

• Exploring Design
• Teen Impact
• Design for the Real

World

• Classroom Music

Performing Music

• Students in Band, Chorus, or Orchestra will perform

individually, in small groups, and in an ensemble.

• Students in music classes will receive a grade.
• Students in a performing music class must have an

interest in improving their singing or playing an instrument. Performing Music Students will select: Chorus, Band, or Orchestra.

UA Period #2 (6-Day Cycle)

2-day quarter classes (all students take all four) 4-day quarter classes (students choose four)

Guidance 1- Q1 or Q2 Guidance 2- Q3 or Q4 Comp Sci 1- Q1 or Q2 Comp Sci 2- Q3 or Q 4

• Art 2D
• Art 3D
• Creative Chef
• Early Child

Develpmt.

• Trans. Eng. &

Design

• Sustainable Design
• Popular Music

Just to reiterate and clarify…

• After choosing a music class, 7th grade

students will request their 4 Unified Arts preferences.

• We will do our best to accommodate all

UA requests.

• Requests to switch any of a student’s

Unified Arts preferences will not be accommodated after 3/29/19.

8th Grade Unified Arts Electives

Current 7th grade students must choose 4 of the following…

Popular Music

• Provides an overview of the musical roots

and trends which have influenced today’s popular music styles.

• Explore many popular music styles,

including hip hop, rap, jazz, blues, reggae, musical theatre, punk, funk, heavy metal, and much more.

• Students achieve a greater understanding of

music fundamentals and stylistic influences that make up the music they enjoy.

Early Childhood Development

Focuses on learning the developmental stages of infants, toddlers and pre-

• schoolers. We

also play with kids!

Creative Chef

The curriculum follows a culinary path around the globe, cooking and learning from America to Mexico to China and Italy. It also includes a section on dietary restrictions.

Sustainable Design

• Challenges students to research, analyze

and create solutions to specific problems involving technology.

• Trash Collection
• Water Filtration
• Insulation
• Hydroponics

Transportation, Engineering, & Design

• Hands-on course emphasizing innovation

and engineering skills using the technological design process.

• Students are required to research, design

and produce a working model of a transportation device.

• Dragsters
• Rockets
• Gliders

Course Selection Procedure

During the week of February 13 – 20, go on Parent Portal with your child:

6th graders

• View teacher

recommendations

• Choose Music Class
• If recommended for

World Language, complete Course Request form and submit to HR teacher

7th graders

• View teacher

recommendations

• Choose Music Class
• Choose a World

Language or Reading class

• Choose 4 Unified Arts

Electives

Special Education Students & the Course Selection Process

• Regular Education teachers will

make recommendations for special education students in their classes.

• Special Education students will

be able to view these recommendations on-line.

Special Education Students & the Course Selection Process

• SPECIAL EDUCATION students in

DIRECT INSTRUCTION classes will be hand- scheduled into their DIRECT INSTRUCTION classes this summer.

• The recommendations for scheduling into

DIRECT INSTRUCTION classes are made by the IEP team at an IEP meeting.

Special Education Students & the Course Selection Process

• IEP needs of each student is

paramount and may exclude Special Education students from taking requested Unified Arts classes.

• Special Education students should

still request their preferred Unified Arts Electives.

March 4th - March 15th

• 1st Course Verification Window
• 1st Opportunity to Request Changes
• Changes can be made through the office

using the Course Request forms during this period. Course Request Forms will be available in the

• ffice and on-line.

March18th - March 22nd

• 2nd Course Verification Window
• Change requests from 1st verification will be

reflected in Parent Portal at this time

• 2nd Opportunity to Request Changes

Course Request Forms will be available in the

• ffice and on-line.

March 29th is the deadline for ALL changes!!!

Important!!! To view recommendations and select classes, you MUST use your Parent Portal account.

• Access the WCASD Website

http://www.wcasd.net

• There you will be able to access the

Parent Portal link and get to the Parent Portal sign-in page

Parent Portal

Need to Create an Account or Add a Child? Call Mrs. Sharon Macnamara (Peirce Attendance Secretary) for assistance at 484-266-2518. Lost User Name or Password? On Parent Portal parent sign in page, click on “Forgot User Name or Password.” Enter your email address, the system will email your credentials so you can log in to the Parent Portal.

Who will I contact if I have a question?

Current 7th Grade Counselor:

• Ms. Behlin

484-266-2512 abehlin@wcasd.net Current 6th Grade Counselor:

• Ms. DeMarco

484-266-2511 cdemarco@wcasd.net

Thank You For Coming!

• Dr. Shawn Cruice

484-266-2503 scruice@wcasd.net