- M/J Intensive Language Arts (MC) (#1000000): The purpose of this course is to provide instruction that enables students to accelerate the development of reading and writing skills and to strengthen those skills so they are able to successfully read and write middle grade level text independently. Instruction emphasizes reading comprehension, writing fluency, and vocabulary study through the use of a variety of literary and informational texts encompassing a broad range of text structures, genres, and levels of complexity. Texts used for instruction focus on a wide range of topics, including content-area information, in order to support students in meeting the knowledge demands of increasingly complex text. Students enrolled in the course will engage in interactive text-based discussion, question generation, and research opportunities. They will write in response to reading and cite evidence when answering text dependent questions orally and in writing. The course provides extensive opportunities for students to collaborate with their peers. Scaffolding is provided as necessary as students engage in reading and writing with increasingly complex text and is decreased as the reading and writing abilities of students improve over time.
Important Note: Reading and writing courses should not be used in place of English language arts courses; reading and writing courses are intended to be used to supplement further study in English language arts.
The Intensive courses have been designed for the teacher to select and teach only the appropriate standards corresponding to a student's grade level and/or instructional needs. The courses should not be used in place of grade level English/Language Arts courses and are intended to provide intervention for students who have reading deficiencies. - M/J Language Arts 3 (#1001070):
This course defines what students should understand and be able to do by the end of 8th grade. Knowledge acquisition should be the primary purpose of any reading approach as the systematic building of a wide range of knowledge across domains is a prerequisite to higher literacy. At this grade level, students are building their facility with rhetoric, the craft of using language in writing and speaking, using classic literature, essays, and speeches as mentor texts.
The benchmarks in this course are mastery goals that students are expected to attain by the end of the year. To build mastery, students will continue to review and apply earlier grade-level benchmarks and expectations.
- M/J Language Arts 3 Advanced (#1001080): This course defines what students should understand and be able to do by the end of the grade level. Knowledge acquisition should be the primary purpose of any reading approach. The systematic building of a wide range of knowledge across domains is a prerequisite to higher literacy. At this grade level, students are building their facility with rhetoric, the craft of using language in writing and speaking, using classic literature, essays, and speeches as mentor texts.
- M/J Language Arts 3 Through ESOL (#1002020): The purpose of this course is to enable students who are native speakers of languages other than English to develop proficient listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in the English language. Emphasis will be on acquisition of integrated English communication skills in a wide range of content and activities using texts of high complexity to ensure college and career preparation and readiness.
This course defines what students should understand and be able to do by the end of 8th grade. Knowledge acquisition should be the primary purpose of any reading approach as the systematic building of a wide range of knowledge across domains is a prerequisite to higher literacy. At this grade level, students are building their facility with rhetoric, the craft of using language in writing and speaking, using classic literature, essays, and speeches as mentor texts.
The benchmarks in this course are mastery goals that students are expected to attain by the end of the year. To build mastery, students will continue to review and apply earlier grade-level benchmarks and expectations.
- M/J English Language Development (MC) (#1002180): The purpose of this course is to enable middle school students who are native speakers of languages other than English to accelerate the development of communication and literacy skills that will promote English proficiency. This course will strengthen English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills so that students are able to successfully comprehend middle school grade-level text independently, as well as communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting. Instruction will emphasize reading comprehension, writing fluency, and academic vocabulary through various levels of complexity. Texts used for instruction focus on a wide range of topics in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and academic language in order to support students in meeting the knowledge demands of increasingly complex text. Students enrolled in the course will engage in interactive text-based discussion, question generation, and research opportunities, as well as cite evidence when answering text-dependent questions orally and in writing. Scaffolding is provided as necessary as students engage in reading and writing increasingly complex text. Explicit support is decreased or removed progressively as the reading and writing abilities of the students improve over time. The course will also provide extensive opportunities for students to learn English by communicating and collaborating with their teachers and peers for social and acculturation purposes.
The multiple credit course is a multi-grade-level elective that should be designed with the following student considerations:
- grade-level content
- proficiency level in English
- instructional needs
This course should be tailored to meet the needs of the individual student.
- M/J Speech and Debate 3 (#1007020): The purpose of this course is to develop grade 8 students' awareness, understanding, and application of language arts as it applies to oral communication concepts and strategies in a variety of given settings. Some activities may be required outside of the school day.
- M/J Creative Writing 3 (#1009020): The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop and use writing and language skills for creative expression in a variety of literary forms. Emphasis will be on development of a personal writing style.
- M/J Library Skills/Information Literacy (MC) (#1100000):
- Access M/J Language Arts 3 (#7810013): Access Courses:
Access courses are for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Access courses are designed to provide students access to grade-level general curriculum. Access points are alternate academic achievement standards included in access courses that target the salient content of Florida’s standards. Access points are intentionally designed to academically challenge students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
- M/J Writing 3 (#1009050): The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop and use grade-level developmental writing and language skills in a variety of writing formats for argumentative, informative, and literary analysis purposes.
In grades 6-8, analysis and writing are the primary foci. Rhetoric is introduced in 6th grade. In this grade band, students go from explaining theme to analyzing it. Students progress from examining character perspective to working with complex narrator types. Students are also being introduced to literature from historic time periods. This framework should help students in building a body of knowledge useful in being able to interpret multiple layers of meaning.
- M/J Journalism 3 (#1006020): The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop skills in the production of journalism across print, multimedia, web, and broadcast/radio platforms and to become aware of journalism history, careers, ethics use, and management techniques related to the production of journalistic media.