Parent Articulation Meeting Incoming: Grades 6, 7 & 8 January 25, 2012

1. Neelsville Middle School Parent Articulation Meeting Incoming: Grades 6, 7 & 8 January 25, 2012

2. Meeting Agenda Welcome! Articulation Timeline A Typical School Day Courses Overview Q and A

3. Articulation Timeline

4. A Typical School Day 7:30 – 7:55 Students arrive to school, go to locker/bathroom/media center/counseling, report to 1st period, eat breakfast within the classroom, watch morning announcements, catch up with friends. 7:55 Seated in class with materials and ready for instruction for first class of the day Period 1/2 7:55-9:30 Period 3/4 9:35 – 11:05 Period 5/6 11:10-1:15 lunch 11:10-11:40 lunch 11:50-12:20 lunch 12:35-1:05 Period 7/8 1:10-2:40 • 5 minute transition between classes • Planner, binder, pen, pencil and completed assignments (if applicable) are required for each class period.

5. High School Credit Students who successfully complete the following courses will earn high school credit : • Mathematics • Algebra 1, Honors Geometry, Algebra 2 • English • Advanced English Grade 8 • World Languages • All French and Spanish courses

6. What does it mean to successfully complete a high school course According to Montgomery County Public Schools’ Policy 1SB-RA, page 7, high school credit may be earned if: • For the course, the student has a passing final grade for semester 1 (the weighted average of MP1, MP2, Exam 1A) • For the course, the student has a passing final grade for semester 2 (the weighted average of MP3, MP4, Exam 1B) • For the course, the student has a passing final exam grade.

7. Mathematics Courses Grade 7 Math 7 Investigations In Math Algebra I* Honors Geometry* Grade 8 Algebra I* Honors Geometry* Algebra II* Grade 6 Math 6 Math 7 Investigations In Math Algebra I* *High School Credit Course

8. Math Pathways GRADE 6 GRADE 7 GRADE 8 GRADE 9 Math 6 Math 7 Algebra 1 Geometry Math 7 Investigations in Mathematics Algebra 1 Honors Geometry Honors Geometry Algebra 2 with Analysis Algebra 1 Investigations in Mathematics Honors Geometry Algebra 2 with Analysis Pre-Calculus Algebra 1

9. Math Course Placements • Math 6 • Math 7 • Investigations in Mathematics (IM) • Algebra 1 (high school credit course)

10. High School Assessments • High School Assessments (HSA) are administered in May after completing the appropriate coursework • Beginning with the class of 2007, graduation requirements include passing grades on (HSA) in:  English  Government Algebra 1 Biology • All students taking Algebra 1 in middle school are administered the Algebra HSA.

11. Advanced English Could Earn HS Elective Credit!!

12. Advanced English Placement Neelsville MS

13. Grade 6 English/Reading Placement Criteria

14. 6th Grade Reading Placement Neelsville MS

15. English for Speakers of Other Languages • Level 1 (double period)and Academic Language class • Level 2 and English • Level 3 and English -placement is determined by the ESOL office and the ESOL team in the building

16. ScienceFlowchart All Students Investigations in Science 6 Investigations in Science 7 Investigations in Earth Space Systems (Grade 8) Neelsville MS

17. Investigations in Science • Problem/project based curriculum. Instruction is interwoven around a relevant problem/project to allow a focus for student learning. • Students engage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in order to propose solutions to identified problems.

18. Science Placement Neelsville MS

19. World Studies Courses • Advanced World Studies 6 • Provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history. • Advanced World Studies 7 • Extends current units with a greater focus on primary source analysis and the challenges of historical interpretation. • Advanced US History Grade 8 • Extends grade 8 units by introducing AP course skills including historical document-based analysis and projects.

20. Social Studies Placement

21. World Languages • Language Acquisition: French or Spanish • High School level course credit • Levels 1, 2, and 3 • Focus –establishing and building student capacity in four skill areas: • Speaking  Listening • Reading  Writing.

22. World Languages • Spanish For Spanish Speakers: • Grades 7 and 8 only • Designed for students with a high level of Spanish language fluency • Spanish is 1st or home language • High School level course credit • Focus for heritage speakers of Spanish • history and culture • grammatical structures and spelling • literary readings • written composition • Placement based on completion of prerequisite course or diagnostic test

23. Physical Education • Required course that offers a variety of activities focusing on skill development • A nine-week unit on health is taught as part of the Physical Education course • Coordinated by MCPS curriculum • Classroom setting • Separate grade

24. 6th Grade Arts Rotation Beginning Theatre FACS (Family and Consumer Science) General Music Visual Art

25. Arts Electives FACS (Family and Consumer Science) Readers’ Theatre Visual Art

26. Arts Electives Chorus Music Instrumental General

27. Additional Electives Lights,Camera, Literacy! Lights,Camera, Film, Literacy! Lights,Camera, Media, Literacy! Perspectives in the Arts

28. Special Education IEP driven programs: • Hours-Based Middle School Program • Resource • Speech/Language • Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy • Deaf and Hard of Hearing • Resource Teacher in Special Education (RTSE) will attend your child’s annual review meeting and consult with the elementary school team to discuss placement recommendations

29. Afterschool Activities • Wide variety of offerings Activity buses take students home at 4:15

30. Outdoor Education

31. Closing Remarks • Q and A