MS AAP Course Selection Process

[Anonymous]

Would anybody mind sharing information about smart strategies for the selection of electives for the 7th grade MS?

Anything that you wish you knew before your DC sign up for the MS courses for the 7th grade AAP? Did you care whether the course offered a credit or not?

So far, we have only received generic recommendations to go with what seems to be fun and interesting.

DS will definitely choose something that lines up well with his interests, but I wonder if we need to pay closer attention to selection process and how it impacts available choices for the 7th grade and HS.

[Anonymous]

The question is mainly about electives. Selection of the core courses seems to be straightforward.

[Anonymous]

The only concern is language if you’re in an IB pyramid, as that requires 5 years.

Otherwise, let him explore and try out whatever he wants! Electives should be enjoyable, not a means to an end.

He does not need to do band or theater or art in middle school to participate in high school. Middle school is truly exploration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only concern is language if you’re in an IB pyramid, as that requires 5 years.

Otherwise, let him explore and try out whatever he wants! Electives should be enjoyable, not a means to an end.

He does not need to do band or theater or art in middle school to participate in high school. Middle school is truly exploration.

Thank you! Could you please explain more about the foreign language choice nuances? We are planning to move in the next year or two, so he might end up in an IB HS.

[Anonymous]

I think the semester electives are to introduce students to different fields. I would highly recommend a language and it’s a full year elective. My child also does band which is also a full year elective so they did not have a choice for anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only concern is language if you’re in an IB pyramid, as that requires 5 years.

Otherwise, let him explore and try out whatever he wants! Electives should be enjoyable, not a means to an end.

He does not need to do band or theater or art in middle school to participate in high school. Middle school is truly exploration.

So if you are in IB pyramid, you should take a language by 8th grade? Does the school guid you on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only concern is language if you’re in an IB pyramid, as that requires 5 years.

Otherwise, let him explore and try out whatever he wants! Electives should be enjoyable, not a means to an end.

He does not need to do band or theater or art in middle school to participate in high school. Middle school is truly exploration.

So if you are in IB pyramid, you should take a language by 8th grade? Does the school guid you on this?

Hi there - yes, your student should start a language in 8th grade if they want to pursue the IB diploma. The counselors talk to 7th graders about this during course selection. As a parent, I didn’t know this, but the counselors did a great job explaining everything to the kids.

Some kids start in 7th - it’s not necessary, and 7th is really the only year your kid will get to take a second “fun” elective. So for instance, if your kid is in band, 7th would be the only year they can take engineering bc every other year will be band + language for electives. There is no harm though in starting in 7th, but I would only do it if your kid really wants to.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all!

That was a really helpful information regarding a foreign language.

What about the music and instruments? And do you need to be really good to continue in high school? DS would love to continue piano and/or violin/guitar in high school. Do MS choices affect HS music path?

Also, DS will be taking geometry in 7th grade, so we are not looking to or trying to get more challenge. But, can somebody explain what is the importance (if any) of gaining extra credits. Is that an optional HS credit? Or, simply means that it goes on HS transcript?

[Anonymous]

You don't have to be really good to continue an instrument in HS. Pretty much every HS has Freshman sections for band/orchestra, which is for beginners. Piano/guitar are less likely to be offered in HS, although there will occasionally be a piece where piano could be used.

The honors math courses gives the 0.5 grade bump, and goes on the HS transcript. The ones in MS can be expunged if they get a grade you're not happy with, which I don't think is an option in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only concern is language if you’re in an IB pyramid, as that requires 5 years.

Otherwise, let him explore and try out whatever he wants! Electives should be enjoyable, not a means to an end.

He does not need to do band or theater or art in middle school to participate in high school. Middle school is truly exploration.

So if you are in IB pyramid, you should take a language by 8th grade? Does the school guid you on this?

Carson gives bad info on this regularly. If you are going to be attending an IB school and you want the option to complete the diploma you have to do a langauge in 8th grade. Carson does not do a good job with this with their SLHS bound students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to be really good to continue an instrument in HS. Pretty much every HS has Freshman sections for band/orchestra, which is for beginners. Piano/guitar are less likely to be offered in HS, although there will occasionally be a piece where piano could be used.

The honors math courses gives the 0.5 grade bump, and goes on the HS transcript. The ones in MS can be expunged if they get a grade you're not happy with, which I don't think is an option in HS.

Only Algebra and geometry go on the HS transcript.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only concern is language if you’re in an IB pyramid, as that requires 5 years.

Otherwise, let him explore and try out whatever he wants! Electives should be enjoyable, not a means to an end.

He does not need to do band or theater or art in middle school to participate in high school. Middle school is truly exploration.

So if you are in IB pyramid, you should take a language by 8th grade? Does the school guid you on this?

Hi there - yes, your student should start a language in 8th grade if they want to pursue the IB diploma. The counselors talk to 7th graders about this during course selection. As a parent, I didn’t know this, but the counselors did a great job explaining everything to the kids.

Some kids start in 7th - it’s not necessary, and 7th is really the only year your kid will get to take a second “fun” elective. So for instance, if your kid is in band, 7th would be the only year they can take engineering bc every other year will be band + language for electives. There is no harm though in starting in 7th, but I would only do it if your kid really wants to.

Some kids starting in 7th were in Language Immersion and are continuing on. Others are taking language in MS because there are specific electives they want to take in HS and they want to knock out the language requirements early. Some kids are just interested in taking a language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only concern is language if you’re in an IB pyramid, as that requires 5 years.

Otherwise, let him explore and try out whatever he wants! Electives should be enjoyable, not a means to an end.

He does not need to do band or theater or art in middle school to participate in high school. Middle school is truly exploration.

So if you are in IB pyramid, you should take a language by 8th grade? Does the school guid you on this?

Hi there - yes, your student should start a language in 8th grade if they want to pursue the IB diploma. The counselors talk to 7th graders about this during course selection. As a parent, I didn’t know this, but the counselors did a great job explaining everything to the kids.

Some kids start in 7th - it’s not necessary, and 7th is really the only year your kid will get to take a second “fun” elective. So for instance, if your kid is in band, 7th would be the only year they can take engineering bc every other year will be band + language for electives. There is no harm though in starting in 7th, but I would only do it if your kid really wants to.

Some kids starting in 7th were in Language Immersion and are continuing on. Others are taking language in MS because there are specific electives they want to take in HS and they want to knock out the language requirements early. Some kids are just interested in taking a language.

So, if going to IB HS, which requires 5 years of foreign language, a student could take 2 years in MS, 3 in HS and then have one HS year available not to take foreign language?

Do non IB high schools have any prerequisites in terms of the number of years of foreign language?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only concern is language if you’re in an IB pyramid, as that requires 5 years.

Otherwise, let him explore and try out whatever he wants! Electives should be enjoyable, not a means to an end.

He does not need to do band or theater or art in middle school to participate in high school. Middle school is truly exploration.

So if you are in IB pyramid, you should take a language by 8th grade? Does the school guid you on this?

Hi there - yes, your student should start a language in 8th grade if they want to pursue the IB diploma. The counselors talk to 7th graders about this during course selection. As a parent, I didn’t know this, but the counselors did a great job explaining everything to the kids.

Some kids start in 7th - it’s not necessary, and 7th is really the only year your kid will get to take a second “fun” elective. So for instance, if your kid is in band, 7th would be the only year they can take engineering bc every other year will be band + language for electives. There is no harm though in starting in 7th, but I would only do it if your kid really wants to.

Some kids starting in 7th were in Language Immersion and are continuing on. Others are taking language in MS because there are specific electives they want to take in HS and they want to knock out the language requirements early. Some kids are just interested in taking a language.

So, if going to IB HS, which requires 5 years of foreign language, a student could take 2 years in MS, 3 in HS and then have one HS year available not to take foreign language?

Do non IB high schools have any prerequisites in terms of the number of years of foreign language?

I think there is a certain number needed for the advanced diploma but I can’t remember what it is. Most colleges want at least 3 years of foreign language. Some colleges will waive the foreign language requirement if you have 4 years of a foreign language in HS. But yes, some kids will take language in MS to clear space for electives in HS or to graduate early.

My kid was in language immersion and continued with the language in 7th grade. I think he is hoping to be done after he takes the AP exam. A lot of his friends took a language in 7th grade. The other electives are fine but nothing was that interesting to them. He did love Engineering, he is in Engineering 3 this year. Great class.

[Anonymous]

Some FCPS middle schools split “foreign language 1” over two years (“1a” and “1b”, and others do not.

If you are in one that splits, know that you’re only getting one year of foreign language in MS, even though you take it over two years.