Academic Information

English Language Arts

English Language Arts courses build on the foundation students need to navigate different types of literature and writing. English Language Arts integrates reading, writing, listening and speaking, and language while using the state-adopted, board-approved textbook curriculum. Classes are transitioning to align to the new Common Core National Standards. All seventh grade students will have a Core ELA class and an additional Companion ELA class. The companion class is based on individual student need to help maximize student achievement. The eighth grade courses build and enrich critical thinking skills using continued strategies for improving academic success in English Language Arts. Through a variety of research-based instructional strategies, students read complex texts, both literay and informational, while exploring Essential Questions and Universal concepts. Students' ciritical thinking skills are reinforced using research-based reading, writing, and language strategies. Additionally, students technological and collaborative skills are fostered through digital and online opportunities.

History/ Social Science

W. History

World History is a semester class for 7th grade students. The course extends the student's understanding of history and geography with a major focus on social, cultural, and technological change during the period A.D, 500 to 1789. Topics will include the fall of Rome, growth of Islam, Middle-Ages in Africa, China, Japan, and Europe, early civilizations of the Americas, European Renaissance, Reformation, Exploration, and Enlightenment. The importance of geography receives emphasis in all units of world history instruction.

United States History

US History is a year course open to 8th grade students. The course extends the student's knowledge of America heritage, institutions, geography, and culture, beginning with a review of exploration and colonization, American independence, the development of the Constitution, and the structure of the federal government. The primary focus of student will be the nineteenth century. Major topics will include nationalism, manifest destiny, westward movement, Native America cultures, sectionalism, Civil War and Reconstruction, and industrialization. Linking past to present, the student sees that American democracy expands through increased civil rights and greater citizen participation. w

Mathematics

All students are enrolled in one year of mathematics in grade seven and one year in grade eight. Placement is determined by the District Placement Matrix.

Math 7

Math 7 is a grade level class focused on the following critical areas: understanding of and applying proportional relationships; developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expressions and linear equations; solving problems involving scale drawings, area, surface area and volume; and drawing inferences about population based on samples.

Math 7 Companion

This course offers support to students currently enrolled in Math 7. This course will include hands-one, instructional approaches and reinforce prerequisite skills and concepts. The major goal of this course is to assist students in developing skills necessary to meet the 7th grade Mathematical content standards.

Math 8

Math 8 is open to grades 7 and 8. This course will focus on the following critical areas: formulating and reasoning with expressions and equations and solving linear equations; grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships; analyzing figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem.

Math 8 Companion

Algebra I

Year course open to grades 7 and 8. Required Prerequisites: Placement will be determined by District Placement Matrix. This course will focus on developing understanding of mathematical relationships through variables and unknowns that represent numbers and quantities. Students will extend their understanding of algebraic structure and real number systems while simplifying and solving expressions, equations, and inequalities. Students will build functions in modeling contexts in different forms. Students will use formal means of assessing how models fit data. The major goal of this course is to assist students in developing skills necessary to meet the Algebra content standards. Successful completion of Algebra I will satisfy the Algebra high school graduation requirements.

Geometry (iM0311/2)

Year course open to grade 8 – Required Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra 1P Placement will be determined by District Placement Matrix. This course will focus on geometric reasoning and the study of plane figures using precise definitions and developing structured proofs. Students will extend their understanding of transformations through the concepts of congruence and similarity with different plane figures such as triangles and other polygons. Students will be introduce to the concepts of right triangle trigonometry and properties of circles. Students will explore probability concepts and use of probability in real world situations.

Science

Our science department uses a wide range of learning strategies to help promote

student understanding of science concepts.

Life Science is a semester class that all 7th grade students take, which includes the Family Life unit. This course focuses on teaching scientific knowledge and process skills through investigation and experimentation. Focus topics include cellular biology, genetics, and evolution.

Physical Science is a year course open to all 8th grade students, which includes the Life Skills program, and HIV Prevention unit, and substance abuse unit. This survey course focuses on teaching scientific knowledge and process skills through investigation and experimentation. Focus topics in clude basic principles of chemistry and physics.

Special Education

The Alamitos Intermediate Special Education Department serves Resource and Mild Moderate students in all subjects. Inclusion classes are also offered for students to be mainstreamed with General Education students. English Language Arts may include ELA Insides, Inclusion ELA 7th and/or 8th grade. Math may include SE Math 7 SE and Math 8 SE or Math 7, Math 8, Companion, Algebra, or Geometry. Science may include SE Life Science and SE Physical Science or Life Science and Physical Science, History may include SE World History, SE US History, U.S History or World History. Resource Center class is designed for students enrolled in General Education A-G courses. The class supports students in the successful completion of rigorous A-G courses.

Visual and Performing Arts

Beginning Band

An introductory course covering basic musical concepts such as pitch, rhythm, musical vocabulary, tone production etc. and their application to wind and percussion instruments. Stress is given to correct playing position and appropriate instrument care.

Beginning Strings

An introductory course covering basic musical concepts such as pitch, rhythm, notation, tone production etc. and their application to string instruments including violin, viola, cello, and string bass. Stress is given to correct playing position and appropriate instrument care.

Concert Band

A course for the continuing wind and percussion musician with a focus on refining principles of musicianship, harmonic and rhythmic fundamentals, appropriate vocabulary, and ensemble skills through appropriate music literature.

Advance Strings

This course is designed for the intermediate/advanced string student who wishes to continue music growth with a focus on the ensemble performance. Emphasis is placed on tone production, rhythmic values, bow technique, intonation, blend and balance, music theory, and other string techniques.

World Languages

Currently, Alamitos offers one course of Heritage Spanish for 8th grade students. This course is designed to meet the language needs of heritage Spanish speakers. Students who have oral Spanish skills will continue oral language developmetn and will develop reading and writing skills. Appropriate usage in practical situations, literature, cultural information, and grammatical issues are presented. Students will be placed in Heritage Spanish 1 based on an assessment of Spanish skills and the needs of the student.