RISING SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE PARENT

MEETING

APRIL 16, 2015

SOUTH FORSYTH MIDDLE SCHOOL

ACADEMICS

Various Levels of Classes

ResourceCo-taughtOn-levelAdvanced/GiftedAccelerated/Gifted

ON-LEVEL AND ADVANCED/GIFTED CLASSES

Both…….• Follow the Common Core/Georgia

Performance Standards

• Provide a framework to prepare students for success in the 21st century world

• Homework is most often dictated by each student’s productivity and time management during class

ON-LEVEL VS. ADVANCED/GIFTED

Average pace Required reading Independent and

guided reading, annotations

Complex problems broken down into steps

Repetition and practice offered

Multimedia presentations

Faster pace Higher text complexity

reading Independent reading

with annotations Apply new learning to

complex problems Recall previous

learning with little prompting

Multi-step projects incorporating multimedia

SUCCESSFUL CHARACTERISTICS OF ADVANCED/GIFTED STUDENTS

Self-advocate Independent learner Strong self-discipline and work ethic Strong communication and writing skills Strong organization skills and self-motivation

CRITERIA FOR PLACEMENT

On-level vs Gifted/Advanced placement

Teachers make recommendations Work Habits Class performance Student Growth Percentiles

*Gifted students are required to be served in at least one gifted course. Students are placed in gifted classes based on their area(s) of giftedness.

7th and 8th Grade English Language Arts:

On-levelAdvanced/Gifted

7th and 8th Grade Social Studies:

On-levelAdvanced/Gifted

7th Grade Life Science:On-level

Advanced/Gifted

*8th Grade Physical Science:On-level

Advanced/Gifted

*Eighth grade students that successfully complete Physical Science will be awarded a high school credit.

7th and 8th Grade Math:

On-levelAdvanced/Gifted

Accelerated/Gifted

*Eighth grade students that successfully complete Accelerated Math I will be awarded a high school credit.

7th Grade Enrichment:(formerly know as Study Skills)

Continuation of SIM strategies taught in sixth grade; additional

focus on Common Core ELA standards.

8th Grade Spanish:Beginning Spanish

*Spanish I

*Eighth grade students that successfully complete Spanish I will be awarded a high school credit.

Literacy

Offered in lieu of Spanish or Study Skills for students struggling to meet grade level standards in Math

and/or Reading.

CONNECTIONS &PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Year-Long Courses

Seventh and Eighth Grades•Advanced PE (year-long PE with Health curriculum integrated throughout the year)•*Band•*Chorus

Eighth Grade Only•*Musical Theatre

*Eighth grade students that successfully complete Band, Chorus or Musical Theatre will be awarded a high school credit.

Other Connection Options

Seventh Grade•Musical Theatre: Semester course

Nine Week Courses(randomly selected by scheduling

program)

Marketing Computer Literacy

Health Music Appreciation Physical Education Drama Explorations in Technology Art

Healthcare Sciences

CHANGES IN CONNECTIONS

Yearbook and Broadcasting will be offered as extracurricular activities and not Connection Classes.

Independent Study Hall will not be offered.

WAYS TO BE INVOLVED AT SFMS

CLUBS

Academic Bowl Art ClubBeta ClubBlue CrewChess ClubDrama ClubFantasy FootballFCAGeology Club

Glee ClubGrateful Girls Give BackMath CountsNews Team ClubPrincess Warriors Retro Games ClubRoboticsScience OlympiadYearbook

ORGANIZATIONS

Future Business Leaders of AmericaFBLA

Healthcare Organization Student AssociationHOSA

Technology Student Association

DECA

Stay Informed….

Weekly Events BlastMonthly NewsletterCommunication FolderCampus MessengerFacebook & Twitter

SFMS WEBSITE

School Calendar Latest News (from Calendar)

Upcoming Events (Big News Items) Quick Links ABC Rotation Itslearning My PaymentsPlus Contests Soaring Eagles

We’ll see you at 7th and 8th gradeOpen House

on Monday, August 3

8th Grade Open House 8:00-9:30 am7th Grade Open House 1:00-2:30 pm