curriculum night january 24, 2012 welcome!. agenda ms. peters, guidance counselor ms. frederick,...

Curriculum NightJanuary 24, 2012

WELCOME!

Agenda

Ms. Peters, Guidance Counselor

Ms. Frederick, English Dept.

Ms. Lardieri, Career Pathways Chairperson

Ms. Swales and Ms. Taneyhill, GACTC

Ms. Craig, Mathematics Dept. Chairperson

Ms. Hurd, Social Studies Dept. Chairperson

Mr. Tinker, Science Dept. Chairperson

Ms. Stern, Foreign Language Dept.

Scheduling TimelineMrs. Peters will give scheduling presentations to students February 3

Scheduling Sheets and applications due to Guidance Office by February 10

Transition to HS Conferences begin January 26

Individual selections entered in system

Master schedule for entire building is completed

Course Request Verifications mailed home

Students receive schedule in June

Transition to High School Conferences

Career and Educational Planning Session

Individual conference with a guidance counselor

Preparation for 9th grade

Dates To Remember

Transition to HS Conference Request:

Available After Tonight’s Presentation or by calling the Guidance Office at 695-4426 ext. 6520.

Scheduling Sheets:

Due to Mrs. Peters, in the Guidance Office, by February 10

Scheduling Musts

Schedule no less than 7 units/credits per year

Students must schedule a humanities class

Must accumulate 27 units/credits to

graduate

Foreign Language is not a graduation requirement, but is highly recommended. It counts also as your Humanities credit.

Curriculum Information

Three Levels:

Honors

College Bound

Level 9

Criteria for Course Enrollment

Students are scheduled for classes based on prior performance/grades, and teacher

recommendations.

See scheduling sheet and Course Description Booklet for more details.

Special Entrance Requirements

Certain 9th grade electives have entrance requirements

Examples Intro to Art: Portfolio

Due: February 10 to Mrs. Wertz-Leiden

(Room 132)

Tiger TV: Application

Due: February 10 to the Guidance Office

Anatomy Essay: Due February 10 to the Guidance Office

Education with a purpose

Hollidaysburg

Area

School District

A process designed to allow students the opportunity to examine their personal information and then

use this information to make informed, career related post-

secondary decisions.

Career Pathways. . .

•Teach students specific job skills relating to different

jobs/careers

•“Lock” students into a career decision

Career Pathways will NOT

Five pathway curriculum options

•Business•Communications•Engineering and Industrial•Human Services•Science

The Plan . . .

Each pathway option contains two cluster areas – these clusters will represent careers containing similar job/skill attributes

The Plan . . .

Pathway Option with Cluster Areas

Business

– Computer Information Systems

– Business Administration, Marketing, Mathematics, Sales

Pathway Option with Cluster Areas

Communications

– Journalism, Language Arts, Media, Public Relations

– The Arts – Music, Theater, Visual

Pathway Option with Cluster Areas

Engineering and Industrial

– - Architecture, Construction, Manufacturing

– - Material Sciences and Nanofabrication

Pathway Option with Cluster Areas

Human Services

– Consumer Services and Human Development

– Education, Government, Law

Pathway Option with Cluster Areas

Science

– Biomedical, Physical, Earth Science

– Environmental

Junior/Senior HighCareer Activities

7th grade– Introduction to the pathway options

8th grade– Formal classroom pathway lessons – research on all

pathways, guidance activities

9th grade– Formal classroom pathway lessons – research on a

specific pathway, guidance activities

10th-12th grades

Selection of a pathway and cluster (this can be changed each year if desired)

Enrollment in an elective subject related to the pathway choice

Participation in career related activities that are directly related to the career pathway through elective and required courses and individual activities

Completion of a career focused graduation project completed in the senior year

Questions????

Please contact:

Mrs. Tina Peters, Guidance Counselor

Mrs. Debbie Lardieri, Pathways Coordinator

Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center

Gayle Swalesand Nicole Taneyhill

EnglishMrs. Frederick

Curriculum

Criteria

Expectations

Honors English

Honors English is a rigorous class that is intended to prepare students to continue on in the High School Honors Curriculum. Students must be excellent readers and writers, with a strong work ethic. They must be prepared to complete assignments, including a great deal of reading, independently. All students in Honors English will complete cross-curricular projects (approximately one per marking period) regardless of the level of Civics they choose to schedule. Students will have a summer reading assignment.

What We Read – Independent Reads

The Alchemist – Paulo Coehlo

The Book Thief-- Markus Zusak

The Sledding Hill – Chris Crutcher

Great Expectations – Charles Dickens

Of Mice & Men – John Steinbeck

Night – Elie Wiesel

Romeo & Juliet – William Shakespeare

Accelerated Reader – 25 points per marking period

“My Year With” – A year long reading project with a student selected author.

What We Read - Instructional

Short Stories – Varied

Poetry - Varied

Saki & O. Henry Mini Unit – 3 Stories by each

Edgar Allen Poe Mini Unit – Multiple Works

The Harlem Renaissance – Thematic Unit

The Holocaust – Thematic Unit

Othello – William Shakespeare

Vocabulary Development

Vocabulary Workshop Level D – one unit per week, including review and cumulative review units

Literature, Grammar, and Composition Terms & Definitions

Vocabulary as used in the context of reading materials

Grammar & Composition

One grammar unit (chapter) per marking period– Basic Parts of the Sentence (review)– Diagramming basic parts of the sentence– Phrases and Clauses– Writing Effective Sentences

Three to five compositions per marking

period, both in and out of class• Narrative, Expository and Persuasive• Writing in response to literature• Formal Research Papers following MLA format• Poetry and Creative writing

Final Exam

Vocabulary Units 1-15

All grammar content

Essay based on literature selections from the year

Four days of testing

CivicsMrs. Hurd

Curriculum

College Bound VS. Honors

Course Content Is the SameIncreased Expectations for Honors Classes

Quality of WorkAmount of Work

PacingReading and Writing Skills

Summer assignment

Which level is best for my child?

Considerations– Work ethic– Interest in subject matter– Extracurricular activities– Independence in learning– Academic and career goals– Grades vs. challenge

Prerequisites for Honors Level

Successful completion of 8th grade Pre-Honors class

95% in 8th grade CB class and teacher recommendation

Long-term planning - FYI

10th Grade AP European History

Prerequisites– Honors Civics– Honors English– 92% average in both– Screener test

MathematicsMrs. Craig

Curriculum

Criteria

Expectations

8th to 9th Grade TransitionEIGHTH GRADE % REQUIREMENT NINTH GRADE

Algebra II Honors Geometry

Algebra I CB Geometry

Algebra IA Algebra IB

70% ↑

69% ↓

95% ↑70%-94%

70% ↑

69% ↓

Honors Geometry

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra 2 or a 95% or higher in Algebra 1

Topics to be covered:Interrelationships Between Points, Lines, and Planes, Angle Relationships, Parallel Lines, Polygons and Similarity, Conditionals and Logic, Triangle Relationships and Right Triangle Properties, Perimeter, Area, Surface Area, and Volume, Circles, Introductory Trigonometry

Direct and indirect proofs are done in a manner which follows rigid mathematical procedure.

9 Honors Geometry

10 Honors Trigonometry & Pre-calculus or Honors Algebra 2

11 AP Calculus AB Honors Calculus or Calculus Honors Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus AP Statistics or Honors Probability & Statistics

12 AP Calculus BC AP Calculus AB or Calculus AP Statistics or Honors Probability & Statistics

Sequence through Grade 12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra 1

Topics to be covered:Interrelationships Between Points, Lines, and Planes, Angle Relationships, Parallel Lines, Polygons and Similarity, Conditionals and Logic, Triangle Relationships and Right Triangle Properties, Perimeter, Area, Surface Area, and Volume, Circles, Introductory Trigonometry

Course includes some, but not an extensive amount of proofs and deals mainly with geometric concepts.

CB Geometry

Sequence through Grade 12

9 CB Geometry10 Algebra 2, Honors Algebra 211 Honors Trigonometry & Pre-calculus Trigonometry & Pre-calculus AP Statistics Honors Probability & Statistics12 AP Calculus AB Calculus AP Statistics Honors Probability & Statistics

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra 1A

Topics to be Covered:Review of Algebra 1A, Solving Systems of Linear Equations and

Inequalities, Working with Polynomials, Factoring Polynomials, Quadratic Functions, Exponents, Rational Expressions and Equations, Radical Expressions and Equations

Strong emphasis is be put on writing mathematical descriptions geared toward the PSSA Open-Ended situations and preparing for the 11th grade PSSA exam.

ALGEBRA 1B

Sequence through Grade 12

9 Algebra 1B

10 Geometry or Integrated Math 1

11 Algebra 2 or Geometry or

Integrated Math 2

12 Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus or Algebra 2

or Integrated Math 3

ScienceMr. Tinker

Curriculum

Criteria

Expectations

9th Grade Science Courses

Honors Biology 1

College Bound Science 9

Science 9

Anatomy/Physiology (elective)

Course Description: Honors Biology 1 is designed for academically accelerated ninth grade students who are motivated in their studies and have a strong interest and aptitude in the science field. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Pre-Honors Science 8 or a 95% in CB Science 8

Honors Biology 1

College Bound Science 9

Course Description:  This course is for academic students whose career path will follow a curriculum revolving around college preparatory classes. The course covers the four main topics of Chemical Interactions, Sound, Light & Electricity, Astronomy, and Environment & Ecology.  

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of College Bound Science 8 or, for Science 8, 95% average and teacher recommendation.

Science 9

Course Description:  This course, for general students, is broken into four 9-week courses. The four courses of Chemical Interactions, Sound Light & Electricity, Astronomy and Environment & Ecology use an approach designed to meet the needs of the non-academic student.

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Science 8.

A one-semester ninth grade elective An introduction to the structure and function of the human bodyEach body system is studied beginning at the cellular level.Students are introduced to various occupations within the medical field through in-class visits from medical professionals and field trips.

Anatomy/Physiology

Prerequisites:

Students are expected to write a one-page essay explaining their reasons for requesting the class.

Class size is limited.

Anatomy/Physiology

Foreign LanguagesMrs. Stern

Curriculum

Criteria

Expectations

World Language Options

French

German

Latin

Spanish

Why take a World Language?

Helps with understanding English– Vocabulary

Develops an appreciation of other cultures

Opens more doors in the work place– Business, Government

Improves SAT scores

Is this a college requirement?

No!

However…– Students are encouraged to take a minimum

of two years of the same language– Required for some colleges and/or degrees

(Check with potential colleges)

Language Instruction Today

We focus on all four skills.– Listening

Real-life dialog

Music

– ReadingShort stories and novels

– WritingSkits, letters, compositions, etc.

– SpeakingStudent interaction

How to choose a language

What language or place interests you the most?

What is your heritage?

Advantages of High School World Language

College in High School credit through St. Francis in Level 4

Active Language clubs

Opportunities to travel and immersions

Fulfill college requirements for a language and possibly continue towards a minor

Closing Remarks

Please see the back table for additional information and for an opportunity to sign

up for a transition to high school conference.

Resources

Tina Peters, Guidance Counselor

695-4426 ext. 6523

tina_peters@tigerwires.com

Mrs. Boose, Guidance Secretary

695-4426 ext. 6520

elda_boose@tigerwires.com

www.tigerwires.com