Incoming 6th Graders
- Presentation
- Course Request Process Directions
- 6th Grade Core Course Options
- English Language Arts
- Math Pathways
- Science Pathways
- Elective Choices
Presentation
Welcome to PLMS!
Incoming 6th Graders
Course Request Process
2024-2025
|
Michelle Caponigro |
Principal |
|---|---|
|
Mike Deletis |
Assistant Principal |
|
Kristen Brittain |
Counselor – Last Names (A - L) |
|
Young Chang-Miller |
Counselor – Last Names (M-Z) |
|
Karen Hoetzel |
Registrar |
What is the Course Request Process?
- The course request process is the way students and families select courses for the next school year.
- Students should select the level of learning that they feel is most appropriate for their own academic levels and goals.
- Course request choices in middle school provide the opportunity for choice in courses in line with the student's interests. This demonstrates our school belief of Discovery.
Before selecting 6th grade courses, reflect on…
- What am I interested in and curious about?
- What are my strengths and challenges?
- How much schoolwork do I like to do at home?
- What are my commitments outside of school?
Sample Student Schedule
|
Period |
Course |
|---|---|
|
Homeroom |
Community, Academic, and Social/Emotional Lessons (SEL) |
|
1 |
Language Arts |
|
2 |
Math |
|
3 |
Science |
|
Lunch |
“A” Lunch for all 6th Graders |
|
4 |
Social Studies |
|
5 |
Elective (year-long or trimester electives) |
|
6 |
PE and Health Rotation |
Course Request Process Directions
6th Grade Core Course Options
6th Grade Core Course Selection
Our school allows 6th-grade students to choose their core courses in English Language Arts, Math, and Science based on their interests and aspirations. Some courses are more challenging and require strong motivation and work habits. For certain courses, achieving specific levels on the SBA or i-Ready assessments is recommended to ensure success.
4 CORE COURSES
Accelerated Options:
- Math
- Advanced Language Arts
- 7th Grade Earth and Space Science (skip 6th Grade Life Science content)
Note: There is no advanced Social Studies option in middle school.
6th Grade students will select:
|
Subject |
Courses Choices: |
|---|---|
|
English Language Arts |
Language Arts 6 OR Advanced Language Arts 6 |
|
Math |
Math 1 OR Math 1-2 OR Math 2-3 |
|
Science |
Life Science OR 7th Grade Earth and Space Science |
|
Elective(s) 1 year-long or 3 trimester-long electives |
One year-long (e.g. Choir, Orchestra, Band) OR Three trimester-long (Intro to Woods, Art, Computer Science 1) |
English Language Arts
Students choose either English Language Arts 6 or Advanced Language Arts 6. Advanced English Language Arts is a program for students which provides additional challenge and rigor in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, listening and language.
ADVANCED LANGUAGE ARTS
Students choosing advanced/accelerated courses should:
- Reflect student’s interest and aspirations in that course of study.
- Have excellent study habits and organizational skills.
- Have strong communication and reading skills for engaging with rigorous material.
- Demonstrate motivation, maturity, perseverance and stamina for learning challenging material.
- Be active participants in all aspects of the classroom, including discussions, group or individual projects.
- Consider the increased time commitment to studies outside of the school Please consider all responsibilities, including sports, music and club affiliations.
- Consider the possibility that grades could be lower than if students took the typical course sequence(s).
6th Grade English Language Arts (KL600)
Learning Recommendations: Completion of 5th Grade, enrolled in 6th Grade.
Description: 6th Grade English Language Arts is aligned with the Washington State Standards and includes novels and the Writing Fundamentals curriculum. Students will explore diverse literary genres by exploring theme and character analysis. Critical thinking and persuasive skills are strengthened. The course provides a framework for understanding narrative structures across various texts and will read the novel, Freak the Mighty. There is an emphasis on empowering students to be effective communicators and analytical thinkers. Through a combination of whole-class instruction and small group workshop experiences, students will sharpen their language arts skills and strengthen self-expression.
6th Grade Advanced Language Arts (KL601)
Learning Recommendations: SBA ELA Score: Level 4. Report Card Grades in Reading and Writing: 4. i-Ready reading score in 5th Grade above 4.00 and reading above grade level.
Description: Advanced 6th Grade ELA is aligned with the Washington State Standards and includes novels and the Writing Fundamentals curriculum. The topics covered are similar to the 6th English Language Arts (see description above) but covered more in depth and requires an increased volume of reading and writing.
Math Pathways
For Math, students choose one of 3 math pathways. Middle school pathways are the same at all ISD middle schools. High school offerings are unique at Skyline High School due to the International Baccalaureate Program.
For more information to help choose which path is best for you, see Mathematics Course Sequence.
Math 1 (KM601)
Learning Recommendations: 5th Grade Math, enrolled in 6th grade.
Description: This course addresses the State Standards for Mathematics for Grade 6 by developing students’ abilities to problem solve, reason and communicate mathematics through the Standards for Math Practice. Student learning focuses on conceptual understanding and fluency in adding and subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions and decimal numbers; rational numbers including negative numbers, connecting ratios and unit to proportional relationships, writing and interpreting expressions and equations and inequalities. Students that take Math 1 in 6th grade commonly take Algebra in 9th grade and Pre-Calculus in 12th grade. This course supports a wide range of career and college entry requirements.
Math 1-2 (KM602)
Learning Recommendations: Level 3 and 4 grades in Math, Level 3 or 4 on i-Ready and SBA assessments, enrolled in 6th grade.
Description: This course starts in the same place as Math 1, but is taught at a faster pace, introducing new concepts quickly, it covers all of the standards in Math 1 as well as the first half of Math 2. This course focuses on Grade 6 and selected Grade 7 State Standards for Mathematics by developing students’ abilities to problem solve, reason and communicate mathematics through the Standards for Math Practice. The main topics of this course are proportional relationships, operations with rational numbers, constant of proportionality, scale drawings and geometric constructions as well as statistical sampling. Students that take Math 1-2 in 6th grade commonly take Algebra in 8th grade and Calculus in 12th grade. Students considering a future math-based career such as sciences, technology, or engineering should consider taking this course in 6th grade.
Math 2-3 (KM702)
Learning Recommendations: level 4 in 5th grade math, Winter i-Ready Math score of 4.07 or higher, knowledge of math 1-2 concepts.
Description: This course covers the second half of Math 2 and all of the standards taught in Math 3. This course focuses on selected Grade 7 State Standards and all of the State Standards for Grade 8. Student learning focuses on systems of linear equations, functions, and relationships, 2D and 3D space, and the Pythagorean Theorem. Sixth grade students that take this course skip the content taught in Math 1-2 and are taught at a faster pace, introducing new concepts quickly. Students that take Math 2-3 in 6th grade commonly take Geometry in 8th grade and Algebra II in 9th grade and two years of Calculus in 11th and 12th grade. Students considering a future math-based career such as sciences, technology, or engineering should consider taking this course in 6th grade.
CC8/Algebra 1 (MT980)
Learning Requirement: Sixth grade students cannot register for this course. Sixth grade students must pass a placement test. The placement test will be given May/June. Information regarding testing will be shared though district news in the spring.
Description: This course is a high school level course. Sixth grade students that take CC8/Algebra 1 skip the content taught in Math 1, Math 2 and are taught at a compacted pace. This course covers the second half of Math 3 and all of the standards for Algebra 1. This course focuses on equations, linear and exponential relationships, descriptive statistics, and quadratic functions. Students that take this course in 6th grade commonly take Algebra 2 in 8th grade. This also may result in a gap year when taking Calculus.
Transportation to high school in 8th grade: You must provide transportation to the nearest high school for CC Algebra 2 for the entire 8th grade year.
Skyline High School coursework: If your child is planning to pursue an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma at Skyline High School, they will have to find an alternate math course (Statistics is recommended) in 9th grade as students are not allowed to enter the IB math pathway until grade 10
Science Pathways
For Science, students choose from the 6th grade Science Pathway I, which starts with Life Science, or Science Pathway II, which skips Life Science and begins with students taking the 7th grade science course, Earth and Space Science. For more information to help choose which path is best for you, see 6th Grade Science
Life Science – 6th Grade (KS100)
Learning Recommendations: completion of 5th grade; enrolled in 6th grade
Life Science introduces students to the science lab while studying life science topics. Students learn lab skills such as using a microscope, safely conducting investigations, and working with chemicals and glassware.
Focus Content and Practices:
- Structure and function of cells and organisms
- Inheritance and variation of traits
- Unity and diversity among organisms
- Populations and resources within ecosystems
- Developing and using models
- Planning and carrying out investigations
Earth and Space Science – 7th Grade (KS102)
Learning Recommendations: Life Science
Learning Recommendations for students requesting this course in 6th grade: Level 4 grades in math and reading, Level 4 on i-Ready and SBA assessments. Students in 6th grade that request this course should also register for Math 2-3 or higher. Students need to have successfully completed Geometry by 8th grade to take Chemistry in 9th grade. These students will skip Life Science and should therefore have a strong background in Life Sciences to be prepared for high school biology in 8th grade.
Earth and Space Science builds on the lab skills learned in Life Science while exploring the Earth we live on and Space we live in.
Focus Content and Practices:
- Earth’s constantly changing surface, including volcanoes and earthquakes
- Weather and climate
- The Sun-Earth-Moon system and broader universe
- Defining problems and designing solutions
- Developing and using models
Elective Choices
For more information to help choose which elective is best for you, see the Pine Lake Middle School Electives Description.
Taking elective classes allows you to explore new interests and broaden your areas of learning. This can improve the overall quality of your middle school education. School electives prepare you for tomorrow, setting the stage for new interests, college majors, and career paths.
6th Grade Students select either:
One year-long (e.g. Choir, Orchestra, Band)
OR
The three trimester-long electives (Intro to Woods, Art, and Computer Science 1)
Check out the Pine Lake Electives Videos.
*Please note that year-long elective classes are dependent on staffing and the number of requests.
Fine Arts Requirement
The Arts are an essential part of public education. From dance and music to theatre and the visual arts, the arts give children a unique means of expression, capturing their passions and emotion, and allow them to explore new ideas, subject matter, and cultures. Arts instruction in the Issaquah School District is provided by specialists and classroom teachers and supported by partnerships with professional organizations and community programs. During middle school, students are required to enroll in music or visual arts.
*This requirement will be met at Pine Lake Middle School in Band, Choir, Orchestra, or Exploratory Art.