Incoming 7th Grade

Course Selection Information

for 2018-2019

Beckendorff Junior High

Course Selection Materials

Orange course selection packet

Course Selection Worksheet

Pre-AP Parent Commitment Letter

Parent Letter

Copy of Power Point Presentation

Welcome to 7th Grade!

Higher expectations

More responsibility

More independence for your own learning

More homework

More juggling with extra curricular activities - No Pass, No Play

Curriculum is challenging and demanding

You must learn how to study.

Organization is a key to success!

Course Requests Overview Course sheets must be turned in to Social Studies Teachers by January 29th.

If you are moving or planning to move, you must still fill out and turn in a course selection

sheet.

Both the student and parent must sign the course sheet.

If you are signing up for Pre-AP classes, both student and parent must also sign the Pre-AP

commitment letter on the back of the course selection sheet.

Counselors will meet individually with every student through Social Studies classes the week of

February 5th-9th.

All students must sign up for the following courses:

1. English

2. Reading

3. Math

4. Social Studies

5. Science

6. PE or Athletics

7. One elective and two alternate electives

Choosing Courses

Class formats:

Academic- Challenging work- for everyone, on grade level, more time to review concepts

Pre-AP- More challenging courses, fast-paced, and more homework

If you choose English Pre-AP, you must also take Reading Pre-AP.

Students must maintain a 70% or higher each 6 weeks to remain in the Pre-AP class.

Must demonstrate mastery on course-related state-mandated performance assessments including STAAR (“Meets grade level” or “Masters grade level”)

GT- Students must be screened and identified to be eligible for GT courses.

If you are an English and Reading GT student, you will sign up for the combined GT English/Reading class G710.

The combined GT English/Reading class will allow you to sign up for an additional elective.

Gifted and Talented Program

Students who are currently being screened

should not request GT classes. You can only sign

up for the ones for which you have qualified.

Counselors will get a list of who qualifies and

make those changes. You will not need to request

a change—it will happen.

If you HAVE qualified for GT classes, you must

sign up for them or you will be exited.

To get back in later would require another

screening.

You will most likely sign up for courses similar to what you

had in 6th grade.

Consider the following when choosing which class level to

sign up for:

Past grades in school and the kind of grades you would

like to make

Motivation and attitude

Standardized test scores

Study habits

Willingness to complete homework

Outside interests and activities

How quickly they catch on to new material

Independence level

Choosing Courses

Choosing a Math Level Concepts taught are the foundation for all higher level math

courses and therefore should not be rushed

7th grade Academic - on grade level curriculum

Math homework is given each night to practice concepts

Will have the opportunity to take a placement test into Algebra 1

7th grade Pre-AP – 40%-50% of remaining 7th grade curriculum and most of 8th grade curriculum

A new concept is learned each day

Math homework is given each night to practice concepts

Advancing Math Levels

If you choose to advance from 6th grade

Academic math to 7th grade Pre-AP math,

you will be advancing from 6th grade

concepts to second semester 7th grade

concepts.

You will be missing instruction on at least

50% of 7th grade math concepts but still

accountable for knowing the missed

information.

Language Arts, Science, and

Social Studies

The difference in academic and Pre-AP for language arts, science, and

social studies comes in the resources/materials used and performance

expectations.

Pre-AP is built upon the core academic curriculum and is designed to

build student capacity to understand more rigorous content.

Pre-AP is designed to help prepare students for advanced courses in

high school.

Math Lab – designed to help refine basic math skills and help with preparation for STAAR

Read 180– designed to help improve reading level and help with STAAR skills

You will be required to attend one or both of these if you do not pass that portion of STAAR. The class will take the place of an elective.

Possible Required Courses

Physical Education

Students pay a $15 fee at the beginning of the year

for their PE uniform, lock for locker, and laundry

service.

Students will dress out daily in their PE uniform.

Students will receive a numeric grade for this course.

Students will develop a basic level of fitness and

wellness along with learning the skill of each sport.

All students are required to be in PE or Athletics

Off-Campus PE

Due to the number of off-campus PE participants and limited space in elective

courses, students will no longer be able to replace their PE with an alternate

elective course.

Students who are participating in 5-14 hours of approved off-campus PE

training will have their PE class replaced with a study hall.

If you participate in 15 or more hours, you may be released from campus

after 7th period.

All PE waiver applications can be turned into the BDJH Counseling Office

starting May 14-18 or at the beginning of August, 2018.

Athletics

Athletics Cost: $25.00

Physical must be on file before participation in an Athletics activity.

Athletics is only for football, volleyball, and basketball

No one is exclusively in athletics for the other 3 sports.

Remember: UIL “No Pass, No Play” is in effect – any grade below 70 on the

report card will prevent participation.

NOTE: Students may not sign up for Athletics.

Coaches will determine placement and notify the Counselor’s office.

Boys signing up for Football may choose Athletics and write in Football next to it.

FootballVolleyballBasketball

SoccerTrackTennis

Teen Leadership$20 course fee applies

What will I learn?

About yourself – how to develop your strengths & overcome personal

constraints

Decision making skills that will help you make healthy choices

Create better relationships with friends/family/teachers/coaches

Become an effective communicator

How to serve others

To work effectively with a group

How will I learn?

Teen Leadership – Flip Flippen curriculum

Service project/fundraising opportunities

Class discussion, role plays and team building games

Class is open to 7th & 8th grade only

Art in the areas of drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, and technology

Exciting projects in both 2D and 3D

Explore different mediums like colored pencils, acrylic paint, paper mache, and more

Develop both artistic and creative skills

Beginning Art 1 is a prerequisite to Art 2

Course fees apply

Students interested in taking the High School credit art in 8th grade must have taken art in either 6th or 7th grade.

Art 1 and 2

Publications I Application and interview required

Students will learn how to work as part of a team as a

staff member in the process of building a yearbook.

Basic photography and journalism techniques will be

explored, as well as building leadership and

communication skills.

Theater 2

(7th and 8th graders)

Focus on vocabulary and theatrical terms

Creating scripts and performing

Performing short scenes from published works or

self written

Playing theater games such as improvisation

Course fees apply

Career Readiness Students explore college and career planning within

the 16 career clusters.

Students participate in career preparation activities.

Students are exposed to basic skills and projects

within the career clusters that are essential for

independent adult living.

Course fee of $15.00 applies

Class for 7th and 8th graders

Course fees apply

Students are grouped by audition into a performing band.

Designed to enhance skills of self-confidence, team work,

problem solving, creativity and communication through

the art of music performance.

Auditions will be held at the end of this school year.

Perform a variety of music: Classical, pop, movie music,

and jazz

Performances and social events include:

Football Game

Instrument Clubs

Three concerts per year

Contests and festivals throughout the year

BandWoodwind, Brass, Percussion

ChoirSinging, Reading music, and Concerts

Music literacy in preparation for lifelong enjoyment of music

Learning to use the voice appropriately as a musical instrument

Development of necessary skills for musical theater

Performances and social events include:

Three or four concerts per year, including pop show

Choir socials

Perform a variety of music including: classical, movie music, Broadway, folk songs, holiday, pop, and foreign language

Opportunities for solos and small groups

Preparation for participation in high school choir, show choir, and the All-State Process

Course fees apply

OrchestraViolin, Cello, Viola, and Bass

Students are divided into 4 separate orchestras based on ability and experience.

Auditions are held at the end of the previous school year and at the beginning of the current school year for “move in” students.

Violins and violas are student owned. Students playing the cello and bass are encouraged to have a “home” rental instrument and use a school instrument during the day ($100 maintenance fee)

Students will learn and practice skills necessary for playing in large and small ensemble performance. Among those skills are teamwork, responsibility, and persistence.

Music played is from a wide variety of resources; classical, jazz, fiddling, contemporary, baroque, etc.

Four or five concerts per year

Course fees apply

Spanish 1, Part 1 2 year committment

This class is the prerequisite to Spanish 1, Part 2 (taken in 8th grade).

An end of year grade of 70 or higher is required to take Spanish 1, Part 2 in 8th grade.

No High School credit will be given for Spanish 1, Part 1.

The full High School credit will be given after completion of Spanish 1, Part 2 in 8th grade.

Students enrolled in Spanish 1, Part 1 cannot take Spanish 1 in 8th grade, they must take Spanish 1, Part 2 to receive High School credit.

I want to take Spanish but not over 2 years…

Spanish 1- only available in 8th grade.

One credit in one year

Ideal for students wanting to continue Band, Orchestra or Choir AND take a foreign language

Recommended for students to be in Pre-AP ELA in 7th grade

All students must sign up for: English and Reading, Math,

Science, Social Studies, PE, one Elective, and list 2

alternate electives

GT Language Arts- choose 2 electives and 2 alternates

Select your courses by placing a check on the line

Before deciding about PreAP placement, you should talk

to your teacher (see info on back of parent letter)

Example:MATH____J711 Math 7

____ J712 PREAP Math 7 ____G712 GT Math 7

How To Request a Course

Verification Process Verification Sheets – go home March 6, 2018

No changes will be made to courses prior to verification sheets being distributed.

Changes to course selection will be made on the verification sheet and returned to your Social Studies teacher by March 9, 2018.

If we do not receive a verification sheet back, we assume no corrections need to be made to classes.

The verification sheet is only a list of courses requested. We are not able to guarantee electives that are listed on the verification sheet.

REMEMBER! Course selection sheets are due to Social Studies

teachers by January 29th.

Keep your course selection sheet neat and clean. Take good care of it!

Choose your courses wisely – think carefully about your choices.

Talk to your teachers about Pre-AP placement.

Choose the elective that’s most interesting to you.

List two alternate electives.

Sign and return the course sheet on time!

Any changes to course selections are made on the verification sheets.

Course Catalog 2018-2019http://www.katyisd.org/dept/campusadmin/Documents/Graduation%20

Requirements/2018-2019%20Course%20Catalog_FINAL_8x10.pdf