Folks Middle School 6th Grade Guide

2021-2022

6th Grade Course Selections

6th graders will enroll in each of the following content areas:

ELA or *ELA Advanced or *ELA GT
Math or Math Advanced (Must take Advanced to be in Algebra 1 in 8th Grade)
Science or Science GT
World Cultures or World Cultures GT
PE or Dance 1
**Advisory or Robotics (CLOSED) or AVID (CLOSED)
Elective Course

*Students who select ELA Advanced or ELA GT must complete a summer reading project. (Summer Project Info Attached Below)

**Advisory supports students as they transition to middle school. Advisory is designed to encourage students to develop intellectually and strive for personal excellence through goal setting, character education, and academic support.

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ADVANCED COURSES

6th graders have two Advanced options: ELA Advanced and/or Math Advanced.

Northside offers many Advanced courses to middle school students. Participation in advanced academic courses is a foundation of college readiness. Students who participate in advanced coursework are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in college and typically have higher grades in college.

Northside ISD recognizes the value of student participation in rigorous academic coursework and encourages students to graduate from high school with at least one advanced academic course credit such as Advanced Placement. Our collective purpose is to ensure

student success in middle school Advanced courses and provide opportunities for higher levels of learning in future grades.

Advanced courses are intended to develop students’ literacy, problem-solving skills, and analysis. These middle school classes are designed to challenge students through rigorous instruction and complex learning tasks in order to prepare them for success in future Advanced classes, AP classes, and college courses.

***If you would like for your student to earn high school algebra 1 credit in 8th grade, your student must follow the sequence below:

Gifted and Talend

Identified GT students may choose ONE GT content course each year in:

English Language Arts or
Science or
Social Studies.

Each year’s course selection is independent of the previous year. GT courses emphasize strategies such as depth and complexity, creative problem solving, and critical thinking. These strategies are integrated throughout the curriculum in order to foster leadership and maximize opportunities for independent thinking.

In addition to GT content courses, students may also select math Advanced courses in which both enrichment and acceleration opportunities are available.

Course selection is not guaranteed due to campus enrollment and staffing. Please give careful consideration to GT content selection.

***To request for your child to be GT tested in 6th grade, please contact: margaret.totah@nisd.net

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6th Grade Electives

6th graders will have one elective class and will be in this class for the entire school year. Due to class sizes and teacher assignments, Folks cannot guarantee a student's first choice. Students will select two alternative courses for this reason.

6th Grade Elective Options:

Beginning Band
Beginning Orchestra
Intermediate Orchestra
Beginning Choir
Beginning Theatre
Dance 1
Beginning Art

Beginning Band #6017

Band Beginner Level is designed to teach students how to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. No prior music experience or knowledge is required. Students will learn to read music, produce good tone quality, learn rhythm skills, and perform music. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Band concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Instructor: Carolyn Ireland -- carolyn.ireland@nisd.net

Beginning Orchestra #6079

Orchestra Beginner Level is designed to teach students how to play a violin, viola, cello, or string bass instrument. No prior music experience or knowledge is required. Students will learn to read music, produce good tone quality, learn rhythm skills, and perform music. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Orchestra concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Instructor: Rachel Dowdy -- rachel.dowdy@nisd.net

Intermediate Orchestra #6086

Orchestra Intermediate Level is designed for students to continue developing music fundamentals on violin, viola, cello, and string bass instruments introduced in

the beginner level class. Orchestra literature is more advanced and promotes increased teamwork, kinesthetic development, expression, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Orchestra concerts include music of all styles. Students earn awards for individual and ensemble mastery of skills.

*6th graders may only enroll in intermediate orchestra if they are currently in 5th grade strings.

Instructor: Rachel Dowdy -- rachel.dowdy@nisd.net

Beginning Treble Choir #6401 or Beginning Tenor/Bass #6402

This course is designed to teach students how to sing properly. No prior music experience or knowledge is required. Girls are assigned to the Treble Choir and boys are assigned to the Tenor Bass Choir. Students learn to read music, produce good tone quality, learn rhythm skills, and perform. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Choir concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Beginning Theatre #6609

Beginning Theatre is an introductory theatre course designed for the student to experience the basic elements of drama. No previous theatre or drama experience is required. Beginning acting and technical theatre techniques will be explored along with the basic skills needed to create a theatrical performance.

Dance 1 #6810

The first dance course in middle school is designed to give students the opportunity to develop and execute beginner skills in ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, musical theatre dance, and world dance forms. Various dance genres and styles will be explored while improving students’ technique, self-confidence, creative ability, and concept of wellness. Dance students will have ensemble performance opportunities. No prior dance experience is required.

*Middle School Dance may be taken as an elective, or as a fulfillment of the PE requirement. Students who wish to use MS Dance to fulfill the PE requirement should NOT enroll in this course, but should rather enroll in Dance MS 1 PE (#5091)

Instructor: Brittany Valdez --brittany.valdez@nisd.net

Beginning Art #6910

Beginner Art MS 1 is concept-based. Curriculum units include drawing, painting, printmaking, three-dimensional art forms, fiber, and digital art. Content will include student originality and creativity.