Jordan Middle School
8th grade Guide
8th Grade Course Selections
7th graders will enroll in each of the following content areas for their 8th-grade year:
- ELA or ELA Advanced or ELA GT
- Math or Algebra 1 (Must have completed 6th & 7th grade advanced math courses)
- U.S. History or U.S. History Advanced or U.S. History GT
- Science or Science Advanced or Science GT
- PE or Dance 1 or **Dance 2 or ***Dance 3 or ****Athletics
- *****MAPS/Communication Application or ******AVID 1
- Elective Course
- Elective Course
**Students must have already taken Dance 1 in order to be in Dance 2.
***Students must have already taken Dance 2 in order to be in Dance 3.
****Students must have a coach's approval in order to be in Athletics. Contact one of the coaches for inquires:
Students in Athletics must have a completed physical form. The form can be found below:
- Girl's Coach: pamela.hall@nisd.net
- Boy's Coach: larry.bailey@nisd.net
The following two high school credit courses (MAPS & Comm Apps) are each semester classes combined to make a one year course.
*****MAPS: This course supports a successful transition into high school by developing the skills necessary for a successful academic career. Students will develop the specific strategies to achieve personal and professional goals. Based on individual learning styles and interests, students will develop critical time management, organization, and study skills, with a focus on character education and leadership. ******Note: This course satisfies an elective requirement for high school graduation.
*****Communication Applications: Students will identify, analyze, develop, and evaluate communication skills needed for professional and social success in interpersonal situations, group interactions, and formal and informal professional presentations. ******Note: This course satisfies the NISD Speech requirement for high school graduation.
******AVID 1: Is an academic elective course that prepares students for college readiness and success. Each week, students receive instruction utilizing a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, tutor-facilitated study groups, motivational activities and academic success skills. In AVID, students participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading to support their academic growth. Students in AVID 1 must take at least one advanced course.
~Prerequisite: Application and interview
~Note: This course serves as a substitute for Communication Applications and Methodology for Academic and Personal Success (MAPS). Students who successfully complete AVID 1 will fulfill the NISD Speech requirement for high school graduation.
Please contact pamela.watson@nisd.net for AVID inquires.
Advanced Courses
Northside offers many Advanced courses to middle school students. Participation in advanced academic courses is a foundation of college readiness. Students who participate in advanced coursework are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in college and typically have higher grades in college.
Northside ISD recognizes the value of student participation in rigorous academic coursework and encourages students to graduate from high school with at least one advanced academic course credit such as Advanced Placement. Our collective purpose is to ensure
student success in middle school Advanced courses and provide opportunities for higher levels of learning in future grades.
Advanced courses are intended to develop students’ literacy, problem-solving skills, and analysis. These middle school classes are designed to challenge students through rigorous instruction and complex learning tasks in order to prepare them for success in future Advanced classes, AP classes, and college courses.
***If you would like for your student to earn high school Algebra 1 credit in 8th grade, your student must have already been following the sequence below:
Gifted and Talented
Identified GT students may choose ONE GT content course each year in:
- English Language Arts or
- Science or
- Social Studies.
Each year’s course selection is independent of the previous year. GT courses emphasize strategies such as depth and complexity, creative problem solving, and critical thinking. These strategies are integrated throughout the curriculum in order to foster leadership and maximize opportunities for independent thinking.
In addition to GT content courses, students may also select Math Advanced courses in which both enrichment and acceleration opportunities are available.
Course selection is not guaranteed due to campus enrollment and staffing. Please give careful consideration to GT content selection.
***To request for your child to be GT tested in 6th grade, please contact: martha.gonzalez@nisd.net
8th grade Electives
8th Grade Elective Options:
- Beginning Band or Intermediate Band or Advanced Band
- Beginning Orchestra or Intermediate Orchestra or Advanced Orchestra
- Beginning Choir or Intermediate Choir or Advanced Choir
- Beginning Theatre or Intermediate Theatre or Advanced Theatre
- Dance 1 or Dance 2 or Dance 3 (must not be enrolled in the P.E. credit class)
- Beginning Art or Intermediate Art or Advanced Art (HS Credit) or Art 1 (HS Credit)
- PBS Future Lab 8 (Cannot currently be in PBS Future Lab 7)
- Principles of Human Services (HS Credit)
- STEM Future Lab 8 (Cannot currently be in STEM Future Lab 7)
- Principals of Applied Engineering (HS Credit)
- Journalism (Yearbook)
- Spanish 1 (HS Credit) or Spanish 2 (HS Credit) or Spanish 2 Advanced (HS Credit)
- Office Aid (Application required)
Beginning Band
Band Beginner Level is designed to teach students how to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. No prior music experience or knowledge is required. Students will learn to read music, produce good tone quality, learn rhythm skills, and perform music. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Band concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.
Instructor: Chris Esparza- chris.esparza@nisd.net
Intermediate Band
***Prerequisite: Beginner Band
Advanced Band
*Placement is determined by directors.
Beginning Orchestra
Instructor: Sarah Hayter- sarah.hayter@nisd.net
Intermediate Orchestra
Orchestra Intermediate Level is designed for students to continue developing music fundamentals on violin, viola, cello, and string bass instruments introduced in
the beginner level class. Orchestra literature is more advanced and promotes increased teamwork, kinesthetic development, expression, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Orchestra concerts include music of all styles. Students earn awards for individual and ensemble mastery of skills.
***Prerequisite: Beginner Orchestra
Advanced Orchestra
***Prerequisite: Intermediate Orchestra
Beginning Treble Choir or Beginning Tenor/Bass
Instructor: Patricia Balmer- patricia.balmer@nisd.net
Intermediate Treble Choir or Intermediate Tenor/Bass
***Prerequisite: Beginner Treble Choir or Beginner Tenor/Bass Choir
Advanced Treble Choir or Advanced Tenor/Bass
***Prerequisite: Intermediate Treble Choir
Beginning Theatre
Instructor: Priscilla Villanueva- priscilla.villanueva@nisd.net
Intermediate Theatre
***Prerequisite: Beginner Theatre
Advanced Theatre Arts
***Prerequisite: Intermediate Theatre
Dance 1
The first dance course in middle school is designed to give students the opportunity to develop and execute beginner skills in ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, musical theatre dance, and world dance forms. Various dance genres and styles will be explored while improving students’ technique, self-confidence, creative ability, and concept of wellness. Dance students will have ensemble performance opportunities. No prior dance experience is required.
*Middle School Dance may be taken as an elective, or as a fulfillment of the PE requirement. Students who wish to use MS Dance to fulfill the PE requirement should NOT enroll in this course, but should rather enroll in Dance MS 1 PE (#5091)
Instructor:
Dance 2
***Prerequisite: Dance MS 1
*Middle School Dance may be taken as an elective, or as a fulfillment of the PE requirement. Students who wish to use MS Dance to fulfill the PE requirement should NOT enroll in this course, but should rather enroll in Dance MS 2 PE (#5092)
Dance 3
***Prerequisite: Dance MS 2
*Middle School Dance may be taken as an elective, or as a fulfillment of the PE requirement. Students who wish to use MS Dance to fulfill the PE requirement should NOT enroll in this course, but should rather enroll in Dance MS 3 PE (#5093)
Beginner Art
Intermediate Art
***Prerequisite: Beginner Art MS 1
Advanced Art HS (High School Credit)
This high school credit course is designed for the middle school student who has completed Beginner Art MS 1 and Intermediate Art MS 2 and wishes to continue the study of art at a rigorous level. Students investigate and apply techniques in drawing, painting, printmaking, 3-D art forms, fiber, digital art and compositions of mixed media. Students work toward mastery level in originality and creativity. Students personalize their learning and design their curriculum to enrich peaked interest in mastery of art skills. The course is designed for students with high interest in rich art experiences.
***Prerequisite: Intermediate Art MS 2
Students who successfully complete this course will earn 1.0 high school credit.
Art 1 HS (High School Credit)
***Prerequisite: None
Students who successfully complete this course will earn 1.0 high school credit.
PBS Future Lab 7
***Prerequisite: None
Principles of Human Services (High School Credit)
***Prerequisite: None
STEM Future Lab 7
***Prerequisite: None
Principles of Applied Engineering (High School Credit)
***Prerequisite: None
Students who successfully complete this course will earn 1.0 high school credit.
Journalism/Yearbook
This course provides the study of current print and digital trends in yearbook design, layout, and publishing in order to develop and produce the school yearbook. Coursework includes gathering and analyzing information, photography, and specialized writing.
***Prerequisite: None
Spanish 1 (High School Credit)
***Prerequisite: None
Students who successfully complete Spanish 1 will earn 1.0 high school credit.
Spanish 2 (High School Credit)
***Prerequisite: 70 or higher in Spanish 1, or 80 or higher on the Credit-by-Exam.
Students who successfully complete this course will earn 1.0 high school credit.
Spanish 2 Advanced (High School Credit)
This course exceeds the level 2 requirements by including many independent activities requiring performances in the target language. The students will continue to refine the four modes of communication by being exposed to an enriched and accelerated curriculum.
***Prerequisite: Recommended 90 or higher in Spanish 1, or 90 or higher on the Credit-by-Exam.
Students who successfully complete this course will earn 1.0 high school credit.
Spanish 3 Advanced (High School Credit)
***Prerequisite: Recommended 90 or higher in Spanish 2 or Spanish 2 Advanced, or 90 or higher on the Credit-by-Exam.
Students who successfully complete this course will earn 1.0 high school credit.
Jordan Contacts
Tania Perez
6th grade Counselor
(210) 397-6178
Erica Parra
7th grade Counselor
(210) 397-6176
Ryanne Barecky
8th grade Counselor
(210) 397-6177
Laurel Graham
Counseling & Grade Reporting Secretary
(210) 397-6182