Thomas W. Pyle Middle School

Incoming 7th Grade Parent Meeting

Welcome and Introductions – Jennifer Webster & Mike Kryder

Format for the evening

Transition from 6th to 7th grade

Counselors- Rebecca Bloom & Nancy Egan

Curriculum Overviews

Team Leaders - Sandra Gallagher, George Martin and Pam Lever

Department Chairs - Bill Falatko, Stacy Levy and Kristen Tessier

7th Grade Articulation Process – Mike Kryder

6th grade teacher recommendations

Placement questions

Counselors support

Administrative support

Communication handout

Registration

Our current 7th Graders Joelle & Ari

6th grade

wisdom that

helped in 7th

grade

Perspective &

comments Students at an elementary school

7th Grade Similarities - Sandra Gallagher, Pam Lever & George Martin

Similarities between 6th and 7th grade

Differences from 6th to 7th grade

Strategies learned in

6th grade that help in

7th grade & beyond

Seventh grade

team meetings

Students working together

Students Daily Schedule – Rebecca Bloom &Nancy Egan, Counselors

7 periods on the schedule

5 core subjects (English, Math, Science, World Studies, PE/Health)

2 elective periods (Foreign Language, Arts classes, and by teacher recommendation- ESOL, Reading, or Resource)

See the registration booklet for course descriptions

Students syncing up

Selecting Classes for 2 elective periods Rebecca Bloom &Nancy Egan, Counselors

2 full year electives

Example: 5 core classes, foreign language, band

1 full year & 2 semester electives

Example: 5 core classes, foreign language, FACS, specialty art

4 semester electives

Example: 5 core classes, studio art, digital photography/desktop publishing, exploratory theatre, gateway to technology A

Reading & 1 full year or 2 semester electives

Example: 5 core classes, resource, reading, ESOL, and TV studio, specialty art

Registration Form – Top Rebecca Bloom &Nancy Egan, Counselors

Registration Form - Bottom Rebecca Bloom &Nancy Egan, Counselors

Physical Education - William Falatko, P.E. Chair

Required class, 3 marking periods http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/physed/middle/

Learn about physical activity (fitness & movement)

Gain motor skills & personal development

Improve health related fitness

Variety of individual and team sports, games,

and activities (cognitive concepts)

Promote a lifelong physically fit lifestyle

Health Education 7 – William Falatko, P.E. Chair

Implemented through Physical Education

9 week course, separate grade

MCPS curriculum in a classroom setting

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/

health/

Focus on alcohol & other drugs,

Project Alert, first aid

Information meeting in the fall

Pyle 5k Run

Arts Electives – William Falatko, Arts Chair

Semester Arts Classes

FACS

Theatre

Gateway to Technology A

Digital Photography/

Desktop Publishing

Specialty Art

Studio Art

TV Studio

Full Year Arts Classes

Music

Band

Orchestra

Chorus

Drama Performance

Gateway to Technology A/B

Yearbook

Pre-Engineering Pathways

Accelerated Pre-Engineering Pathway

Pre-Engineering Pathway

Introduction to Design

& 3-D Modeling:

Grade 6: 9 weeks

Gateway to

Technology – A

Grade 7: semester

Gateway to

Technology – B

Grade 8: semester

Introduction to

Engineering Design:

Grade 9: full year

Introduction to Design

& 3-D Modeling:

Grade 6: 9 weeks

Gateway to

Technology – A & B

Grade 7: full year

Other HS or AP

credit courses

Principles of

Engineering:

Grade 9: full year Introduction to

Engineering Design:

Grade 8: full year

Math Courses & Placement - Stacy Levy, Math Department Chair

Students are placed in math classes

based on the following criteria:

Teacher recommendation

Success in previous math class-grades,

assessments, work study habits, etc.

County and state assessments

Student and Parent Input

Students working together

7th Grade Math Courses

Math 7

IM

Algebra

Honors Geometry

Math Courses and Placement - Stacy Levy, Math Department Chair

Math & Foreign Language Night Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Pumpkin Drop 2011

7th Grade English/Reading Classes - Sandra Gallagher, Team Leader

English Course Placement

Advanced 7

English 7

Reading 7 (by teacher recommendation)

ESOL 6th grade teachers recommend on basis of

MSA & MAP-R Scores

Grades

Other available data

English Class

Overview of 7th Grade English - Sandra Gallagher, Team Leader

Forging New Connections

Identity

Sense of Place

Voices from the Past

Imagination

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Students working together

Science – George Martin, Dept. Chair

7th Grade Science - Investigations in Science

Unit 1: Hydroponics - Structure/Characteristics of Living Things

Unit 2: Chemistry of Life - Biochemistry/Body systems

Unit 3: Diseases - Genetic disorders/Biotechnology

Unit 4: Forensics - Biotechnology

Science Experiment

Project Based

Science Experiment

World Studies – Pam Lever, Team Leader

7th Grade Advanced World Studies - Unit 1: Foundations of Modern

Political Systems

Unit 2: The Influence of

Culture in Africa

Unit 3: Geography Shapes

in Latin America

Unit 4: The Impact of Economics:

One World Past & Present

Students working on a project

If student took WL in 6th grade:

Student will

normally continue

on to the next level

Project Presentation

World Language - Kristen Tessier, Dept. Chair

Diversity Doort

7th Grade students who did not take WL in 6th grade may choose to:

Take French or Spanish 1AB

Take French or Spanish 1A

Take Chinese 1AB (depends on enrollment and staffing)

World Language - Kristen Tessier, Dept. Chair

Presentation

Students working in the hall

1AB vs 1A Both are high school courses for high

school credit and will appear on the student’s high school transcript

Both start from the very beginning and no prior knowledge of the language is required

Neither class is designed for native / semi-native speakers

World Language - Kristen Tessier, Dept. Chair

1AB vs 1A Same as HS - 1 credit

Fast paced - 9 units

Requires excellent study habits / organizational skills

Student should have interest in WL and be motivated

Same as HS -

½ credit

Slower paced - one

semester of

material spread out

over entire year- 4

to 5 units

World Language - Kristen Tessier, Dept. Chair

World Language Pathways 6th

Grade

7th

Grade

8th

Grade

9th

Grade

10th

Grade

11th

Grade

12th

Grade

Option

#1

Reading Elective Elective 1AB 2 3 4

Option

#2

Reading Elective 1AB 2 3 4 5

Option

#3

Reading 1A 1B 2 3 4 5

Option

#4

Reading 1AB

2 3 4 5 AP

Option

#5

1A 1B 2 3 4 5 AP

Option

#6

1AB

2 3 4 5 AP

Lang

AP

Lit.

Extra Curricular Activities - Mike Kryder

Variety of activities

Opportunity to explore interests

Find the balance of academics and extra curricular

Registration is on-line

Fall Showcase Night

Important Registration Dates – Rebecca Bloom &Nancy Egan, Counselors

February 17th – deadline for registration forms to English teacher

April 12th – pre-registration course selections will be distributed with third quarter report cards

May 4th – deadline for parents to send an email or letter to Mrs. Webster requesting a reexamination of placement recommendations

Closure – Mike Kryder

Upcoming Dates Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 7:00pm – Arts Showcase Night

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 7:00 pm – Math & World

Language Night

Copy of the this PowerPoint

will be on the Pyle webpage

Copy of the Arts PowerPoint

highlighting the different

offerings will be on the

Pyle webpage