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 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.
Ralph Chandler Middle School
Rising 6th Grade
Student Registration
Welcome to your first year at Ralph Chandler Middle School! Starting middle school is a big step. It means you’re getting older and moving up! We look forward to providing you with a safe, nurturing, and structured learning environment. We are excited about working as a team to have a successful school year. This catalog is meant to provide you with important information regarding the registration process as we begin the transition to middle school!
Students and parents will have access to PowerSchool Registration via the student portal beginning Monday, March 4th and ending Friday, March 8th. During this time students may request their elective choices for the 2013-2014 school year. This time also provides parents an opportunity to view their child’s academic course recommendations.
Academic Course Placement:
Ralph Chandler Middle School has a 6 period day which is made up of 4 core academic periods and 2 elective periods. Your child’s 5th grade teacher(s) will make recommendations for your child in the areas of English and Math based on criteria determined by the School District of Greenville County. Core academic courses offered at Ralph Chandler include:
English
English GT – Must meet district criteria & identified as Gifted and Talented.
English Studies
Math
Math 7 for 6th graders – Must meet district criteria
Math 6
Science
Social Studies
Parents who have questions or concerns about a recommendation in the areas of English or Math should contact your student’s 5th grade teacher or counselor. All teacher recommendations are tentative and will be made based on meeting the defined promotion criteria. Adjustments will be made at the end of the school year if summer school or retention is recommended. Any parent wanting to override a recommendation should contact his/her student’s 5th grade teacher or counselor.
Elective Requests:
Sixth grade students can choose from the following elective courses:
Semester Long Courses Year Long Courses
Art Band
Gateway to Technology Strings
Computer Technology
Spanish 6 Beginner Level
Drama
The following are two different examples of the number of electives you can request.
Ex. One: When choosing only semester long courses, choose 3 courses.
Choice 1: Art
Choice 2: Gateway to Technology
Choice 3: Spanish 6 Beginner Level
Ex. Two: When choosing a year long course, choose 1 other semester course.
Choice 1: Band
Choice 2: Computer Technology
Please view the rest of the catalog for course descriptions and academic levels.
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English
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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.
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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.
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Math
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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.
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Title:
Math 7 for 6th Graders
21100900
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Must meet district criteria including Teacher recommendation
The emphasis in this standards-based seventh-grade course is on algebraic thinking and on extending the understanding of the real number system to include integers, rational numbers, and irrational numbers. Students will investigate applications of number theory and will acquire skills in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers. Students will solve applied problems by using one-step equations and inequalities, percents, and proportional reasoning. Students will develop algebraic thinking by analyzing patterns to discover relationships, by representing information through symbolic, graphical, and tabular methods, and by identifying relationships that are linear. Throughout the course there is an emphasis on the process standards of problem-solving, communication, reasoning, representations, and connections.
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Science
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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.
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Social Studies
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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.
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Arts
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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.
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Title:
Drama 6
15210000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
This course explores theater arts through the use of creative dramatics, diction, vocal expression, improvisation, dramatization, technical theatre, audience etiquette, and theatre appreciation. Performances will be an outgrowth of study.
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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.
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Title:
Strings 6
15510000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
This course provides beginning-level instruction on violin, viola, cello, and string bass. 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 string techniques. The class will include an expectation for the purchase or rental of an instrument and individual practice at home. Some larger instruments are available at the school, and parents should coordinate with the director for their use. Concert performances will be an outgrowth of the study of musical concepts.
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Foreign Language
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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.
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Physical Education
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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.
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Career and Tech
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Title:
GTT6DesignModel
28410000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Teacher Recommendation
This unit uses solid modeling (a very sophisticated mathematical technique for representing solid objects) to introduce students to the design process. Utilizing this design approach, students understand how solid modeling has influenced their lives. Students also learn sketching techniques, and use descriptive geometry as a component of design, measurement, and computer modeling. Using design briefs or abstracts, students create models and documentation to solve problems.
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Miscellaneous
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Title:
Computer Tech 6
17010000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Keyboarding skills
This course provides the student an opportunity to work with word processing, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations.
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English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
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Title:
ESOL 6
17990300
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Guidance Placement
This course is designed for the student who has a primary language other than English, and is not proficient in listening, speaking, reading, writing, or comprehension in the English speaking classroom. Instruction will be provided in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension to assist students in classrooms where English is the language of instruction. Students will receive skills to aid in the transition to all academic areas, as well as help in the preparation for middle school formal tests. Limited English proficiency should be determined by an approved language assessment instrument.
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