Modified Family and Consumer Sciences

Welcome to Modified Family and Consumer Sciences! This course is designed for middle school students who benefit from a hands-on, modified curriculum focusing on practical skills for independent living.  Students will participate in activities that build self-care, cooking, communication, and job readiness. Lessons are tailored to individual learning needs and focus on real-world applications.

Course Overview

This Life Skills course is designed for middle school students who benefit from a hands-on, modified curriculum focusing on practical skills for independent living. Students will participate in activities that build self-care, cooking, money management, communication, and job readiness. Lessons are tailored to individual learning needs and focus on real-world applications.

Instruction is guided by:

• Each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals

• Prerequisite academic and functional skills

• Grade-level Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards, modified as appropriate

The primary goal of this course is to support meaningful progress towards student IEP goals, while also exposing students to grade level TEKS in a supportive, individualized, and highly structured environment.

Course Goals

By the end of this course, students will:

• Develop daily living skills to increase independence at home and in the community.

• Safely prepare and cook basic meals.

• Learn and practice workplace behaviors and basic job skills.

• Improve personal responsibility, self-advocacy, and communication skills.

Units of Study

1. Independent Living Skills

   • Personal hygiene & grooming

   • Laundry & clothing care

   • Basic household tasks and organization

   • Time management and daily routines

2. Cooking & Nutrition

   • Kitchen safety & sanitation

   • Reading recipes and following directions

   • Measuring, chopping, mixing, and cooking techniques

   • Preparing balanced meals and snacks

3. Job Skills Training

   • Workplace safety and expectations

   • Following directions and completing tasks

   • Teamwork and communication

   • Introduction to different types of jobs

Instructional Approach

Specially Designed Instruction in this course is individualized and may include but is not limited to:

• 1:1 and small group instruction

• Visuals, schedules, and hands-on activities

• Assistive technology and accommodations

• Positive behavior supports

• Functional skills integration across content areas

• Collaboration with related service providers (OT, PT, SLP, etc.)

Grading & Assessment

Students will be graded and assessed based on a combination of:

• Progress toward IEP goals

• Class participation and engagement

• Completion of modified and/or alternative assignments

• Informal observations and data collection

• Formal assessments as appropriate

Grades may reflect mastery of alternate/modified curriculum and will prioritize individual growth over standardized benchmarks.

Classroom Expectations

• Follow classroom rules and routines

• Try your best every day

• Respect yourself, others, and the learning environment

• Use kind words and safe hands

• Participate to the best of your ability

• Student Use of AI is limited to Magic Schools only

Positive reinforcement and proactive behavior support will be used daily. Antecedents and consequences outlined in a student's behavior intervention plan will also be utilized as outlined in their IEP. 

Communication

Families are key partners in student success! Communication may include:

• Emailed classroom updates

• Individual Communication logs or folders

• Phone calls or emails as needed

• Annual ARD meetings and parent conferences at request 

Please reach out at any time with questions or concerns.

Tutoring and Available Support Times

Tutoring outside of school hours is available at parent request and based entirely on teacher discretion and teacher availability. Attending tutoring sessions is not a requirement of this course. District staff are not permitted to privately tutor students for whom they assign grades, provide counseling, serve through special education or intervention services, assess, evaluate or diagnose. 

Make Up Work, Retest Procedures & Expectations

• Opportunities will be given for students to retest on graded assignments in which they earn below a 70% accuracy

• Students with an excused absence are allowed the same number of days to make up missed work and assessments as the number of days they were absent