What Level Course Should I Choose for my Rising 8th Grader?
Community House Middle School will be using an “open access” enrollment for the 2013 – 2014 school year. Parents are encouraged to use their child’s data points to make informed decisions about which level is best for their child. No schedule changes will be made once the school year begins.
DATA POINTS TO CONSIDER – If you are uncertain of any of the following data points, we encourage you to contact your child’s current teacher(s). We value the 7th grade teachers’ insight and professional opinion, especially as it pertains to the “Classroom Performance Characteristics.”
Data Point Number One: Previous Years’ Standardized Test Scores
Historically speaking, students that have scored in the 85th percentile and above have performed well in 8th grade honors courses. Remember, the percentile score indicates the percentage of grade level peers that your child surpassed when considering grade level standards. Your child’s 6th grade scores indicate how well he/she mastered the 6th grade content in relation to other students in North Carolina.
Data Point Number Two:Current Cumulative Class Average
An A or a B in an honors level course in 7th grade (with strong scores on formal assessments) generally indicates that continuing with honors level courses would be appropriate. A C average in an honors level course would warrant a conversation with the current teacher to identify weak areas before a decision is made to continue in honors. A consistent A average in a Math 7 level course might indicate ability to accelerate to Algebra, but a conversation with the current teacher would be strongly suggested as the Math 7 course does not cover the same standards as the Honors Math 7 course. Your Math 7 child may have gaps in learning if you select to accelerate to Algebra.
Data Point Number Three:Classroom Performance Characteristics
Secondary honors level students are fairly consistent in meeting the following classroom indicators of performance:
- Work well independently
- Display a strong sense of personal accountability
- Self-starter and willing to persevere through difficult tasks
- Contribute and collaborate effectively
- Able to maintain a brisk pace
- Proactively ask clarifying questions
- Read a variety of texts (fiction and non-fiction) for enjoyment
- Display basic math fluency (multiplication tables, division rules, fraction rules, etc.)
- Strong ability to articulate understanding through written expression
- Submit work on time
Please notethat the honors math course at 8th grade is Algebra. This is a high school level/credit course. The grade your child earns in this course will remain on his/her college transcript but will not be calculated into the high school GPA. A passing grade (D or higher) will result in one high school math credit and will also mean the course cannot be taken a second time. Per state policy, students cannot drop a high school credit course after the 20th day of enrollment.
Algebra: Students enrolled in the Algebra course at the 8th grade will be expected to master the “Math I Standards” of the Common Core. The Algebra textbook is one of the main resources used for this course. During each unit of study the students will also be provided with extension activities that require them to apply algebraic principles to unique and real-world situations. Many of these tasks will require a heavy amount of written reasoning and mathematical literacy. This course moves at a more rapid pace than the standard course, covers higher level math curriculum and provides additional opportunities for deep analysis of skills. Students should have solid mathematical computation skills and fluency and demonstrate readiness for a high school level course. See examples of work tasks for Algebra vs. Math 8 below:
Example 1 from Algebra:
Dennis compared the y-intercept of the graph of the function f(x) = 3x + 5 to
the y-intercept of the graph of the linear function that includes the points in the
table below.
x g(x)
–7 2
–53
–3 4
–15
What is the difference when the y-intercept of f(x) is subtracted from the
y-intercept of g(x)?
Example 2 from Algebra:.
A company produces packs of pencils and pens.
• The company produces at least 100 packs of pens each day, but no
more than 240.
• The company produces at least 70 packs of pencils each day, but no
more than 170.
• A total of less than 300 packs of pens and pencils are produced each
day.
• Each pack of pens makes a profit of $1.25.
• Each pack of pencils makes a profit of $0.75.
What is the maximum profit the company can make each day?
Example 1 from Math 8:
The direct route from Marta’s apartment to work is a road that is a straight line. The road is closed for repairs. Marta had to drive 8 miles west and then 6 miles south to get to work. She returned home by the same route. How many miles would she have saved round-trip if she had taken the direct route?
Example 2 from Math 8:
Hector’s math test grades for the finalquarter are 89, 93, 100, 98, and 95.He has one more test to take thisquarter. All tests count equally.What is the minimum grade Hectormust make on the last test in order toobtain an average of at least 93?
For additional samples of future math assessment questions:
Language Arts 8 Honors: Students enrolled in the honors level language arts course at 8th grade will be expected to master all of the skills and concepts within the Common Core. All LA students (honors and standard) will be immersed in the College Board’s Pre-AP curriculum, SpringBoard (already aligned to National Common Core standards), as this is the primary text used for classroom instruction. Throughout their studies in SpringBoard, students will complete two “Embedded Assessments” for each unit which are heavily grounded in literary analysis, narrative/expository/persuasive writing and personal/peer reflection. All Embedded Assessments are heavy in written expression. Written work for honors level students should reflect solid foundational writing concepts and ability to elaborate heavily on student understanding, much of which, for these children, will be completed outside the classroom. All LA students will incorporate grammar and vocabulary (Greek and Latin stems) within their studies at an appropriate level. While all LA students will be expected to engage in numerous in-depth studies of outside readings, honors level students should also expect complex fiction and non-fiction texts geared towards higher lexile bands (a lexile is a quantitative score assigned to a text based on its level of complexity.) Most Honors LA classes will engage in readings around the 1100 lexile range.
Science/Social Studies and Health & PE are all required courses that are scheduled heterogeneously.
**Students are scheduled at random after course selections are entered into the computer system. Teacher requests are not accepted. All teachers teach all levels of students.
How Do I Select Elective Courses?
Elective Courses – CHMS does not offer all of the courses listed in the middle school offering directory. The courses listed below are contingent upon staffing availability and based upon 2013-2014 budget decisions. It is IMPERATIVE to select alternate choices as classes become full. When this occurs, we will look at your child’s alternate requests. All electives are scheduled randomly by the computer.
YEAR-LONG COURSES – YOU MAY ONLY TAKE ONE OF THESE:
Band – Students MUST have completed 7th grade band.
Orchestra – Students MUST have completed 7th orchestra.
Spanish or French–The 8th grade foreign language courses in middle school are high school credit courses. The 8th grade course is the second half of Level I. Students cannot enroll in the 8th grade course if they did not successfully complete the 7th grade course. Upon successful completion of grade 8 foreign language, students will obtain one high school credit. The grade they earn will be on their college transcript and they must begin high school in Level 2. Students cannot repeat Level 1 at the high school.
SEMESTER LONG COURSES – If you have selected one of the above year-long courses, you will need one semester course. If you do not select a year-long course, you need three semester courses.
The Arts courses are similar to the 7th grade level, but each may be taken again as the curriculum is different at each grade level. You can select from drama, chorus, dance and art.
Journalism - This is a technical and creative writing course. Students will work on creative writing, news writing and will publish a school newspaper.
Library Science – Students will learn integral library skills and conduct research integrating technology, copyright, and censorship. This is class is very small and self led. Application required.
Computer Courses:
Computer Skills and Applications I – a series of instructional modules to explore digital literacy and keying skills (see planning guide)
Computer Skills and Applications II – a series of instructional modules designed to provide instruction in basic computer and software applications (see planning guide)
Exploring Careers STEM – course that integrates technology, inquiry and project-based learning with career exploration
Entrepreneurship -Course designed to explore the concepts of business with many project-based learning opportunities (see planning guide)
Computer-based courses (the above three) may be taken only once in middle school. Computer Skills and Applications I is not a pre-requisite for Computer Skills and Applications II.