2015-16

ALBION MIDDLE SCHOOL

8TH GRADE COURSE SELECTION

Demographic Information

Please print your name, address, phone number, etc. legibly in PEN. Everything else should be completed in pencil in case you make a mistake or change your mind!

Reminders

All classes with a * require a teacher’s signature

You must sign your registration card Your parent/guardian must sign your

registration card You will need to return your registration card to your 2nd period teacher on Wednesday, February 25th (write this date on your card so you don’t forget!)

Course Selection Materials

Course Selection Card

Elective Course Descriptions Lists ALL the classes offered at AMS.

Required Classes All 8th grade students will take the following classes:

English Language Arts 8

College Prep Math Core 8

Integrated Science 8 (STEM)

U.S. History 8

PE/Health 8 (every other day)

Honors Placement We offer honors English Language Arts (ELA) and math classes

Honors classes are open to any student who wants to work hard and is willing to complete projects and assignments that require a deeper application of concepts and skills.

Honors classes are more rigorous and academically challenging in pacing and curriculum depth.

Students are most successful in honors classes when they have higher prerequisite skills as demonstrated by certain test scores. Please refer to the back of your course selection card for the suggested test scores for each class.

If you do not meet the suggested test scores you and your parent may opt-in to an honors class by completing an opt-in form, found in the counseling center, and attaching it to your course selection card.

But wait…how do I find out what my test scores

are?

Your ELA and math teacher have these test scores

They will be meeting with you to review your scores which you will record on the back of your course selection card

English Language Arts 8

We offer: English Language Arts 8 English Language Arts 8H

Opt in form may be required (honors only)

English Language Arts 8** (per your IEP goals; requires a teacher’s signature)

You may choose which class you would like to take. However, all English Language Arts classes require a teacher signature on your card.

Mathematics

8th grade students will take either: College Prep Math Core 8 College Prep Math Core 8H College Prep Math Core 8** (per IEP goals)

All math classes require a teacher’s signature from your current math teacher

What if I need help with reading or math? We offer a literacy and a math lab course

Students will be placed in these courses according to their Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM) scores, SRI level, MCAP & MCOMP scores

A lab class will take the place of one elective class

If you are required to take a lab class we will inform you and your parent via letter and adjust your course selections accordingly

Integrated Science 8 (STEM)

STEM= Science, Technology, Engineering, Math

ALL 8th grade students are required to take Integrated Science 8

Integrated Science Topics: climate change & alternative energy; chemistry, ecology, geology, & physics

Students will participate in design challenges involving engineering and critical thinking skills

U.S. History 8

ALL 8th grade students are required to take U.S. History 8

PE/Health 8

ALL students are required to take PE/Health 8

This class meets every other day for the entire year

Elective Classes!!! 8th grade students get to take 3 elective classes

ALL electives meet every other day for the entire year

Please rank your elective choices in order of preference 1=first choice elective 4=fourth choice elective 2=second choice elective 5=fifth choice elective 3=third choice elective 6=sixth choice elective

We ask that you rank 6 elective classes in total in case one of your first choices conflicts with your schedule.

Elective Classes Orchestra 1 (Beginning)

Band 1 Woodwinds

Band 1 Brass/Percussion

Orchestra 2 (Adv.)

Band 2 (Percussion Ensemble)

Symphonic Band

Choir 1 Soprano/Alto

Choir 1 Tenor/Bass

Concert Choir

Elective Classes

Art Foundations 1

Art Foundations 2

Ceramics 1

Dance 1

Dance 2

Elective Classes

Engineering

Intro. to Construction

Foods/Clothing

Elective Classes Creative Writing

Debate 1

Debate 1 Advanced

Spanish 1B (for students enrolled the previous year in Spanish 1A)

Spanish 2 (for students who have taken Spanish 1A & Spanish 1B)

Student Aide Application required

You can pick up an application in the counseling center Students must have all H’s and S’s in citizenship Students must have C grades or better

World Languages Taking a World Language class is a rigorous elective

class 90% of class time will be spent speaking in the target

language Spanish 1A and Spanish 1B will give you one full year

of a world language for college admissions A minimum of two years of the same world language

(level 1 and level 2) are required for most college admissions AND Canyons School District’s Advanced or Honors Diplomas

The Regents Scholarship requires two years of a World Language in 9-12 grades (this is not to discourage students from taking a World Language in 8th grade BUT, to encourage students to take a language through level 3.

Elective YouTube clips

Wondering which electives to take next year?

Check out these YouTube clips our elective teachers have created to help you decide

https://www.youtube.com/user/AlbionMiddleSchool

Ranking a total of 6 elective classes

It is very important that you rank 6 elective classes because… Sometimes a class does not carry (not enough students

request the class) Sometimes classes are full Sometimes the electives you choose are taught at the

same time Sometimes the electives you choose conflict with your

selection of core classes Sometimes we are unable to make your first choices

(the electives you rank 1-3) work with your schedule

What happens if I don’t rank 6 classes? Your counselor will choose an elective for you if there is

a conflict with your schedule Do you want your counselor choosing your

classes?

Repeating Elective Classes

Students can select to repeat an elective class BUT ONLY with teacher approval (signature required)

ALL elective classes that have a signature line followed by a teacher’s name require a teacher’s signature

Make sure you obtain ALL teacher signatures for the classes you are selecting (even if it is your 4, 5, or 6 choice elective)

Warning!

It is EXTREMELY important to choose your classes wisely. Think carefully about the electives you would like to take next year.

Schedule changes are not possible due to school enrollment and staffing decisions that are made based on the classes you select now.

Choose your classes WISELY. You cannot change them later!

Reminders

All classes with a * require a teacher’s signature

You must sign your registration card Your parent/guardian must sign your

registration card You will need to return your registration card to your 2nd period teacher on Wednesday, February 25th (write this date on your card so you don’t forget!)

Your Homework Assignment

Tonight Sit down with a parent and review your

options

Decide which core and elective classes you’d like to take next year

Next, ask your teachers for the required signatures you need on your card

Make sure everything is filled out completely

Turn in your registration card to your 2nd period teacher on Wednesday, February 25th