Middle School Advanced Learning Program
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The Middle School Advanced Learning Coordinator services all three middle school buildings in Lakeville Area Schools. Honors courses help to meet the needs of advanced learners in core content areas by enriching and extending the curriculum. Eligibility for advanced courses are determined yearly. Listed below are the honors courses available to middle school students. Course descriptions can be found below.
Middle School Honors Courses
Grade 6
- Honors Math 6/Honors Pre-Algebra
- Communications Seminar
- Language Arts SeminarGrade 7
- Honors Math 7/Honors Algebra
- Honors Communications 7
- Honors Language Arts 7
- Honors Life ScienceGrade 8
- Honors Algebra/Geometry
- Honors English 8
- Honors Earth Science
Progress Monitoring
Student progress will be evaluated continuously to determine each student’s appropriate course placement throughout their three years in middle school. A student who does not consistently demonstrate proficiency on summarive assessments for course standards in an honors course will be re-evaluated and placed in an appropriate level course. Being placed in an Honors course in one grade does not guarantee placement in Honors courses in subsequent years. If a student does not gain placement immediately in an honors course, they CAN be considered in the future. All students are reviewed annually for honors course placement.
Information on Honors Course Subjects
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Mathematics
Three tiers of math are available for 6th graders:
- Math 6
- Honors Math 6
- Honors Pre- Algebra.
All three tiers use the McDougall Littell math series and use our school district’s Essential Learnings, the MN State Standards and MCA specifications as their curricular base.
The Honors Math 6 course uses the Math 2 textbook. The Honors Pre-Algebra course uses the Math 3 textbook. Honors math teachers implement advanced concepts, assignments, and teaching strategies to present the students with a rigorous course of study that will further develop and enhance their mathematical abilities.
Honors Math 6
To qualify for Honors Math 6, students must meet two of the following three criteria:
- A score in the 90-96th percentile on the Fall 5th Grade Mathematics MAP
- A score in the 90-96th percentile on the Winter 5th Grade Mathematics MAP
- A 4th or 5th grade quantitative CogAT score at the 90th percentile or higher
Students in Honors Math 6 will likely follow this mathematics course progression:
- Honors Math 6
- Honors Math 7
- Honors Algebra 1
Students will then be able to “skip” Intermediate Algebra in high school and enroll directly in Geometry or an appropriately challenging high school course.
Honors Pre-Algebra
To qualify for Honors Pre-Algebra, students must meet the following criteria:
- A score in the 97th-99th percentile on the Fall 5th Grade Mathematics MAP test OR a score in the 97th-99th percentile on the Winter 5th Grade Mathematics MAP test.
- A 4th or 5th grade quantitative CogAT score at or above the 90th percentile or above OR a nonverbal and quantitative composite CogAT score at the 90th percentile or above.
Students in the sixth grade Honors Pre-Algebra course will likely follow this mathematics course progression:
- Honors Pre-Algebra
- Honors Algebra 1
- Honors Geometry (High School Credit and GPA impact)
In the spring of the 6th grade and 7th grade years, all students will be reviewed for honors classes for the next grade level. Being placed in an Honors course in one grade does not guarantee placement in Honors courses in subsequent years.
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English/Language Arts/Communications
Incoming 6th grade Ignite!/Discover and previously identified gifted students will be placed in the Language Arts and Communications “Seminar” classes. William and Mary curricular units designed to meet the needs of gifted students are integrated and taught by core Communications and Language Arts classroom teachers. Additional curriculum modifications and enrichments occur throughout the year to serve high ability students by providing higher levels of rigor and complexity around the same standards as regular courses.
In the spring of the 6th grade and 7th grade years, all students will be reviewed for honors class placement for the next grade level. Being placed in Seminar or Honors courses in one grade does not guarantee placement in Honors courses in subsequent years.
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Science
Honors Life Science and Honors Earth Science are available in 7th and 8th grade, respectively. Students can be enrolled in these courses if they show strong reading and math test scores and show readiness to engage in more rigorous content and to work on advanced topics at an accelerated pace.
In the spring of the 6th grade and 7th grade years, all students are reviewed for honors science classes for the next grade level.
Being placed in an Honors course in one grade does not guarantee placement in Honors courses in following years.
Contact
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Leslie Eggan
Middle Level (5-9) Advanced Learning Coordinator
Leslie.Eggan@isd194.org
952-232-2086
Helpful Links for Parents and Students
- Center for Talent Development Summer Program
- Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth
- Free Programming Classes at U of M for Kids
- Center for Talent Development Northwestern University
- Northwestern University Academic Talent Search
- SENG Online Parent Support Groups
- Math Opportunities at University of Minnesota (UMTYMP)
- Minnesota History Day Research