88thth Grade Course Selection Grade Course Selection

For the 2011-2012 School For the 2011-2012 School YearYear

You will choose one from each of You will choose one from each of the following sets of courses:the following sets of courses:

Language Arts or Pre-AP Language Arts or Pre-AP Language ArtsLanguage Arts

Mathematics or Pre-AP Mathematics or Pre-AP MathematicsMathematics

Social Studies or Pre-AP Social Studies or Pre-AP Social StudiesSocial Studies

Science or Pre-AP Science or Pre-AP ScienceScience

And you will choose And you will choose courses from the list of courses from the list of electives to fill six electives to fill six semesters of classes.semesters of classes.

BISD MIDDLE BISD MIDDLE SCHOOL (8th grade)SCHOOL (8th grade)

GUIDELINES FOR GUIDELINES FOR PRE-AP COURSES PRE-AP COURSES FOR 2011-2012FOR 2011-2012

““Pre-AP” stands for pre-Advanced Pre-AP” stands for pre-Advanced Placement courses. These courses Placement courses. These courses prepare students for Advanced prepare students for Advanced Placement courses later in high Placement courses later in high school which can give the student school which can give the student college credit.college credit.

Pre-AP Classes are honors-level Pre-AP Classes are honors-level classes for students capable of classes for students capable of handling the following:handling the following:

An increased reading loadAn increased reading loadSophisticated writing Sophisticated writing

assignmentsassignmentsand projectsand projects

Complex problem solvingComplex problem solving

Why should you take a pre-AP class?Why should you take a pre-AP class?To be challenged in your To be challenged in your

learninglearningTo be prepared to take AP To be prepared to take AP

classesclassesin high schoolin high school

To be better prepared for collegeTo be better prepared for college

Pre-AP students should be:Pre-AP students should be:EnergeticEnergeticInvolvedInvolvedSelf-motivatedSelf-motivatedPassionate about learningPassionate about learningCommitted for the yearCommitted for the yearPrepared to do ½ to 1 hour of Prepared to do ½ to 1 hour of

homework per class nightlyhomework per class nightly

Remember your choices for Pre-AP Remember your choices for Pre-AP classes are in the four core areas.classes are in the four core areas.

For the electives, you will have For the electives, you will have courses that count strictly for middle courses that count strictly for middle school and another set of courses school and another set of courses that also receive high school credit. that also receive high school credit. You can choose any combination of You can choose any combination of courses to fill six semesters of courses to fill six semesters of classes.classes.

For example, a student may choose For example, a student may choose the following:the following:

Athletics – Athletics – 22 semesters semestersChoir – Choir – 22 semesters semestersHealth – Health – 11 semester (.5 credit for high semester (.5 credit for high

school)school)Information Technology – Information Technology – 11 semester semester

(.5 credit for high school)(.5 credit for high school)

66 total semesterstotal semesters

Another example:Another example:

Band – Band – 22 semesters semestersLOTE Spanish – LOTE Spanish – 22 semesters (1 credit semesters (1 credit

for high school)for high school)Art – Art – 11 semester semesterTouch System Data Entry – Touch System Data Entry – 11 semester semester

(.5 credit for high school(.5 credit for high school

66 total semesters total semesters

And one more:And one more:

Art – Art – 11 semester semesterExploratory Languages – Exploratory Languages – 11 semester semesterHealth - Health - 11 semester (.5 credit for high semester (.5 credit for high

school)school)Information Technology –Information Technology – 1 1 semester semester

(.5 credit for high school)(.5 credit for high school)Business Information Management – Business Information Management – 22

semesters (1 credit for high school)semesters (1 credit for high school)

66 total semesters total semesters

You will also need to select an You will also need to select an alternate elective or two in case alternate elective or two in case one of your main choices doesn’t one of your main choices doesn’t fit into your schedule. The fit into your schedule. The directions for this will be on your directions for this will be on your card and on the counseling card and on the counseling website.website.

Before you start to select your Before you start to select your courses, you and your parents should courses, you and your parents should look at the 8look at the 8thth grade course selection grade course selection kit found on the Smithfield Middle kit found on the Smithfield Middle School website.School website.

After going to the Smithfield After going to the Smithfield Middle School website, click on Middle School website, click on the “6the “6thth, 7, 7thth, and 8, and 8thth Grade Course Grade Course Selection Kits” link under “Quick Selection Kits” link under “Quick Links” on the left side of the Links” on the left side of the screen.screen.

Since you will be in 8Since you will be in 8thth grade next grade next year, click on the 8year, click on the 8thth grade course grade course selection kit to see a description of selection kit to see a description of the courses, a worksheet to help you the courses, a worksheet to help you make your choices, and the make your choices, and the directions for making your selections directions for making your selections online.online.

The Red CardThe Red Card

The login and password are for you The login and password are for you and you alone!and you alone!

Follow the directions found on this Follow the directions found on this form. Directions are also available form. Directions are also available on my web page.on my web page.

To Review:To Review: You and your parents will go to the You and your parents will go to the

Smithfield Middle School web page Smithfield Middle School web page and click on the “6and click on the “6thth, 7, 7thth, and 8, and 8thth Grade Course Selection Kits” link Grade Course Selection Kits” link under the “Quick Links.”under the “Quick Links.”

Together, you’ll look at the course Together, you’ll look at the course descriptions and the worksheet in the descriptions and the worksheet in the 88thth grade course selection kit. grade course selection kit.

Then together you will follow the Then together you will follow the directions found on the directions found on the red cardred card to to select your course selections in select your course selections in Skyward.Skyward.

If you have any questions after If you have any questions after looking at the course selection looking at the course selection kit and talking to your parents, kit and talking to your parents,

you and/or your parents can you and/or your parents can email me (Mr. Sparkman). My email me (Mr. Sparkman). My email address is on the SMS email address is on the SMS

website.website.

To select your courses you must finish To select your courses you must finish online by online by

December 31December 31stst..After that date, Mr. Sparkman will After that date, Mr. Sparkman will

select courses for you. (Since he select courses for you. (Since he doesn’t know what you want, doesn’t know what you want, you don’t want that to you don’t want that to happen!!!)happen!!!)

THANKS,THANKS,

True Blue True Blue Raiders,Raiders,

For your For your attention!attention!