Advanced Studies Classes

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Advanced Studies Classes Piney Grove
Middle School2009 2010
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Changing the Criteria for Placement inAdvanced
Studies Classesat Piney Grove

• ANY young man or young woman may be placed in an
  Advanced Studies Class
• Several expectations and other factors that
  students and parents should first consider

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• Student Motivation is the key criteria
• The student should be eager to commit to more
  rigor in his/her classes and want the challenge
  of advanced studies

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Why Is This Placement CriteriaDifferent ?

• Let's Begin With The End in Mind!

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The Present Research Is Quite Clear

• As competition gets tighter in the U.S. job
  market, surveyed employees anticipate hiring
  fewer people with only a high school diploma
• Job offers will increase for those with 2-year,
  4-year, and post-graduate degrees
• Helping students identify the post-secondary
  education appropriate to their interests, skills
  and learning styles will become even more
  critical
• Students will need to be ready for the challenge
  and rigor of some type of college

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Thus, High School Preparation for College Will Be
Key!

• The rigors of High School Advanced Placement (AP)
  classes, International Baccalaureate (IB)
  courses, and Honors classes are quite challenging
• For those students who seek the challenge of
  these high school courses, 9th grade --- one of
  the most transitional and often difficult years
  in a young person's education --- is not the best
  time to learn what it will take to be successful
  in such classes

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So What Does That Mean at the Middle School
Level ?

• We know that opportunity plays a key role in
  making the most of human potential
• Exposing our middle school students to more
  challenging academic opportunities in order to
  prepare them for such high school classes is key

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Building a Culture of Opportunity

• At Piney Grove . . .
• We want to provide those opportunities for our
  students to reach their fullest potential as they
  so desire

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Advanced Studies Offerings atEach Grade Level

• 6th Grade
• Language Arts
• Mathematics

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Advanced Studies Offerings atEach Grade Level

• 7th Grade
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Social Studies

• 8th Grade
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science

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Two Exceptions

• 7th Grade Accelerated Advanced Math
• 8th Grade Accelerated Math I
• Both of these classes will require teacher
  recommendation for student placement because the
  8th grade course is taken for High School credit
  and the 7th grade course is the pre-requisite for
  it.

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Expectations for Advanced Studies Classes How
They Will Differ From On-level Classes

• Students will study, discuss, research and be
  held accountable for learning advanced concepts
  in these classes. Their studies will be more
  rigorous and will take them more in-depth and
  broader in scope.
• Students will participate in academic
  extra-curricular competitions and/or
  opportunities for publication throughout the
  school year (Ex. Science Fair, Social Studies
  Fair, Oratorical Contest, Young Georgia Authors,
  Future Cities, Stock Market Game, Spelling Bee,
  Geography Bee, etc.). Students can expect to
  work on these activities both inside and outside
  of class.

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Expectations for Advanced Studies Classes How
They Will Differ From On-level Classes

• Students will be more engaged in higher level
  writing assignments and writing-based assessments
  throughout the school year (Higher Level
  Application, Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation
  of concepts studied).
• Students will spend more time reading inside and
  outside of class for their studies and
  assignments (Ex. novels, research documents,
  research articles on the Internet, etc.).

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Expectations for Advanced Studies Classes How
They Will Differ From On-level Classes

• Students will be more engaged in work and studies
  outside of class.
• Students will be engaged in more inquiry-based
  and project-based learning, with links to the
  community, for their academic work.
• Students can expect to collaborate and work in
  teams with classmates and/or professional
  experts, as well as work independently as a
  self-motivated learner.

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Expectations for Advanced Studies Classes How
They Will Differ From On-level Classes

• Students can expect to see more focus and
  emphasis on learning and polishing their
  presentation skills, sharing their final projects
  with authentic audiences and submitting their own
  work for publication.
• Students will be highly encouraged to participate
  in service-oriented clubs and/or activities at
  Piney Grove or in the community.

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Other Factors to Consider

• Will the student and/or parents be fine with
  possibly not making the PGMS Merit or Honor Roll?
  Advanced Studies classes will not be given more
  weight than regular classes. With the challenge
  and rigor of these classes, students may not
  always make a grade of an A or B.

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Other Factors to Consider

• Advanced Studies class teachers will offer help
  sessions for students in these classes just as
  they do for students in their on grade level
  classes. Teachers will not be asked, nor
  expected, to offer more help sessions for
  students struggling in an Advanced Studies class.

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Other Factors to Consider

• At the 4 ½ week juncture of the first semester,
  Advanced Studies class teachers will take note of
  any student who is struggling in their class and
  communicate their concerns to the student and
  parent. By the 9 week juncture, a final decision
  will have to be made as to whether or not a
  student remains in the Advanced Studies class or
  is moved to an on grade level class. After this
  9 week juncture, students will remain in the
  Advanced Studies class for the rest of the
  2009-2010 school year.

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Additional Math Concepts for 6th Grade Advanced
Math

• Advanced 6th Grade Math consists of ALL of the
  6th grade GPS plus
• Compare and Order Rational Numbers
• Compute with Integers
• Solve 2-Step Algebraic Equations
• Identify and Quickly Convert Common Prevents,
  Decimals and Fractions
• Solve Fraction and Decimal Arithmetic Problems
  Fluently
• Graph Coordinates on a Coordinate Plane
• Compute Basic Facts Quickly
• Use the Order of Operations

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Additional Math Concepts for 7th Grade Advanced
Math

• Advanced 7th Grade Math consists of ALL of the
  7th grade GPS plus
• Enrich the Study of Taking Verbal Problems and
  Turning Them Into Algebraic Equations (Without
  Guess and Check Tables)?
• Convert Numbers to Scientific Notation Convert
  Scientific Notation to Numbers
• Enrich How They Simplify Expressions
• More Terms
• Combining Like Terms
• Parenthesis
• Square Roots
• Solve Systems of Equations
• Graphing
• Substitution

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Additional Math Concepts for 7th Grade Advanced
Math(Continued)?

• Solve Equations with Two Variables
• Graph a Line Given Two Points
• Solve Problems Using Proportions

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Additional Math Concepts for 8th Grade Advanced
Math

• Advanced 8th Grade Math consists of ALL of the
  8th grade GPS plus
• Find the Equation of a Line Given A. 2 Points
  B. 1 Point and the Slope and C. 1 Point and an
  Equation of Either a Parallel or Perpendicular
  Line
• Solve Systems of Equations Using 3 Methods
• Understand Quadratics (When a 1)?
• Identify Quadratic Equations
• Use the Quadratic Formula
• Apply the Use of Quadratic Equations
• Factoring
• Standard Form
• Properties
• ?

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Additional Math Concepts for 8th Grade Advanced
Math(Continued)?

• Use Midpoint and Distance Formulas
• Evaluate Rational Expressions (Multiplication,
  Division, Simplifying)?
• Solve Rational Equations (Multiplication,
  Division, Simplifying)?
• Understand Functions
• Graphs
• Tables
• Algebra
• Identify Congruent Triangles
• Solve Problems with Distance, Rate and Time

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Additional Science Concepts for 8th Grade
Physical Science

• The Advanced 8th Grade Physical Science class
  will extend the 8th grade GPS to include the
  following topics
• CHEMISTRY
• Atomic Structure Including Historical Development
  of the Current Theory
• Radioactivity
• Isotopes
• Valence Electrons
• Atomic Mass, Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
• Periodicity
• Atomic Forces
• Naming, Binary, Some Polyatomic, Some Basic
  Transition Elements
• Compounds, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding,
  Writing Compound Formulas, Writing Names for
  Formulas

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Additional Science Concepts for 8th Grade
Physical Science (Continued)?

• CHEMISTRY (Continued)?
• Balancing Equations
• Basic Acid and Base Properties
• Conductivity
• Solubility, Solute, Solvent
• Gas Laws, Conceptual Understanding of P, V, and T
  Relationships
• PHYSICS
• Force and Motion, Velocity and Acceleration
  Calculations, Mechanical Advantage Calculations
• Energy, Specific Heat Calculations
• Electricity and Magnetism, Ohm's Law
  Calculations, Basic Series and Parallel Circuit
  Relationships of I, V, and R

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PGMS Advanced StudiesParent Readiness Guides

• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science
• Parents students can use these checklists as a
  guide to aid in their decision for placement into
  an Advanced Studies class. Answering yes to
  all or nearly all would indicate a student's
  readiness for the challenge and rigor of an
  Advanced Studies class

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Registration Form

• Expectations
• Other Factors To Consider
• Class Registration
• Student Commitment
• Parent Commitment
• Student Essay
• Due Date By May 22nd to Our PGMS Office

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Take With You Tonight

• Advanced Studies Readiness Guides
• Registration Form (Color-coded by grade level)?
• Ms. North's Business Card

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Soon To Be On Our Piney Grove Website . . .

• This Power Point Presentation
• Student/Parent Advanced Studies Readiness Guides
• Registration Forms
• (These will be posted on our website in the early
  part of May)?

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Two Thoughts . . .

• Only those who will risk going too far can
  possibly find out how far they can go.
• ---T.S. Eliot
• It is not because things are difficult
• that we do not dare,
• It is because we do not dare,
• that they are difficult.
• ---Senaca

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The PINEY GROVE . . .

• P - Personal
• A - Achievement
• T - Through
• H - High Expectations
• Hard Work
• Honest Efforts
• Heart

Follow the Piney Grove PATH to Greatness!
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Q / A Time

• If you have any questions after tonight, please
  feel free to email or call me and leave a contact
  number where you can be reached in the evening.
  If you prefer some time to conference face to
  face, then I will be happy to schedule a time in
  the evening to meet with you and your child.