PREREQUISITE: Must have an IEP GRADE LEVEL: 7 or 8
CATEGORY: Required if staffed LENGTH: All Year
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Applied Strategies is a special education program providing functional academics and high levels of adult support for students. Academic classes focus on skills that will be needed by students as adults in their daily lives. Students in Applied Strategies classes are graded on an alternate set of reduced requirements for the class. Students also have the opportunity to participate in an Adaptive Music class and Adaptive or modified PE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING (ELL)
PREREQUISITE: Individual evaluation GRADE LEVEL: 7 OR 8
CATEGORY: Can fulfill Language Arts and/or Social Studies requirement
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The ELL program is designed to prepare students who are not native English speakers for their experiences and course work in an American school program. English is taught as a foreign language with emphasis on comprehension of both written and oral English. Areas of study include structure, pronunciation, spelling and composition. In addition, survival skills will be a focus for students who may need an introduction to the American culture outside of the classroom. Placement is determined through an individual evaluation by the ELL and counseling staff.
PREREQUISITE: Must have an IEP GRADE LEVEL: 7 or 8
CATEGORY: Required if staffed LENGTH: All Year
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Functional Strategies is a special education program providing functional academics and high level of adult support for students. Academic classes focus on skills that will be needed by students as adults in their daily lives. Students apply the skills worked on in their academic classes through a variety of community experiences each week. Students in Functional Strategies are included in at least one general education class per trimester where they received associate support (as needed) and are graded on an alternate set of reduced requirements for the class. Students also have the opportunity to participate in an Adaptive Music class and Adaptive or modified PE.
Functional Language Arts:
Reading, Comprehension, Writing, Survival Signs, Personal Information, Library Skills, Phonics.
Functional Math:
Money, Time, Calculator Math, Touch Math, Story Problems
Functional Life Skills:
Grocery shopping, Cooking, community & School Worksites, Public Library, & other Community Outings.
Functional Leisure/Social Skills:
Games, Art, & Computer Skills (including internet, Word, and e-mail)
PREREQUISITE: None
GRADE LEVEL: 8
LENGTH: One Trimester (alternate days) CATEGORY: General Interest Elective
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A student interested in learning leadership skills and practicing those skills should take this elective. This class will meet every other day for one trimester and is open to all eighth graders. Leadership is a required course for the President and Vice-President of the Northwest Student Congress and students must take this course if they want to be involved in the planning of school activities by working on committees. Along with the regular course content, students in this class will be responsible for participating in committees that will plan school activities such as spirit days, parties and special assemblies.
AREAS OF STUDY:
Basic techniques and skills of leadership
Basic communication skills
Governmental organizational structures and style
Group processing and personal development
Problem solving and decision making
How committees work
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS:
Complete lessons in leadership skills, group organization, problem solving, goal setting, civics, and government
Participate in committee and group activities
Complete a project
Respect the rights of others
Speak with confidence to a group
Understand parliamentary procedure
Back to top
LEADERSHIP: VIDEO PRODUCTION/EDITING
PREREQUISITE: None
GRADE LEVEL: 8
LENGTH: One Trimester
(alternate days)
CATEGORY: General Interest Elective
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Students interested in learning the basics of television production are encouraged to register for this elective. Students in this course are responsible for the planning and production of a daily news program. Video Production will meet every other day for one trimester and is open to all eligible eighth-graders. Along with regular class meetings and general course requirements, students will produce the daily announcement show shown every morning at the beginning of the school day.
AREAS OF STUDY:
Basic camera work and television production/on-camera anchoring
Video editing of at least two video pieces that will be aired on the morning announcements
Communication and teamwork skills
Group processing and decision making
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS:
Learn how to produce our school news show
Participation requires before-school commitments
To be responsible with expensive school video-equipment
Use good judgment when producing an on-air news show
PREREQUISITE: Must have an IEP
GRADE LEVEL: 7 or 8
CATEGORY: Required if staffed
LENGTH: As staffing indicates
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The learning support program is designed to aid students who have been identified as disabled and whose disabilities interfere with the successful completion of junior high school requirements. A student's need for special help cannot exceed 2 class periods per day with a learning support teacher. Each student has an individual education plan (I.E.P.) based on his/her own strengths and weaknesses which may incorporate remedial instruction in reading, written language, cognitive skills development, mathematics, and/or study skills as determined necessary by a diagnostic team and that student's parents.
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS:
It is expected that students put forth their best effort if any improvement in their achievement is to be seen, and if the goals identified in the I.E.P. are to be accomplished.
Back to top
LIFE SKILLS STRATEGIES
PREREQUISITE: Must have an IEP
GRADE LEVEL: 7 or 8
CATEGORY: Required if staffed
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The Integrated Learning III class serves 7th and 8th grade students with behavioral and/or emotional problems which interfere with their learning. Most students in the Integrated Learning III program receive some direct academic instruction in the Integrated Learning III classroom. In this setting the classes are small and instruction is individualized. The goal of the program is to teach skills that will make our students successful in general education classes. As our students learn and practice these skills, they are given opportunities to reintegrate into general education, often with the support from educational associates who work with our students in their general education classes. Integrated Learning III is a branch of Special Education.
GRADE: 8
CATEGORY: Communication Elective
Prerequisite
Students are eligible for Seminar if they have earned a Core Total or Composite score at or above the 95th Iowa Percentile Rank on their most recent ITBS or a comparable nationally-normed achievement test. Prior to registration, students will be informed of their eligibility by letter.
Course Description
Seminar is an elective course for gifted students who wish to challenge their own potential. It is designed for the exchange of ideas in research and discussion form. Students work on studies that culminate in individual projects.
Areas of Study
Advertising/Persuasion
This unit emphasizes critical thinking related to propaganda and persuasion techniques in print, television and on the Internet. Some areas addressed include teen market strategies, consumer buying power, and gender stereotyping in marketing.
City of Tomorrow
Students will research and develop a project related to a future city. Eight categories will be explored as students complete a written and electronic study about the future.
Career Study
Students will complete a series of aptitude tests. Results of these tests will give students a measure of their aptitude in six areas. Using this information, students will be provided with opportunities to research careers that fit well with these aptitudes. They will learn techniques related to applying for a job or to a college, including building a resume, and determining possible careers.
Expectations of Students
Students will use creative and critical thinking, problem solving skills, and analysis to
conduct research and complete individual projects.
PREREQUISITE: Referral by counselor or staff
GRADE LEVEL: 7,8
CATEGORY: General Interest Elective or Core Requirement LENGTH: Trimester or Year long
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The seventh grade Success Center provides special assistance to students who have difficulty mastering the language, academic, cultural and social skills necessary to reach their educational capabilities. Students develop the organizational, social and study skills necessary to obtain a positive self-identification and a successful transition to junior high. Appropriate counseling and school and community based support services are coordinated to accommodate special student needs. Regular contact is maintained with parents to ensure successful home/school relations. The teacher provides a liaison between classroom teachers, parents, and community agencies. Students are scheduled one period a day or on alternate days , depending on individual needs. Students are staffed in to the program as needed.
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS:
Use and maintain a daily assignment book.
Cooperate with the teacher and each other.
Set individual goals.
Work to the best of their ability.
Improve self esteem through accountability for behavior and completion of daily assignments.
Increase sense of belonging, competence and usefulness by being responsible for their actions.
Exhibit clear evidence of accomplishment attributable to skill and effort.
Bring necessary materials to class.
Parent involvement and cooperation is a necessary part of the program.
SUCCESS CENTER LANG ARTS & AMERICAN STUDIES
PREREQUISITE: Referral by counselor or staff
GRADE LEVEL: 8
CATEGORY: General Interest Elective or Core Requirement
DESCRIPTION:
The eighth grade Success Center is designed to meet the needs of students identified as having academic difficulties. The two class period alternative course of study earns the student American Studies and Language Arts credits.
Back to top
PREREQUISITE: None
GRADE LEVEL: 7 OR 8
LENGTH: One Trimester
CATEGORY: General Interest Elective
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The volunteer program will provide the student with training in the concepts of volunteer work primarily with Special Education students. Students will normally be assigned work in the classroom for students with severe multiple mental disabilities.
AREAS OF STUDY:
Students gain information about the world of work and real work experience on a job site.
Students are provided with the opportunity to do volunteer work
Students develop skills in building a positive self-concept
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS:
Report as scheduled to volunteer
Fulfill expectations of their volunteer site supervisor
Approach his/her work as a responsible, dependable individual