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Table of Contents

Page 1
Planning Your Education - Grade 6
Online Registration
Promotion Criteria
Page 2
School Information
Page 4
Course Descriptions

Planning Your Education

Your school provides this course curriculum guide as a means of assisting students and parents in understanding and planning their course of study. Students are encouraged to carefully select related arts courses during the registration process. Your school's guidance counselors and teachers stand ready to assist them. Parents are invited and encouraged to actively participate by assisting their student.

Related arts classes are scheduled based upon student requests. However, due to schedule conflicts and changes in course offerings, the staff cannot guarantee that students will be scheduled for all courses they request. In addition, be aware that the school builds a master schedule and employs teachers based on students' requests; therefore, schedule changes will only be considered on a very limited basis.

Online Registration

Online Registration was implemented in 2004. It allows parents and students to request related arts courses for the next school year from home via the Internet. Families who do not have access to the Internet will be given opportunities to use school computers to register online. Parents and students should understand that requesting a related arts course through online registration does not guarantee that the student is placed in the course the next school year. Final placement in a course is dependent upon enrollment, scheduling feasibility, and teacher allocation. Schools will post the courses that they will be offering the next school year in a course curriculum guide which will be located on the school's website. Parents without Internet access at home will receive a printed copy of the course curriculum guide by request. The window for students to select related arts courses online is posted by the school on the school's website and in parent newsletters. Schools will provide instructions on accessing the online registration tool.

Promotion Criteria for Grades Six through Eight (GCS IHE / Rule 9/11/2006)

Criterion 1: Students in grades six through eight are expected to learn, at a minimum, curriculum standards in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and meet attendance requirements.
Criterion 2: The student earned a minimum average grade of 70% in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies (if language arts is taught as a separate subject in grades 6-8, the English language arts grade will be determined by the mean of the yearly average of reading and language arts.)
End of Year Promotion Status
The following are summary designation and descriptors for end-of-year promotion status of students in grades six-eight.
Promoted – The student met all promotion criteria. The one exception is that students who fail a high school credit bearing course in middle school are promoted but must retake the course. Enrollment in these credit bearing courses will be determined by the district criteria as stated in the Master Catalog of Middle School Courses which is located in the Important Items section of the Infoweb.
Promoted - Summer School Required - The student failed to meet the criteria for one or two core academic areas, but successful performance in summer school for any deficient area was met.

SELECTING RELATED ARTS/ELECTIVE COURSES


Welcome to Berea Middle School!  We are excited about the coming year and look forward to your being a part of our Bulldog family.

Our students take four academic courses and two related arts (electives) each semester.  Every student must take one semester of Physical Education/Health.  Students must register for three additional electives and two alternates, unless they are taking a year-long elective.

 

Band and Chorus are courses students take for the entire year. Students taking one of these courses will take that course for the year, PE, and one other semester-long related arts class.  Students taking Band or Chorus should not select Music 6 as an elective or an alternate. When registering, students taking Band or Chorus should only select that course, one other semester-long elective (not to include Music 6), and two alternates. 

Students should not select both Keyboarding 6 and Careers 6.  They may select one of these as their primary choice and select the other as an alternate choice. 

 

ESL class and Resource/Tutorial class each count as a year-long elective.  These classes will be assigned by the teacher/counselor.  Students assigned to one of these courses will take that course for the year, PE, and one other semester-long elective during the year.  When registering, students taking ESL or Resource/Tutorial need only to select one semester-long elective and two alternates. 

 

Students who enroll in Christian Release Time will participate in this activity once a week during one of their related arts classes.

Guidance Office Contact Information

Katherine Christie, Counselor
355-1704

Lynn Edwards, Counselor
355-1706

Nita Donald, CDF
355-2784

Dawn Williams, Clerk
355-1711





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Descriptions

English
Title:
English Studies 6
10013100
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Students should meet two or more of the following criteria: Teacher recommendation; PASS score of Met in 4th grade; 5th grade MAP RIT scores of 213 - 236
This course is designed to meet the needs of those students whose reading and language arts skills are sufficient to allow them to read more difficult texts, analyze what they have read more deeply, and respond without difficulty to the text in writing. The students in this course do not require foundational instruction in reading strategies; however, they will continue to receive instruction in more sophisticated reading practices that prepare the student for literary analysis. All writing instruction, vocabulary development, and research opportunities will be in response to a text read. Students can expect instruction to move at an accelerated pace.
Title:
English GT 6
10013200
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Identified as GTA (Gifted and Talented Academic)with a MAP RIT score >236
This course is designed to meet the needs of academically gifted and talented students who were identified through the standard measures implemented by The School District of Greenville County. The curriculum designed specifically for this course meets the guidelines set forth by the South Carolina State Department of Education as criteria for Gifted and Talented instruction. Students should expect to find the curriculum challenging in a number of ways: text complexity, analytical writing, problem solving, creative endeavors, and accelerated pace.
Math
Title:
Math 6
11100600
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation
This standards-based sixth-grade course is designed to help students begin the transition from arithmetic to algebraic thinking. It includes concepts, operations, and problems solving with decimals, fractions, and percents in addition to an introduction to integers and ratios. Students will develop algebraic thinking through the investigation of patterns, the use of simple equations and inequalities to represent relationships, and the use of tables and graphs to solve problems. Throughout the course there is an emphasis on the process standards of problem-solving, communication, reasoning, representations, and connections.
Title:
Math 6/7
11100700
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Must meet district criteria including Teacher recommendation
This standards-based course is designed to help students begin the transition from arithmetic to algebraic thinking. It includes all of the grade 6 standards and half of the grade 7 standards. Topics include operations and problem-solving with decimals, fractions, integers, ratios, proportions, and percents. Students will develop algebraic thinking through the investigation of patterns, the use of one-and two-step equations and inequalities to represent relationships, and the use of tables and graphs to solve problems. Throughout the course there is an emphasis on the process standards of problem-solving, communication, reasoning, representations, and connections.
Science
Title:
Science 6
12010000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
The focus for science in sixth grade is to provide students with inquiry based experiences that develop science concepts in the following areas: Structures, Processes and Response of Plants-structure and function of plants; Structures, Processes and Responses of Animals-structure and function of animals; Earths Atmosphere and Weather-atmospheric properties and processes; and, Conservation of Energy-properties of energy, work, and conservation of energy.
Social Studies
Title:
Social Studies 6
13010000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
Sixth grade social studies expands students’ understanding of history through the study of people, places, and events to the era of European exploration and settlement. Students focus not only on facts about various cultures but also on the significance of geography in history, their everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of people, and their roles in developing the social, economic, and political structures of major civilizations. Instruction should emphasize the elements of social studies literacy—the tools, strategies, and perspectives necessary for understanding how history, geography, economics and government are interwoven.
Arts
Title:
Art 6
15010000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
The purpose of this course is to enable students to communicate ideas and concepts through a variety of artwork, including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, arts, and crafts. A study of artists and their work will help students understand the techniques, skills, and diverse intentions of artists from many cultures and times. Students will focus on developing creative problem-solving skills, visual literacy, and personal expression.
Title:
Band 6
15310000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
This course provides beginning-level instruction on brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. No previous musical experience is required. The curriculum includes the development of fundamental skills, concepts, composition, cooperative learning, music as it relates to history and culture, and band techniques. The class will include an expectation for the purchase or rental of an instrument and individual practice at home. Concert performances will be an outgrowth of the study of musical concepts.
Title:
Chorus 6
15410000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop fundamental vocal musicianship, technical skills, and aesthetic awareness through the study and performance of varied middle school choral literature. The curriculum for Chorus 6 includes vocal technique, part singing, music fundamentals, and singing music of various historical and world styles through large and small group participation. Concert performances will be an outgrowth of the study of the musical concepts.
Title:
Music 6
15610000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
This is a course providing students with the opportunity to explore musical concepts and further their understanding of music through listening, singing, playing instruments, and engaging in creative activities.
Foreign Language
Title:
Spanish 6 Beginner Level
16500000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
Aligned with the district's vision, philosophy, and goals for world language education, this beginner course introduces students to the second language through high-quality learning experiences. Not only do students gain an understanding of what it means to learn a new language, they also experience progress over time and are likely to be motivated to continue language study. Students learn enough language to ensure that they will not be total beginners when they take another course in the same language. The goal of this course is to develop some language competence.
Physical Education
Title:
PE / Health 6
14401200
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
Enrollment in this course fulfills the regulation that all students will complete one quarter of physical education each year in grades 6 – 8 and all students will complete one quarter of health each year in grades 6 - 8. The content of the course will consist of both health and PE standards-based instruction.
Career and Tech
Title:
CareerEducation6
18300000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
This course introduces the students to the careers that are available to them after their education. Students are given a chance to research and explore various careers as well as learn about the skills that are needed for a particular occupation. During this time, the students are also introduced to the career clusters that are used in the district.
Title:
Keyboarding6
18510000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to master the skill of entering alphabetic, numeric, and symbolic information on a keyboard and a ten-key pad using the touch method of keystroking. Emphasis is placed on development of accuracy and speed, proper techniques, and correct fingering. Formatting of basic documents will be introduced.
Title:
Family&Consumer6
18580000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
Family and Consumer Sciences introduces students to relationship development skills, resources, home safety and security, childcare responsibilities, personal image strategies, basic food preparation techniques, and entrepreneurship opportunities.