Sixth Grade Extension & Elective Courses
English Language Arts Extension Courses
In addition to the core ELA course selection, students are required to select from one of the following ELA electives. (Due to the nature of the curriculum, students are expected to enroll in 2 ELA courses in each school year for 6th and 7th grade.) Students will be placed in this course based on prerequisites and demonstrated needs.
The school reserves the right to cancel any course if there is insufficient enrollment or if certified staff is unavailable to teach the course.
There may be additional material costs associated with these courses for which the student will be responsible.
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination )
Course No. OTAV6
Semesters 2
Prerequisite: application, interview, instructor approval
AVID is a structured college-readiness course designed to support students' development of inquiry, critical reading, and analytical writing skills. Each week, students in the AVID elective class engage in reading and writing curriculum, tutor-facilitated study groups, collaborative activities and academic success skills. The tools used in this course will help students to be more successful readers, writers, and thinkers in the more rigorous courses in which they will also be expected to enroll (i.e. Advanced and accelerated middle school offerings, Advanced, AP or Dual high school offerings). The AVID elective class reviews and then builds upon skills learned in prior years of AVID. Potential students will need to apply and interview before being accepted into the elective.
GT Independent Study
Course No. GTIS6
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: GT Identification
In this open-ended course offering, students will be allowed to design a project or course of learning according to their interests. The required components of this course will be research, reading, and writing. The work will culminate with a presentation of their work to an audience of peers, teachers, and middle school administrators.
Literacy Achievement
Course No. LITACH
Semesters: 1
Prerequisite: Documented weakness in reading (i.e. STAAR failure, etc…)
This course is designed to strengthen students’ reading and writing skills to ensure grade-level proficiency with academic tasks and expectations. Students enrolling in this course will have demonstrated a need for intervention on STAAR or other assessment or coursework. Through a wide variety of targeted experiences in reading and writing with authentic texts, students will build skills that will transfer to success on assessments.
Considerations: District data will be used to determine students in need of support and accelerated reading/writing intervention as per Senate Bill 1153. Enrollment in this course will supersede involvement in other electives such as AVID.
Project Language Arts (PLA)
Course No. OTPLA6
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: none
Students will develop their 21st century skill-set inspired by the GCISD’s Portrait of a Graduate lens and the new Texas ELA standards. Students will develop a love and passion for reading and writing while demonstrating their learning through creative performance-based assessments. Through this course, students will become effective communicators in an increasingly digital world.
English Learners Language Arts (ELLA)
Course No. ELLA1
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: Participate in ESL program; Beginner or Intermediate in TELPAS or LAS Links; 3 or less years in US Schools
In this course, students new to the English language will have the opportunity to build vocabulary and strengthen their English speaking, reading, and writing abilities. The design of this course will be to support ELL students in both social/conversational language acquisition and development of English skills to support content learning in other middle school coursework.
Considerations: This course is designed to support students who are newly acquiring the English language and will follow the newly adopted ELLA TEKS.
Essentials of Reading and Creative Writing - Modified
Course No. LA6ERW
Prerequisite: ARD/IEP Committee determination required.
This is a *modified English Language Arts (ELA) extension course that must be recommended by an ARD committee prior to a student’s enrollment in the course. The course is intended for students in need of a self-contained extension course who are not able to progress in a general ELA extension course without significant modifications to the TEKS. The course will provide students with opportunities to read and experience text linked to the grade level TEKS and to develop writing skills at their ability level based on the grade level styles of written work. Technology is embedded throughout the course along with access to a wide variety of literature genres. ARD/IEP Committee determination required
General Electives
Careers in Engineering and Coding
Course No. CTCEC
This course is recommended for students in Grade 6.
The goal of this course is to create a culture of high expectation and continuous improvement that provides middle school students with a foundation for success in high school, future studies, and careers. Students explore college and career planning within specific career cluster(s). The students research labor market information, learn job-seeking skills, and create documents required for employment. Students use self-knowledge to explore and set realistic goals. Districts have the flexibility of offering career exploration knowledge and skills in a variety of instructional arrangements.
Math Investigations I
Course No. MAINV1
Semesters: 1
Prerequisite: Documented need in mathematics
This course is recommended for students in Grade 6, 7 or 8.
This course is designed to strengthen students’ mathematics skills to ensure grade-level proficiency with academic tasks and expectations. Students enrolling in this course will have demonstrated a need for intervention on STAAR or other assessment or coursework. Through a wide variety of targeted experiences in mathematics, students will build skills that will transfer to success on assessments.
Considerations: This course is designed to support and accelerate students who have demonstrated needs in mathematics.
Math/Science Bridge (GMS only)
Course No. MSBR
Semesters: 2; Credits: 1
This course offers a blend of math and science curriculum that allows students to prepare for the rigors of accelerated coursework the following school year. Students who take this course will be expected to enroll in accelerated math and science classes in 6th grade with the goal to enroll in accelerated math and science classes in 7th grade. Students that enroll and complete the course successfully may automatically enroll in the STEM program the following year.
Study Skills
Course No. OTSS
Semesters: 2
Prerequisite: ARD/IEP Committee determination required.
This course is designed to help students master the basic skills necessary to become competent learners. The myriad number of topics will include all of the basic study skills, critical thinking with Bloom’s Taxonomy, learning styles, communication, goal setting and problem solving principles. Emphasis is placed on academic skills, note taking, cursive writing, teamwork and leadership fundamentals. ARD/IEP Committee determination required.
Art I
Course No. FAA6
Art is designed for students with strong interests in exploring many art disciplines and media. Each area of study focuses on critical thinking and problem solving as students develop their artistic skills. There is an emphasis on art history, multi-cultural events, and customs through varied art projects. Areas of study are drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fibers, papermaking, paper mache, and computer technology. There may be additional material costs associated with this course for which the student will be responsible.
THEATRE ARTS
Theatre I
Course No. FAT6
Theatre I at the 6th grade level is a beginning Creative Dramatics class. It introduces young performers to blocking, stage movement, and projection through ensemble collaboration. Performers gain self-confidence, and develop speaking, presentation and problem solving skills. Creative dramatics leads students into self-expression and communication in a dramatic form. Units covered may include acting, improvisation, mime and movement, puppetry, storytelling, ensemble, and team building.
MUSIC
This course provides students with a general overview into the realm of music. Emphasis is placed on basic music reading and performance etiquette.
Choir - Beginning Tenor-Bass
Course No. FACTB
Semesters: 2
This is the beginning choir and requires no audition.
The program strives to allow students to gain musical Knowledge in a supportive and creative environment. Emphasis is placed on proper singing techniques, music reading skills, and performance etiquette. These students participate in curriculum-based school-sponsored concerts on a regular basis and have the opportunity to engage in field trips, choir competitions and other extra activities. Rehearsals may be required outside of class time prior to some performances. Required Materials/Fees for choir vary per campus to cover the needed performance uniform.
Choir - Beginning Treble
Course No. FACT
Semesters: 2
This is the beginning choir and requires no audition.
The program strives to allow students to gain musical Knowledge in a supportive and creative environment. Emphasis is placed on proper singing techniques, music reading skills, and performance etiquette. These students participate in curriculum-based school-sponsored concerts on a regular basis and have the opportunity to engage in field trips, choir competitions and other extra activities. Rehearsals may be required outside of class time prior to some performances.
Required Materials/Fees for choir vary per campus to cover the needed performance uniform.
BAND
Various Course Numbers
Semesters: 2
The Beginning Band program introduces the student to his/her musical instrument and spends the first year in small instrument-specific classes teaching basic fundamentals of playing instruments. The beginning band performs at the annual Winter Concert, Solo & Ensemble Concert, Spring Concert, and Spring Music competition. Discipline, teamwork, and positive self-esteem are stressed. Parents of students selected for beginning band will be contacted by the band director to set up an appointment to decide which instrument is best for the child. Instrument choice is determined by physical characteristics, desire of the student, and needs of the band program. Most parents obtain instruments through a rental program, designated instruments are available through the school for a fee of $50 per semester.