To increase opportunities to personalize learning in Middle Schools, starting with the 2018-2019 school year, we are offering these Personalized Pathways for our rising seventh graders.

In 7th Grade students will get to build a Personalized Pathway by building two courses from the following options:

• Various Semester Long Personalized Pathways Courses
• Year Long Performance Music Course
• Year Long Global Studies and World Languages

Seventh Grade Personalized Pathway Semester Courses

7th Grade CTE Semester Course Choices:

• LAUNCH! Digital Media & Computer Apps
  This Intermediate level business course will enable students to improve their productivity and communication skills when using computers and digital media. Students will learn to utilize Microsoft products in a real business simulation that properly aligns with current industry practices through the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other presentation applications.  In addition, students will spend time learning logic and problem solving skills through intermediate level coding, game development, website development, and video production units.
  
  These concepts will be achieved through:
  • Using a business simulation to manage and design a website for a teen social center
  • Identifying a school-wide problem and developing a commercial or PSA that addresses a solution
  • Digging deeper into coding by creating animation projects with special effects
  • Developing a game that can be shared and played by others
• Engineering Innovators
  Have you ever wished that your electronic device could do something more?  Have you ever thought of a way to make something more useful or improved?  Then look no further because here is your chance.  Students in this course will utilize concepts of STEM to design, model, and create and modify various solutions to engineering problems. In this course students will get hands on experience working through the engineering design process with the intention of becoming future inventors and innovators. Students will learn how to use various prototyping tools including 3D modeling software and traditional woodworking machinery. Students will solve problems while exploring topics related to flight and space, energy and the environment, science and technology as well as many other technological areas.
• Family & Consumer Sciences Skills
  TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More! Students in this class will work together as a team through the units of Human Relations, Food Safety and Sanitation, Culinary Arts, and Apparel & Textile Design while giving students the opportunity to build communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills. This is a hands on course focusing on team building while utilizing problem and project based learning experiences of more advanced cooking, sewing and teaching skills for the 7th grade student.

7th Grade Fine Arts Semester Course Choices:

• Creating Theatre Artists: Onstage & Off
  Take center stage in this interactive study of the production process!  Get out of the audience and learn the basics of acting, scripting, and designing.  In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of acting through improvisation, scene building, and scripted play performance. To support the action on stage, students will develop skills in technical aspects of theatre.
• Visual Arts Explorations
  Explore visual art and design through hands on learning using a wide variety of 2D and 3D materials. Students will practice critical thinking through artistic innovation and creativity. As they find their individual artistic voice, students will have a better understanding of how art connects them to their world.

7th Grade Year Long Performance Music Choices:

• 7th Grade Band
  Seventh Grade Band is designed for the second year band student. Emphasis will be placed on the continued development of technical skills, tone quality and style. Listening skills and ensemble techniques are further developed and increasingly challenging literature will be introduced. Attendance at all performances is required.
• 7th Grade Choir
  Seventh Grade Choir (Mixed) provides an opportunity for students to develop musically within a choral ensemble. Various styles of music will be studied with an emphasis on sight singing, vocal production, concert etiquette, and performance technique. An understanding of musical elements and terminology is reinforced. This choir will perform in various concerts throughout the year. Attendance is required at all performances.
• 7th Grade Orchestra
  Seventh Grade Orchestra continues to develop personal technical and performance skills for continuing students within the ensemble. Emphasis is placed on the development of listening skills, improved intonation, balance and blend, and tone quality. Proficiency is increased in music reading, analysis, and interpretation. A wide variety of orchestral repertoire is presented from many styles. Instruments are required for daily practice and all performances. Attendance is required at rehearsals and concerts.

7th Grade Year Long Global Studies and World Languages:

• French A
  French A is an introduction to one of the most global languages in the world. Students will study various French-speaking countries and peoples to better understand the diverse cultures that they might encounter. Students will also begin to describe themselves, family and friends, and daily life. They will speak, listen, read and write French with their classmates through paired practice, small group work, and role plays. Students will be introduced to skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will help them live and work in an increasingly global society. Upon successful completion of French A, students will be ready to take French B in 8th grade.
• German A
  German A is an introduction to the language spoken by the people of Europe's economic leader. Students will study various German-speaking countries and peoples. They will also begin to discuss their feelings, families, friends, and daily life through frequent use of paired practice, small group work, and role plays. Students will be introduced to skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will help them live and work in an increasingly global society. Upon successful completion of German A, students will be ready to take German B in 8th grade.
• Spanish A
  Spanish A is an introduction to one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Students will study various Spanish-speaking countries, peoples, and cultures. Students will also begin to describe themselves, family and friends, and daily life. They will speak and write with their classmates through paired practice, small group work, and role plays. Students will be introduced to skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will help them live and work in an increasingly global society. Upon successful completion of Spanish A, students will be ready to take Spanish B in 8th grade.
• American Sign Language A
  American Sign Language (ASL) A is an introduction to the most widely used sign language in the United States. Students will study the basic vocabulary, structure, syntax and grammar of ASL. Students will focus on mastering the basics of finger spelling, facial grammar and sentence structure; and will also learn conversational/cultural behaviors necessary to hold a beginning-level conversation in ASL, with deaf/hard-of-hearing native users of the language. Introductory information about deaf culture will also be presented to provide students with a broad picture of language and culture. This course is intended for students that have little to no experience with ASL.