8 th Grade Course Selection

8th Grade Course Selection For the 2011-2012 School Year

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

Language Arts or Pre-AP Language Arts • Mathematics or Pre-AP Mathematics

Social Studies or Pre-AP Social Studies • Science or Pre-AP Science

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

BISD MIDDLE SCHOOL (8th grade) GUIDELINES FOR PRE-AP COURSES FOR 2011-2012

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

Pre-AP Classes are honors-level classes for students capable of handling the following: An increased reading load Sophisticated writing assignments and projects Complex problem solving

Why should you take a pre-AP class? To be challenged in your learning To be prepared to take AP classes in high school To be better prepared for college

Pre-AP students should be: Energetic Involved Self-motivated Passionate about learning Committed for the year Prepared to do ½ to 1 hour of homework per class nightly

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

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

For example, a student may choose the following: Athletics – 2 semesters Choir – 2 semesters Health – 1 semester (.5 credit for high school) Information Technology – 1 semester (.5 credit for high school) 6total semesters

Another example: Band – 2 semesters LOTE Spanish – 2 semesters (1 credit for high school) Art – 1 semester Touch System Data Entry – 1 semester (.5 credit for high school 6 total semesters

And one more: Art – 1 semester Exploratory Languages – 1 semester Health - 1 semester (.5 credit for high school) Information Technology – 1 semester (.5 credit for high school) Business Information Management – 2 semesters (1 credit for high school) 6 total semesters

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

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

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

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

The Red Card

The login and password are for you and you alone! • Follow the directions found on this form. Directions are also available on my web page.

To Review: • You and your parents will go to the Smithfield Middle School web page and click on the “6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Course Selection Kits” link under the “Quick Links.” • Together, you’ll look at the course descriptions and the worksheet in the 8th grade course selection kit.

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

If you have any questions after looking at the course selection kit and talking to your parents, you and/or your parents can email me (Mr. Sparkman). My email address is on the SMS website.

To select your courses you must finish online by December 31st. After that date, Mr. Sparkman will select courses for you. (Since he doesn’t know what you want, you don’t want that to happen!!!)

THANKS, True Blue Raiders, For your attention!

8 th Grade Course Selection