Special Education

Note: The student must be receiving services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in order to take Special Education classes.

Special Education Academic Courses

Grades: 9 - 12

The Special Education Department offers all required academic courses in English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Elective classes in Academic Career Experience, Life Skills, and Study Skills are also offered. Special Education courses offer individualized instruction with the goal of preparing students to enter general education classes and to prepare for future employment and training. The IEP committee chooses a combination of general education and special education classes that best meets the needs and abilities of the student.

Note: The student must currently be receiving gifted services through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to enroll in these courses.

0631G - Academic Career Experience (ACE) I

Grades: 10-12

Through work experiences as supported by portfolio, the student explores personal and career interests, aptitudes and abilities. Personal management of time, health, and finances are also included. The necessary components of a productive and successful

career are examined: technical knowledge, responsible and ethical behavior, and goal setting. Literacy strategies are integrated

throughout the course. Standards and skills are acquired through course and/or work experiences and demonstrated in a cumulative ACE portfolio. Minimum requirements are documentation of time sheets, evaluation, work site agreement, and proof of APS insurance where applicable.

0634G - Academic Career Experience (ACE) II

Prerequisite: Successful Completion of ACE I

Grades 11-12

The student develops career decision-making and employability skills to gain an understanding of workplace cultures and expectations. The student develops an understanding of the competing demands and responsibilities that are part of the world of work and learn how to balance those roles in his/her own life. The ability to work well with others; understand complex interrelationships; work with a variety of technologies; acquire and use information; organize, plan, and allocate resources; and safety are included in the curriculum and evidenced through a portfolio. Literacy strategies are integrated throughout the course. Standards and skills are acquired through course and/or work experiences and demonstrated in a cumulative ACE portfolio. Minimum requirements are documentation of time sheets, evaluation, work site agreement, and proof of APS insurance where applicable.

0637G - Academic Career Experience (ACE) III

Prerequisite: Successful Completion of ACE II

Grades:12

In ACE III, the student continues to develop career decision-making and employability skills to further expand and gain in depth understanding of workplace cultures and expectations. The student demonstrates an understanding of the competing demands and responsibilities that are part of the world of work and, and learns how to balance those roles in his or her own life. The ability to work well with others; understand complex interrelationships; work with a variety of technologies; acquire and use information; organize, plan, and allocate resources; and safety are included in the curriculum and evidenced through a portfolio. Literacy strategies are integrated throughout the course. Standards and skills are acquired through course and/or work experiences and demonstrated in a cumulative ACE portfolio. Minimum requirements are documentation of time sheets, evaluation, work site agreement, and proof of APS insurance where applicable.

063GB - Great Books I

Grades 9-12

Great Books I is an elective course in which the student examines a variety of literature and texts considered to be relevant within the history of human thought. The student studies and considers a broad spectrum of themes and perspectives across a variety of traditional texts while making connections between themselves, his/her peers, and society. Although there may be a wide variety of supplemental and anticipatory activities, Great Books I combines Great Books materials and the Shared Inquiry™ method. The Great Books curriculum develops thinking and language together through interactive learning; develops oral language and literacy through appropriately challenging learning; draws on literature from many genres, time periods, and cultures; emphasizes writing as an essential way to develop, clarify, and communicate ideas in persuasive, expository, literary, and expressive discourse; provides for literacy in all forms of media, embeds skills instruction in meaningful learning; teaches the strategies necessary for acquiring academic knowledge and attaining independence in learning; builds on the language, experiences, strategies, and interests that the student brings to school; and develops each student’s distinctive writing or speaking voice.

063G2 - Great Books II

Grades 10-12

Great Books II is an elective course in which the student builds on literary analysis and discussion skills from Great Books I in order to examine a wider variety of literature and texts. The student is expected to develop skills for an increasing leadership role during discussion and text selection as well as to begin to examine sustained themes across increasingly more complicated texts. The student is also encouraged to expand the definition of relevant texts across cultures and non-traditional formats. Students study and consider a broad spectrum of themes and perspectives across a variety of texts while making connections between themselves, their peers, and society. Although there may be a wide variety of supplemental and anticipatory activities, Great Books combines Great Books materials and the Shared Inquiry™ method. The Great Books curriculum develops thinking and language together through interactive learning; develops oral language and literacy through appropriately challenging learning; draws on literature from many genres, time periods, and cultures; emphasizes writing as an essential way to develop, clarify, and communicate ideas in persuasive, expository, literary, and expressive discourse; provides for literacy in all forms of media, embeds skills instruction in meaningful learning; teaches the strategies necessary for acquiring academic knowledge and attaining independence in learning; builds on the language, experiences, strategies, and interests that the student brings to school; and develops each student’s distinctive writing or speaking voice.

063GC - Contemporary Issues I

Grades 9-12

The Gifted Contemporary Issues I class is a Social Studies elective course designed to provide the student with an up-to-date view of the world around us. Emphasis is placed on analysis of real-world issues that have a direct impact on students’ lives. The student focuses on improving geographic knowledge, reading, writing, and vocabulary skills as a means for understanding important issues and communicating facts and his or her ideas and opinions to others.

063GD - Contemporary Issues II

Grades 10-12

Contemporary Issues II is a gifted elective course designed to provide the student with an up-to-date view of the world around us. Emphasis is placed on an analysis of real-world issues that have a direct impact on students’ lives. In Contemporary Issues II the student has experiences with Problem Solving Model and selects topics of study that are global, complex, or controversial. The student improves geographic knowledge, and develops Further reading, writing, and vocabulary skills as a means for understanding important issues and communicating facts, ideas, and opinions to others.

503001 - Guided Study (Introduction to Poetry)

Grades 9-12

Year-long course; 1 credit

Introduction to Poetry is a representative study of poetic forms and poetry from around the world. Through a close examination of

the poetry, we will explore the evolution of poetic form, literary movements and the wide range of themes addressed through poetry.

As we examine each work, we will be discussing their historical, cultural, and social influences. Students will create their own

chapbook of original poetry as a summative assessment for each semester. This class is part of The Schoolwide Enrichment Model

(SEM) is a tool for total school improvement that allows each school to keep its unique characteristics, personality, and culture. It is

a research-based model with roots in gifted education, and goals to provide challenging, high-end learning – enjoyable for all students.