1. SPERRENG MIDDLE SCHOOL
CURRICULUM NIGHT
8th Grade Thursday, January 24, 2013

2. Goals
 Understand the components of the 8th grade
schedule
 Highlight features of the middle school program
 Discuss specific course offerings with
department representatives

3. Understanding 8th Grade Courses
Core
Challenge
Elective
High School Credit
Specialized

4. Core Classes
 Mandatory courses in which all students must
participate to meet state standards
 English Language Arts (ELA)
 Mathematics
 Science
 Social Studies
 Health and Fitness

5. Challenge Classes
 Core courses offering advanced learners* an
opportunity to explore greater depths of content
knowledge and critical thinking skills
 English Language Arts
 Mathematics
 Science
 Social Studies
 Challenge Appeal Form
*Challenge criteria-Advanced MAP score, reading on grade level or higher,
demonstrate high achievement in content area, successful completion of math
pre-requisite course

6. Elective Classes
Courses offering opportunity to pursue special interests,
aptitudes, and abilities
Year-long Daily Semester-long Alternating Day
 Band  Art
 Digital Literacy
 Orchestra
 Drama
 Choir  General Music
 Modern Language  Keyboarding
 German  Family and Consumer
Sciences
 French
 Technology Education
 Spanish

7. 8th Grade Modern Language
Students will continue to develop language comprehension
skills. They will learn more complex grammatical structures
and learn to read, speak, and write more in the target
language. Students will be assessed with high school level
materials. Students need to be self-motivated in order to be
successful in this class.
Continue with the same language as in 7th grade
Academic Elective class
Every day for a year
Second half of Level I
Final Exam in May
Earn High School Credit*
*upon successful completion of the program

8. High School Credit Classes
One unit of credit towards high school graduation will
be applied to the student’s transcript for successful
completion of the following courses:
 Modern Languages
 Students must have successfully completed 7th grade course
 Suggested for students who may wish to participate in
AP/IB programs and 2 years of ML is required by most
college programs
 Algebra
 Students must have successfully completed Pre-algebra
 Geometry
 Students must have successfully completed Algebra

9. Specialized Classes
 Intervention Classes-course offerings designed to
provide supplemental small group instruction for
students who may have gaps in understanding of
essential reading or mathematic skills
 IEP/Resource Classes-course offerings designed to
meet student learning needs as indicated in the
Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)
 LEAP-course offering designed for gifted students
providing enrichment, extension, and curriculum
explorations

10. 8th Grade Schedule Considerations
 7 period day = 5 core + 2 electives
 All 8th grade students participate in 5 core courses
 Students have 2 periods in which to participate in
elective and intervention courses
 Elective and intervention courses vary from
semester-long to year-long and daily to alternating
day

11. The 8th Grade Schedule
SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2
1. English Language Arts 1. English Language Arts
2. Mathematics 2. Mathematics
3. Science 3. Science
4. Social Studies 4. Social Studies
5. Health and Fitness 5. Health and Fitness
6. A Day Elective 6. A Day Elective
B Day Elective B Day Elective
7. A Day Elective 7. A Day Elective
B Day Elective B Day Elective

12. Sample 8th Grade Schedules
Band and Modern Language Intervention
1. English Language Arts 1. English Language Arts
2. Mathematics 2. Mathematics
3. Science 3. Science
4. Social Studies 4. Social Studies
5. Health and Fitness 5. Health and Fitness
6. Band 6. A-Reading/B-Tech Ed. (Semester 1)
7. French A-Reading/B-Drama (Semester 2)
7. A-Dig. Lit./B-Art (Semester 1)
A-Keyboard/B-Music (Semester 2)

13. Next Steps
Teachers-
Complete course recommendations for each student based
upon multiple data sources
Counselors-
Present course offerings to students in team meetings
Students & Parents-
Visit with teachers and make elective course selections and
return recommendation form to school to Social Studies
teacher by January 31, 2013

14. Did your child recently get a new device?
Did you know you can download
BOOKS for FREE
from our elibrary?
 No late fees, huge selection, 24 hour access,
works with any device.
 The Library Media Specialist, Ms. Sears, will be
available in the little gym to show you how.

15. Questions?
Please feel free to visit department
representatives in the small gym for
answers to curriculum questions.