Lamar CISD - District Information - Lamar Consolidated ISD

Junior High School
Peer Mediation
Prerequisite: Teen Leadership
The students who are chosen for Peer Mediation are
trained in mediation techniques in order to help other
students with conflict resolution. They also use the skills
learned in Teen Leadership to work with students who have
conflict. Students with conflict with others on the campus,
fill out a mediation request form and the student mediators
meet with all persons involved and guide them through
the process of resolving the conflict. The mediators teach
students how to solve their conflicts in nonviolent ways.
Personal and Family Development (grade 8)
Prerequisite: Skills for Living recommended
Credit: Applies toward high school credit.
This course is a study of family living, child development,
clothing and textiles, housing, management, consumer
economics and responsibilities, food and nutrition, personal
and family health and the relationship between the home
and workplace. This is the same course as Personal and
Family Development offered in grades 9 - 12. The course
earns one credit toward satisfying a unit of elective credit
required for graduation. No grade points are earned
toward high school GPA (Grade Point Average).
Skills for Living
This course allows students to learn social and decisionmaking
skills, problem solving and personal care including
nutrition, food preparation and clothing selection and care.
Spanish I (grade 8 and grade 7 GT)
Prerequisite: Grade 8: Yearly average of 87 in
7th grade Pre-AP or GT English or 90 yearly
average in 7th grade English; Grade 7:
Yearly average of 87 in 6th grade GT English
Credit: Applies toward high school credit.
This is the same course as Spanish I offered in grades 9 -
12. The course earns one credit toward satisfying the units
of foreign language required for graduation. No grade
points are earned toward high school GPA (Grade Point
Average). The student will develop communication skills
such as reading, writing, viewing, and speaking using
the knowledge of the language. The knowledge of the
language, including grammar, and culture, communication,
and learning strategies, technology, and content from other
subject areas will provide the background for students to
use in socializing, acquiring and providing information,
and expressing feelings and opinions. Seventh grade
GT students are required to take “Critical and Creative
Thinking Seminar” or a foreign language course.
Spanish II (grade 8)
Prerequisite: Grade 8: Satisfactory completion of
Spanish I in 7th Grade
Credit: Applies toward high school credit.
This is the same course as Spanish II offered in grades
9 - 12. The course earns one credit toward satisfying
the units of foreign language required for graduation. No
grade points are earned toward high school GPA (Grade
Point Average).
Speech I
This course emphasizes developing fundamental
communication skills. Activities may include informal
speeches, oral reading of prose and poetry, oral reports,
group discussions, voice and diction, parliamentary
procedure and creative dramatics.
Technology Awareness
Technology Applications includes four strands:
foundations, information acquisition, problem solving and
communication. This study will include technology related
terms, concepts and data input strategies. Students
will use technology to access, analyze and evaluate
acquired information. In addition they will select technology
appropriate for the task, create solutions and evaluate
results. A variety of technologies will be used.
Technology Education
This computer modular-based courses is designed to
increase the students’ understanding of the development
and use of technology. The course provides an introduction
Middle School Overview
to technology in the areas of communication, computer
applications, construction, energy, power, transportation,
and manufacturing. Using hands-on problem solving and
creative activities students develop an understanding of
technology and its impacts. Activities in this course may
include designing and making products, using computers,
and using tools and machines.
Teen Leadership
In this course, student will develop leadership, personal, and
business skills. They learn to develop a healthy self-concept,
healthy relationships, and learn to understand the concept of
personal responsibility. They will develop an understanding
of Emotional Intelligence and the skills it measures, which
include self-awareness, self-control, self-motivation, and
social skills. In addition, students will develop public speaking
and communication skills and an understanding of personal
image. Their understanding of the concept of principlebased
decision-making, their understanding of the effects
of peer pressure, and their skills to counteract those effects
will also be advanced. They will develop and understanding
of the principles of parenting, enabling them to become
better family members and citizens. Lastly, they will develop
an understanding of the need for vision in goal-setting both
personally and professionally.
Theatre I
Studies of drama techniques and the development of
theatre skills are included in this course. Through studies
and various in-class performances, students become
more proficient in dramatic skills and increase their
communication skills.
Theatre II
Prerequisite: Theatre I
This course gives students who have taken Theatre I an
in-depth study of all aspects of theatre. The experiences,
activities and performances are more challenging and require
more maturity and discipline from students. Attendance at
all rehearsals and after-school performances is required.
Introduction
This middle school guide is designed to help you select
courses that you will take during your sixth grade year. All
programs have been developed with the philosophy that
excellence in education is equally important for students in
all ranges of need and ability. The role of the middle school is
one of transition from elementary school to junior high school.
During this year, you will have the opportunity to refine skills
learned in the elementary grades and develop some new
skills to help you to be more successful in the future. Please
use this guide as a source of information and as an aid in
preparing your schedule. Your counselor will be happy to
answer any questions that you may have about a particular
area or to help gather information that is not currently
available in this publication.
Middle School Curriculum
Students in sixth grade are instructed in curriculum that
covers the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
mandated by the Texas Education Agency and includes
creative/critical thinking skills, processing skills, research
skills and concept-based subject matter.
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Grading System
Student performance is reported using numerical grades:
A 90 - 100
B 80 - 89
C 75 - 79
D 70 - 74
F 69 and below
I Incomplete
# No credit due to excessive absences
Credit by Examination
Under specific criteria, a student may take an examination
to obtain credit for sixth grade and go on to seventh grade.
A student may also take an examination to obtain credit
for a particular course. The student must receive a score
of 90 percent or more on a competency test with no prior
instruction, and a score of 70 percent in a course with prior
instruction. Exams are administered in the summer. School
counselors have complete information about this program
[Board Policies EEJA (Local), EEJB (Local)].
Promotion/Retention
In grades 6-8, promotion to the next grade level shall be
based on an overall average of 70 on a scale of 100 based
upon course-level, grade-level standards (Texas Essential
Knowledge and Skills) for all subject areas and a grade of
70 or above in each of the following four courses: language
arts (the average of English and reading), mathematics,
science, and social studies. In addition, the student must
meet minimum expectations on the reading and mathematics
sections on the state-mandated assessment (TAKS).
Teaming for Academic Success
Students and teachers are arranged in academic teams,
the purpose of which is to help insure students’ academic
success in all subjects throughout the year. Each team
consists of students who perform at a variety of ability
levels so teachers can make necessary adjustments in
schedules when a student demonstrates success at a
given level.
University Interscholastic League (U.I.L.)
LCISD participates in UIL academic activities. Students
wishing to take part will enroll with the campus UIL
Coordinator. They will be assigned to the sponsoring
teacher/coach in the preferred subject/activity area and
will begin to prepare for the competition in the spring
semester. The tournaments are governed by state rules
and take place at regional levels. The regional tournaments
usually require travel to another school district on a
Saturday in the spring semester.