This two-semester, one-credit course emphasizes clear, coherent writing for a variety of purposes. Students will write one and a half to two page expository, persuasive, and analytical essays, in addition to short answer responses incorporating textual evidence. In all of these topics, scholars will learn the writing process (brainstorming, prewriting, outlining, drafting, and revising and editing). This course also teaches grammar and the fundamentals of Standard American English as they relate to writing, reading, listening and speaking. Students will also read and write free-verse, classical-to-contemporary poetry.The required combination of reading and writing for sixth graders in English introduces scholars to a range of essential knowledge and skills. Students read both silently and aloud, for clarity, comprehension, analysis, and evaluation. They also gain practice in paraphrasing, summarizing, determining main ideas, drawing conclusions, predicting outcomes, and articulating themes. There will be three novel studies.

Core texts: Gary Paulsen’s Transall Saga; Lauren DeStefano’s The Girl with the Ghost Machine; M.G. Leonard’s Beetle Boy HMH

Online Textbook: English 6; Vocabulary from Classical Roots-6

Sixth Grade’s World Geography course will serve as a foundational layout for following World Geography and History courses.Students will develop and build their skills and knowledge pertaining to the 5-Themes of Geography. This course will cover topics such as: absolute and relative locations; knowledge in different types of landform and bodies of water; identifying movements of migration; and analyzing historical events that have shaped different continents and nations as a result of human-environment interaction.Students will be introduced to primary and secondary sources and other impertinent resources in order to develop and refine their skills in imagination and creation of their own thoughts and opinions. The content goal by the end of this course is for students to have surveyed the lands, people groups, and history of major continents and its existing nations.

Textbook: World Geography. Orlando, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. eTextbook.

This two semester one credit course covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, mixed numbers and integers. Students will learn to solve for unknown numbers using these functions. Precents, proportions, and algebraic logic will be covered. Area, perimeter, surface area, coordinate planes, and different types of graphs are learned.

Science 6 is Earth Science. This course introduces students to all physical aspects of the Earth and the universe as a whole. As anactivity-based course, students are required to perform a variety of scientific experiments and to report their findings. Students discoverthe thrill of scientific investigation while learning how to hypothesize, performexperiments, write reports on their findings, chart their information, graph data they have collected, and read graphs and other forms ofdata displays. Students will delve into topics such as: earthquakes; volcanoes; rocks and minerals; layers of the Earth; plate tectonics;the Earth’s atmosphere; all different forms of weather - hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, floods; the Sun and moon; the solar system,aspects of the universe such as wormholes, and black holes; various cycles that occur naturally on the Earth, such as the water cycleand photosynthesis. Students will prepare the Science Fair project in this class and will do some field work as well.

Textbook: Pearson Interactive Workbooks for 6th grade, 4 books

This two-semester, one-credit course teaches literature, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. Students learn to identify basic literary devices, understand and analyze readings, write for a variety of audiences and purposes, use appropriate grammar and usage in writing, improve speaking and listening skills, and expand academic, cross-curricular vocabulary. Students will write two to three page expository, persuasive, and analytical essays, in addition to short answer responses that incorporate textual evidence to support a justifiable claim. This course also teaches grammar and the fundamentals of Standard American English as they relate to writing, reading, listening and speaking. Students will also read and write free-verse, classical-to-contemporary poetry. There will be three novel studies.

Core texts: Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet; John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas; Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia. HMH

Online Textbook: English 7, Vocabulary from Classical Roots-A

In Texas History, students will learn about various people groups who have lived in Texas and events that have shaped the Texas weknow of and live in today. Students will be given the opportunity to observe the rich history indigenous tribes of Texas have left for us toappreciate. As we progress throughout the school year, students will research and analyze changes Texas has undergone as a resultof and consequence to European colonialism. Students will learn to apply their critical thinking skills and create for themselves theirown analysis on how and why Anglo-American settlements, their fight for Texas Independence, annexation, statehood, and Texas’involvement in the Civil War have shaped the Texas we know of today. By the end of the course, students will produce for themselves aperspective on how Texans can move forward into the future for the betterment of all Texans.

Textbook: Willoughby, Larry. Texas History. Orlando, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.

This two semester one credit course teaches mathematics as a step-by-step process, including adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals and fractions. Also covers pre-algebraic expressions and equations, number theory, and geometry.

This course is an introduction to Life Science. Students will study fundamental principles of Biology and Zoology. Emphasis is placed on interactive discussion and observation. Students will learn how to classify and describe living things, from the simplest organisms to the most complex plants and animals. Each lesson provides a hands-on experiment and teaches the scientific process. Topics include introduction to cells, cell processes and replication, genetics and DNA, Ecology and the environment, classification of living things, and anatomy. In addition to regular labs and activities, students will do numerous dissections, and several field studies outdoors.

Textbook: Pearson Interactive Workbooks for 7th grade, 3 books

The course covers reading strategies, literature studies, vocabulary development, spelling review, writing for a variety of purposesand modes, speaking and listening skills, grammar and the fundamentals of Standard American English. Students will write threeto four page expository, persuasive, and analytical essays, in addition to short answer responses that incorporate textual evidenceto generate insightful analysis. Students will also read and write free-verse, classical-to-contemporary poetry. There will be fournovel studies (one each quarter).Core texts: L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Francisco Jimenez’s Breaking Through; Michael Crichton’s JurassicPark; John Green’s The Fault in Our StarsHMH

Online Textbook: English 8; Vocabulary from Classical Roots-B

Eighth Grade American/U.S. History course will explore the historical timeline of America’s earliest beginnings starting with indigenousIndians to the end of Reconstruction in 1877. Topics include theories of where and when indigenous groups may have arrived in theAmericas; the push/pull factors for European colonialism; the fight for America’s Independence; creation of the U.S. Constitution; expansion westward, which leads to sectionalism and the Civil War; and the Reconstruction period. Students will be given opportunities to refine and sharpen their critical thinking skills as they evaluate, analyze, create, and articulate their historical perspectives on people and events of American History that have and continue to influence us today. Students will utilize different primary and secondary sources for their research and engagement on mentioned topics above throughout the course.

Textbook: United States History: Beginnings to 1877. Orlando, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. eTextbook.

This course is a combined introductory course for both chemistry and physics and how these two disciplines interact. As a very hands-on and interactive science course students will perform a variety of lab work and other hands-on activities. They will study matter; describing matter, classifying matter, changes in matter, and states of matter. Students will study atoms, elements, metals, nonmetals, metalloids, radioactive elements. They will then study how atoms bond, the periodic table, ionic bonds, covalent bonds, and how metals bond. Students will observe chemical changes, describe chemical reactions, control chemical reactions and lastly in the area of Chemistry they will work with solutions, learning about concentrations and solubility, will describe acids and bases, and acids and bases in solutions.For the physics aspect of this course students will focus on forces and energy; studying in particular: describing motion, speed, velocity, and acceleration. They will learn about the forces of nature, such as friction, gravity, Newton’s Laws of Motion, momentum, and free fall and circular motion. They will observe and experiment with the principals of work and power and understanding machines, inclined planes and levers, and putting machines together. Lastly, they will learn about energy, all forms of energy, energy transformation and conservation. The purpose of this course is to prepare them for High School Physics and High School Chemistry.

An introductory course covering basic concepts in preparation for Algebra I. Includes adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers, decimals, fractions, mixed numbers, and integers. Also, manipulating place value and powers of 10; estimating sums, differences, products, and quotients. Teaches identification of angles and triangles, and use of scientific notation.

This one-year college preparatory course will help students to view algebra not only as a theoretical tool for analyzing and describing mathematical relationships, but they will also experience the power of algebraic thinking in a context of applications by studying the mathematical modeling of real world problems. In the first semester of Algebra I, students are introduced to functions, using tables and graphs, multiple representations of functions, exploring linear functions, rate of change, the parent function, writing rules, connecting functions to equations and inequalities, using commutative, associative, and distributive properties to simplify expressions, solving simple equations with manipulatives and symbols, solving equations of the Form kx + c = b and kx + c = mx + b, looking closer at inequalities and comparing notations and methods.The second semester of Algebra I introduces students to systems of linear equation, solving systems using graphs and tables, solving systems by symbolic methods, area and perimeter functions, the parent function multiplied by a constant, adding and subtracting a constant, multiple changes to the parent function, binomial operations, modeling with quadratic functions, solving quadratic equations, graphs of exponential functions, and modeling inverse variation data. Algebra 1 is designed for 9th grade students but occasionally 7th and 8th grade students are prepared for this level of math course.

Textbook: Larson Algebra 1, Holt McDougal, Copyright 2012 by Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt Publishing Company. Printed in the USA.ISBN: 978-0-547-64713-5

This fun, interactive course for middle school students is filled with diverse, multimedia language activities. Students begin their introduction to Spanish by focusing on the four key areas of foreign language study: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking, and writing activities, multimedia cultural presentations, and interactive activities and practices that reinforce vocabulary and grammar. There is a strong emphasis on providing context and conversational examples for the language concepts presented in each unit. Students should expect to be actively engaged in their own language learning, become familiar with common vocabulary terms and phrases, comprehend a wide range of grammar patterns, participate in simple conversations, and respond appropriately to basic conversational prompts, analyze and compare cultural practices, products, and perspectives of various Spanish speaking countries, and take frequent assessments where their language progression can be monitored. The course has been carefully aligned to national standards as set forth by ACTFL (the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Students continue their language learning adventure by progressing to the next level of middle school Spanish. Throughout the course students focus on the four key areas of foreign language study: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking, and writing activities, multimedia cultural presentations, and interactive activities and practices which reinforce vocabulary and grammar. There is a strong emphasis on providing context and conversational examples for the language concepts presented in each unit. Students should expect to be actively engaged in their own language learning, become familiar with common vocabulary terms and phrases, comprehend a wide range of grammar patterns, participate in simple conversations, and respond appropriately to basic conversational prompts, analyze and compare cultural practices, products, and perspectives of various Spanish- speaking countries, and take frequent assessments where their language progression can be monitored. The course has been carefully aligned to national standards as set forth by ACTFL (theAmerican Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

This fun, interactive course for middle school students is filled with diverse, multimedia language activities. Students begin their introduction to French by focusing on the four key areas of foreign language study: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The course represents an ideal blend of language learning pedagogy and online learning. Each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking, and writing activities, multimedia cultural presentations, and interactive activities and practices which reinforce vocabulary and grammar. There is a strong emphasis on providing context and conversational examples for the language concepts presented in each unit. Students should expect to be actively engaged in their own language learning, become familiar with common vocabulary terms and phrases, comprehend a wide range of grammar patterns, participate in simple conversations, and respond appropriately to basic conversational prompts, analyze, and compare cultural practices, products, and perspectives of various French---speaking countries, and take frequent assessments where their language progression can be monitored. The course has been carefully aligned to national standards as set forth by ACTFL (the AmericanCouncil on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Students continue their introduction to French by focusing on the four key areas of foreign language study: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The course represents an ideal blend of language learning pedagogy and online learning. Each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking, and writing activities, multimedia cultural presentations, and interactive activities and practices which reinforce vocabulary and grammar. There is a strong emphasis on providing context and conversational examples for the language concepts presented in each unit. Students should expect to be actively engaged in their own language learning, become familiar with common vocabulary terms and phrases, comprehend a wide range of grammar patterns, participate in simple conversations, and respond appropriately to basic conversational prompts, analyze, and compare cultural practices, products, and perspectives of various French- --speaking countries, and take frequent assessments where their language progression can be monitored. The course has been carefully aligned to national standards as set forth by ACTFL (theAmerican Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Students continue their language-learning adventure by progressing to this next level of middle school French. Students expand their introduction to French through focus on four key areas of foreign language study: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The course represents an ideal blend of language learning pedagogy and online learning. Each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking, and writing activities, multimedia cultural presentations, and interactive activities and practices which reinforce vocabulary and grammar. There is a strong emphasis on providing context and conversational examples for the language concepts presented in each unit. Students should expect to be actively engaged in their own language learning, become familiar with common vocabulary terms and phrases, comprehend a wide range of grammar patterns, participate simple conversations, and respond appropriately to basic conversational prompts, analyze and compare cultural practices, products and perspectives of various French speaking countries and take frequent assessments to monitor language progression. The course has been aligned to national standards as set forth by ACTFL (the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

This course is designed for students with no knowledge of, or with a weak background in Chinese. An introduction to basic pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and development of communication skills in Chinese. Students will use a variety of authentic text and media resources to acquire and enhance linguistic skills.

In this course, students are expected to be able to engage in basic daily conversation, read simple texts as well as write for daily needs in Pinyin. Accurate pronunciation, tones and grammatical expression are the main focus. The introduction of more advanced grammatical structures and a variety of authentic text and multimedia resources will enhance the students’ linguistic skills and sociocultural awareness of the Chinese speaking world.

This course is focusing on the four key areas of foreign language study: listening,speaking, reading, and writing. Students shouldexpect to be actively engaged in their own language learning and ready for HS Mandarin Chinese Level 2. It consists of a lot of readingand listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, multimedia cultural presentations, and interactive activities andpractices which reinforce vocabulary and grammar.

Film Studies is an introduction to film analysis that examines critical approaches of authorship, genre, presentation, and narrative.Students will become literate in the language of cinema and learn basic film concepts, techniques, and terminology in an effort to appreciate films more completely. The course examines how films are shot, tell stories, develop characters and depict physical reality through the combined, constructed medium of sound and image. Furthermore, film studies will familiarize students with the particulars of film history as well as to provide them with a chance to analyze film as a visual art form. This course will be open to all Middle andHigh School students.*Students will be required to have a camera or cellular device with recording capabilities and a laptop with a film editing program.

Encouraged software: I-move, Premier Pro, Adobe Premier, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, etc.

This course is designed for students who desire an experience in drama/theater, and promotes depth of engagement and life long appreciation for theater through a broad spectrum of teacher-assigned and self-directed study and performance. Students regularly reflect on aesthetics and issues related to and addressed through theater, and create within various aspects of theater in ways that are progressively more innovative. In this course, we will examine Improvisation, Audition Process, Monologues, Duets and Group Scenes,Theatre History, Movement, Voice and Diction, Playwriting, Shakespeare, and Theatre Literature. Students may also explore units such as beauty and FX artistry, where they will learn the basic tools and procedures for designing and creating costumes, hair, makeup, andFX. Students learn the conventions of design presentation and documentation, the organizational structure of theater production and creative work in a collaborative environment. Public performances may serve as a culmination of specific instructional goals. This course will be open to Middle and High School students.* An additional charge will be applied to this class to purchase a basic makeup, hand sewing, and FX kit for each student that will be used throughout the year. Students and families are welcome to add to this kit as you choose.

** Inability to effectively participate in class and for performances due to continued absence (i.e. out of town trips, etc that are planned in advance) may preclude you from being in the Class.

Course Objective: To learn basic hand sewing and machine sewing technique for practical purposes, fashion design, creativity, and needle arts. Skills learned will include fashion design elements, needle arts of cross-stitch and embroidery, simple basic sewing skills, such as sewing buttons and hemming. Students will make pillows and learn to follow simple patterns. At the conclusion of the year students will understand the composition of various fabrics and their designated purpose, basic sewing skills and the ability to read and follow a simple pattern. Students will be expected to either purchase needed materials (basic sewing kit, fabric, thread, patterns, etc) a list will be provided the first week of class.

Course Objective: To build upon an established foundation for students who want to advance in quilting or garment making. Students will exclusively focus on machine sewing and becoming proficient in following intermediate to advanced patterns. Students must first take an introduction class or meet with the teacher to determine if they are able to succeed in this fast paced course. Student projects will be determined by interest and individualized to students interest and skill levelStudents will be expected to either purchase needed materials (fabric, thread, patterns, etc) each student will meet with the teacher to determine supply needs.

Visual Arts MS is an introductory survey of the visual arts. Each Visual Art student will have the opportunity to explore many different two-dimensional media such as charcoal, oil pastels, soft pastels, colored pencil, pen and ink, and much more. The Visual Art students will also have the opportunity to work in three-dimensions and explore an assigned media in a sculptural form. An emphasis will be placed on understanding the importance and learning how to recognize and use the elements of art and the principles of design.  Assignments at this level will be highly teacher directed and will emphasize creative thinking skills and problem solving. Students will also investigate contemporary and historical art themes using 2D and 3D media, skills and techniques, while engaging in the art production process within a studio arts environment, and learn to reflect on such art, as well as their own.

Visual Arts HS is a more advanced survey of the visual arts. Each Visual Art student will have the opportunity to explore many different two-dimensional media such as charcoal, oil pastels, soft pastels, colored pencil, pen and ink, and much more. The Visual Art students will also have the opportunity to work in three-dimensions and explore an assigned media in a sculptural form. The goal of the course is to deepen understanding of their artwork as meaningful art making. In particular, the course focuses on integrating ideas, materials, drawing processes, form, and meaning to produce a high-quality body of artwork. These teacher-led assignments are designed to build student’s skills while gradually giving students increasing amounts of choice and freedom. Students will have a major assignment throughout the spring semester to create their own body of work with a cohesive theme using materials of their choice and defending these choices through presentation and critique for their final. Students will also investigate contemporary and historical art the mes using 2D and 3D media, skills and techniques, while engaging in the art production process within a studio arts environment, and learn to reflect on such art, as well as their own.

Advanced Studio Art- This course is designed for students who are highly motivated and have a desire to do advanced level work.They should show strong interest and talent in visual art. Students are expected to present their own personal point of view while creating unique works for portfolios and exhibitions. Students are required to maintain a working sketchbook/journal in addition to their class work. Students will be expected to enter their work in competitions and exhibitions. Individualized studies of special interest are encouraged. Students will be required to recognize works and artists from different periods and styles, communicate ideas about works of art through writing and speaking, submit a writing piece suitable for inclusion in their writing portfolio, study styles of art through slides and videos, and create projects that illustrate these styles in order to earn credit for this course.Course work is designed around those students who may be planning a career in the visual art field or whose talent exceeds that of the standard visual arts class. Students will concentrate their efforts on developing an art portfolio, which will include 10 quality works of art per semester in various media around a common theme. Students must also submit a writing piece for their writing portfolio to earn credit for this course. This class is open to Middle and High school students who have completed their visual arts credit, and/or show exceptional skill in the visual arts and want a more in-depth study.

*As the quality of work and motivation expectations are high for this course, students MUST have the instructor’s permission to join.

Intro to Digital Photography- Digital Photography is a yearlong introduction to the digital camera as an art-making tool designed for students at the beginning level. The course will use digital photography to help students learn and apply the basic elements of art and the principles of design. This course will also provide students with opportunities to extend their knowledge and skills in the field of photography and the use of editing software. Digital Photography will familiarize the student with digital photographic equipment, materials, methods, and processes. Visual problem-solving skills are explored through the use of the computer as the main tool for creative expression and communication. Cell phone photography and editing with a variety of phone applications will be infused in the curriculum. Students may create their own blog sites as a place to exhibit their projects and portfolio work. Self-promotion of student photography is encouraged and beginning social media marketing is introduced. Students will furthermore be encouraged to compete and participate in art exhibits.

*Students MUST own a basic point and shoot digital camera, charger, laptop with editing program, and memory card to join this class.

The course of Commercial Photography advances digital media and applications with an emphasis on applying career practices in photography including a concentration on finances, marketing, and branding in addition to industry-level studio photography. Students will “work” in the field on various job assignments at the discretion of the instructor. Production, file management, and digital file manipulation, project – based evidence of the fundamentals of photography and mastery of studio work including lighting will be incorporated in all lessons and projects. This photography program will compete in several regional, state, and national competitions including Scholastic, ATPI (Association of Texas Photography Instructors), and SkillsUSA, with all students expected to submit work for, at minimum, one competition. Contests are open to all 9th, 10th 11th and 12th grade level commercial photography students. This class is open to all middle and high school students who have completed intro to digital photography or a photography equivalent.

*A DSLR, battery, battery charger, tripod, laptop, editing program, SD card, and camera case are REQUIRED for this class.