Electives

In cooperation with The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Outdoor Tomorrow Foundation, students will participate in a variety of activities that will enhance their enjoyment of outdoor life skills.  Activities may include, but are not limited to:

Survival skills, outdoor cooking, fishing, first aid camping set up, archery, hunters education, boating, orienteering, backpacking, knot tying, tracking.

This course explores a variety of foreign languages in an introductory way. Some of the languages students will be introduced to include Spanish, French, Latin and German. Simple introductions, numbers, time, and everyday objects will be identified. On some campuses this course is offered as a one semester elective course (FL7201).

Gateway to Technology is a year-long elective course which uses a hands-on approach to show students how technology is used in engineering to solve everyday problems and to expose students to a broad overview of the field of technology and its related processes. The instructional units motivate students to use their imaginations and teaches them to be creative and innovative. This math, science and technology integrated program relates technologyto students’ daily lives, while helping them develop skills that will enable them to be better prepared for a rigorous academic high school curriculum. Credit will be given toward graduation requirements. *This is a GPA exempt course.

This course creates practical and special speaking/performance situations, which enable the student to build confidence, poise, and acquire skills of communication for more effective citizenship. Pantomime, tableau, and monologue are introduced to free imagination and develop basic techniques. This course is also offered at some campuses as a one-semester elective course (LA7276).

The eighth grade AVID Elective course is the year of preparation for high school. The students will regularly exhibit and utilize the skills and strategies learned in the seventh grade AVID courses. Students will refine previous goals, focusing on their transition to high school as part of college preparatory path. Their writing will focus on completing all steps of the writing process and varying style, word choice, vocabulary, structure and voice. Major writing assignments include persuasive, expository, descriptive and timed writing. Students will transition from active learners to leaders. Other areas of focus include increasing the use of technology and building upon their test preparation and test-taking knowledge. They will broaden their experiences with analyzing text and utilizing appropriate reading strategies in various settings. Students will become more involved in the presentations of guest speakers and field trips, particularly as they relate to presentation and prior knowledge. Students will also participate in college preparatory testing and build connections with the high school they attend.

This course may be required on some campuses for students who have not passed the math portion of the STAAR test. STAAR Math 8 will be offered at some campuses as a one-semester class (MA8281).

This elective course is designed to help students become more skillful readers. The curriculum will emphasize improvement of reading skills. Students will work on strengthening vocabulary, increasing fluency, and developing proficiency in using a variety of reading comprehension strategies and skills.

This elective course is designed to help students become more skillful readers. The curriculum will emphasize improvement of reading skills. Students will work on strengthening vocabulary, increasing fluency, and developing proficiency in using a variety of reading comprehension strategies and skills.

This course may be required on some campuses for students who may be in danger of not passing the science portion of the STAAR test. This course is offered on some campuses as a one-semester class (SC8282).

Spanish I is the first course of a recommended three-year sequence designed to develop fundamental language across the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication. The study of beginning level vocabulary, phonetics and grammar is included. The culture and civilization of the Spanish-speaking world is integrated into all aspects of the course. Level I students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Novice Mid to Novice High. Students at the Novice High proficiency level express meaning in simple, predictable contexts through the use of learned and recombined phrases and short sentences. They are best able to understand sentence-length information within highly contextualized situations and sources. Novice High students may generally be understood by sympathetic listeners and readers accustomed to dealing with language learners. Novice High students are consistently successful when performing Novice-level tasks. Novice High students show evidence of Intermediate Low proficiency but lack consistency.

The second year of Spanish is a continuation of the development of the three modes of communication. New vocabulary and more complex grammatical structures are learned along with important cultural topics. Level II students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Novice High to Intermediate Mid. Students at the Intermediate Mid proficiency level express meaning in straightforward and personal contexts by easily combining and recombining what they know, what they read, and what they hear in short statements and a mixture of sentences and strings of sentences. Intermediate Mid students are able to understand some information from connected statements in oral or written sources. Intermediate Mid students are generally understood by sympathetic listeners and readers accustomed to dealing with language learners. Intermediate Mid students are consistently successful when performing Intermediate-level tasks.

The second year of Spanish is a continuation of the development of the three modes of communication. New vocabulary and more complex grammatical structures are learned along with important cultural topics. Advanced Spanish Level II students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Intermediate Mid. Advanced Spanish II will focus on the same TEKS prescribed by the State of Texas for the language level but will emphasize advanced application of listening, reading, speaking and writing skills. Students will be challenged with instruction designed at a greater depth in order to prepare for Advanced Placement (AP) International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, and/or Dual Credit courses.

The emphasis of Spanish III is the strengthening of the three modes of communication. The Spanish III student will read and discuss a variety of cultural and literary selections. Level III students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid. Students at the Intermediate Mid proficiency level express meaning in a variety of contexts by creating with the language, easily combining and recombining what they know, what they read, and what they hear in a mixture of sentences and connected discourse. Intermediate Mid students are able to understand information from connected statements in oral or written sources. Intermediate Mid students are generally understood by listeners and readers unaccustomed to dealing with language learners. Intermediate Mid students are mostly successful when performing Intermediate-level tasks.

The emphasis of Spanish III is the strengthening of the three modes of communication. The Advanced Spanish III student will read and discuss a variety of cultural and literary selections. A more sophisticated use of Spanish will be fostered through writing and conversational opportunities. Advanced Level III students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Intermediate High. Students at the Intermediate High proficiency level express meaning in a variety of contexts by creating with the language, easily combining and recombining what they know, what they read, and what they hear in a mixture of sentences and connected discourse. Advanced Spanish III will focus on the same TEKS prescribed by the State of Texas for the language level but will emphasize advanced application of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Students will be challenged with instruction designed at a greater depth in order to prepare for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, and/or Dual Credit Courses.

The emphasis of Spanish IV is communication. This course is geared for students who want to continue to increase their proficiency in Spanish. Building on what they have learned in Spanish I-III, Spanish IV students will demonstrate their proficiency in Spanish working in the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication. The Spanish IV student will read and discuss a variety of cultural and literary selections. Level IV students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High. To facilitate the study of Spanish language and culture, the course is taught almost exclusively in Spanish.

The Advanced Placement Spanish Language course is the equivalent of a third-year college course in advanced Spanish composition and conversation. It encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar and composition. The course will emphasize the use of French for active communication and has the following objectives: 1) the ability to comprehend formal and informal spoken Spanish; 2) the acquisition of vocabulary and a grasp of language structure to allow the easy, accurate reading of newspaper and magazine articles as well as modern literature in Spanish; 3) the ability to compose expository passages; and 4) the ability to express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency. This course prepares students for the Spanish Language Advanced Placement Exam as well as other college/university placement exams. Students in Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture should reach the Intermediate High or Advanced Mid level by the end of the course.

French I is the first course of a recommended three-year sequence designed to develop fundamental language across the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication. The study of beginning level vocabulary, phonetics and grammar is included. The culture and civilization of the French speaking world is integrated into all aspects of the course. Level I students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Novice Mid to Novice High. Students at the Novice High proficiency level express meaning in simple, predictable contexts through the use of learned and recombined phrases and short sentences. They are best able to understand sentence-length information within highly contextualized situations and sources. Novice High students may generally be understood by sympathetic listeners and readers accustomed to dealing with language learners. Novice High students are consistently successful when performing Novice- level tasks. Novice High students show evidence of Intermediate Low proficiency but lack consistency.

The second year of French is a continuation of the development of the three modes of communication. New vocabulary and more complex grammatical structures are learned along with important cultural topics. Level II students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Novice High to Intermediate Mid. Students at the Intermediate Mid proficiency level express meaning in straightforward and personal contexts by easily combining and recombining what they know, what they read, and what they hear in short statements and a mixture of sentences and strings of sentences. Intermediate Mid students are able to understand some information from connected statements in oral or written sources. Intermediate Mid students are generally understood by sympathetic listeners and readers accustomed to dealing with language learners. Intermediate Mid students are consistently successful when performing Intermediate-level tasks.

The second year of French is a continuation of the development of the three modes of communication. New vocabulary and more complex grammatical structures are learned along with important cultural topics. Advanced French Level II students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Intermediate Mid. Advanced French II will focus on the same TEKS prescribed by the State of Texas for the language level but will emphasize advanced application of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Students will be challenged with instruction designed at a greater depth in order to prepare for Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.

The emphasis of French III is the strengthening of the three modes of communication. The Advanced French III student will read and discuss a variety of cultural and literary selections. A more sophisticated use of French will be fostered through writing and conversational opportunities. Advanced Level III students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Intermediate High. Students at the Intermediate High proficiency level express meaning in a variety of contexts by creating with the language, easily combining and recombining what they know, what they read, and what they hear in a mixture of sentences and connected discourse. Advanced French III will focus on the same TEKS prescribed by the State of Texas for the language level but will emphasize advanced application of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Students will be challenged with instruction designed at a greater depth in order to prepare for Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.

Chinese I is the first course of a recommended three-year sequence designed to develop fundamental language across the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication. Students will build a basic foundation of reading, listening, speaking, and writing in modern standard Mandarin Chinese. Students will be able to communicate within a variety of everyday contexts. Students will have the opportunity to interact with the Chinese culture through written dialogues and reading passages. Students will acquire a Novice Low to Novice Mid proficiency level.

Chinese II is designed to develop fundamental language across the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication. Students will continue their introduction to Chinese with fundamental building blocks in reading, listening, speaking, and writing in modern standard Mandarin Chinese. Students will be able to communicate within a variety of everyday contexts. Students will have the opportunity to interact with the Chinese culture through written dialogues and reading passages. Students will acquire a Novice Mid to Novice High proficiency level.

Chinese II is designed to develop fundamental language across the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication. Students will continue their introduction to Chinese with fundamental building blocks in reading, listening, speaking, and writing in modern standard Mandarin Chinese. Students will have the opportunity to interact with the Chinese culture through written dialogues and reading passages. Students will acquire a Novice Mid to Novice High proficiency level. Advanced Chinese II will focus on the same TEKS prescribed by the State of Texas for the language level but will emphasize advanced application of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Students will be challenged with instruction designed at a greater depth in order to prepare for Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.

The emphasis of Advanced Chinese III is the strengthening of the three modes of communication. The Advanced Chinese III student will read and discuss a variety of cultural and literary selections. A more sophisticated use of Chinese will be fostered through writing and conversational opportunities. Advanced Level III students are expected to reach a proficiency level of Intermediate Low in Reading and Writing, and Intermediate Mid in Listening and Speaking. Advanced Chinese III students will focus on the same TEKS prescribed by the State of Texas for the language level but will emphasize advanced application of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Students will be challenged with instruction designed at a greater depth in order to prepare for Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.