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IVA High School
Course Catalog and Descriptions
At IVA High, intellectual virtue development is a primary aim of our academic culture. Throughout our disciplines, we take a learner-centered approach to project based learning. This means we create opportunities for everyone to learn in our classes through the development of projects that are personal, relevant, and impactful to our learners and their respective communities. We give learners’ voice. We push them to make connections, collaborate, critique, revise, and apply their ideas. We encourage them to explore open-ended questions, and analyze pressing contemporary issues. Through this process, our learners create a culture of thinking rooted in virtues like curiosity, autonomy, thoroughness, and humility. This approach both rewards and further encourages intellectual virtue development.
The courses that contain a * are UC Doorways approved. Courses with ** are dual enrollment courses offered on our campus. These courses provide students with high school and college credit.
ALGEBRA I (*College Prep & Honors)
We use algebra everyday, yet class can feel so far from our everyday lives. In Algebra I at IVA High, we bring our lives into the classroom. We begin by exploring math, our brains, and the math mindsets. Then we explore the intersection between algebra and our lives by developing personal budgets, telling stories with data, creating ads, or analyzing cookie recipes. Throughout the process, we strengthen the fundamentals of algebra, but IVA mathematicians don’t just calculate… we actively build understanding.
*ALGEBRA II (College Prep & Honors)
Algebra II is a year-long course that expands on the foundation of knowledge built in Algebra I--namely the fundamental properties of the real number system. Algebra II takes those concepts further and addresses the complex number system as well. Algebra II is fully aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics in both content and its guidelines for Mathematical Practice. The course is designed as an exploration of mathematical concepts through solving complex problems and learning within that context through experimenting, investigating, asking questions, making and testing conjectures, reflecting on your work, and then communicating your ideas. These lessons and concepts form the foundation for the higher mathematical understanding that comes in other subjects like Geometry or Pre-Calculus.
*AMERICAN HISTORY (College Prep & Honors)
In this course students examine major developments and turning points in American history from the country’s inception to the present. During the year the following themes are emphasized: the expanding role of the federal government; the emergence of a modern corporate economy and the role of organized labor; the role of the federal government in regulating the economy; the impact of technology on American society and culture; changes in racial, ethnic, and gender dynamics in American society; the movements toward equal rights for racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities and women; and the rise of the United States as a major world power.
*ART (College Prep, AP)
Think like an artist! Using elements of art and principles of design, IVA High artists observe, explore, question and create. While actively engaging in the process of art creation in multiple mediums and styles, students critically investigate thematic questions like, “ What is art?” and “What can we learn about culture through studying art forms?”. Throughout the process of art making and reflection, students reach a more nuanced understanding of the interaction between art, artist, and culture.
*ART II
For centuries, artists have relied on tactile mediums to evoke, provoke, or even joke. But what happens when
the medium is no longer tactile? How can an artist elicit emotion or bring forth a spirit of acute wonderment if
the medium itself is not clearly defined? That is the challenge of today’s artists and acts as the jumping off point for this course.
Throughout the year, you’ll be given an overview of Unreal Engine, a top platform not only for game
development and the creation of cutting-edge real-time 3D environments, but an essential tool driving important fields like VR/AR, training, architectural visualization, and more. By way of Unreal Engine, you will establish a deeper connection with the world around you and attempt to translate that experience into the engine. The structure of this course is set up to offer a window into multiple areas essential to interactive 3D production, while laying the groundwork to go deeper in time. By the end of this course, you’ll know many of the core tools and techniques needed to hone different 3D-related skills, as well as which resources will allow you to effectively continue your journey into the growing field of interactive 3D.
There has never been a more exciting time to be an artistic anarchist. The cultural landscape is in flux and the only thing expected is the unexpected. As society is connecting more and more with an impossible-to-define online world, as artists, it’s our time to redefine reality by deepening our own connecting to reality.
*VISUAL ART
The Visual Art Class will deliver a two-part curriculum that explores the thinking and perceiving of art along with a n art-making studio practice. All levels of artistic ability will feel comfortable with the challenges presented as students will carefully be guided step by step in all creative and academic endeavors. This class will expose students to the broader world of art while helping them discover, understand and amplify their unique, creative perspective and artistic voice. Students are encouraged to follow their instincts and intuition to enhance or expand upon art assignment concepts to suit their personal vision. This connection to the student’s own life, personal experiences and artistic choices are valued greatly in this class as they make for meaningful, relevant artwork.
Students will explore ideas about art, artists and art movements through a series of activities, games and guided discussions. Independent efforts outside class time is an essential component of the learning experience in this class. Students will gain knowledge of and be able to use proper art terminology when describing and analyzing works of art including their own creative efforts. This year’s overarching essential question for 10-12 graders is “What creates change and a movement?” This question as well as other shared themes from History, Philosophy and Science have been integrated into the art curriculum. This will allow students to synthesize a deeper and broader understanding of the context of ideas from several different perspectives.
*BIOLOGY (College Prep, Honors & AP)
Is there life on Mars? No, but could there be? What would it take to sustain life on Mars? This is the question that drives IVA High biologists through their investigation of the concepts of life. Students will explore the connections between living things and their environment by thinking about what the harsh Martian environment needs to be habitable. To fully navigate the problem of Martian living, IVA High biologists will need to study genetics, ecosystems, and evolution by natural selection.
*BIOLOGY - The Living Earth (College Prep, Honors)
The Living Earth course explores relationships between the living and nonliving components of Earth’s systems. In the course, we will be exploring aspects of our planet that includes ecosystems, evolution of species, genetics, and even impacts that humans have on the Earth. The overarching goals of this course is that students will understand the diversity and complexity of the living world and the impacts that humans can have on this world. In Living Earth, students will get a deeper understanding of content materials when they utilize aspects of the Next Generation Science Standards and California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts to formulate questions, make claims based on evidence, evaluate and develop models to make interpretations and investigate the natural world. What excites me about teaching Living Earth is that students will have a chance to finally figure out what makes the planet so unique in terms of the abundance of life it holds, and what roles they can play in sustaining that life on our planet for years to come.
Biology - The Living Earth Syllabus
*COLLEGE, CAREER & LIFE
The College, Career, and Life course will prepare students for life after IVA High. We will aim to explore different college and career options while reflecting on and developing skills needed to be successful post high school. During the fall semester, students will be researching colleges/trade schools, completing college/trade school applications, and learning about financial aid/literacy. In addition, students will reflect on their role as a digital citizen and what are best practices when it comes to using technology and digital media. In the spring semester, students will explore their career interests while completing an internship with one of our community partners. The goal of this internship is to gain on the job experience while applying skills learned during class to a real world experience. In addition to the internship, students will work to create/refine resumes, cover letters, and engage in mock interviews. At the end of the spring semester, students will create a reflective presentation that encompasses their internship experience.
College, Career, and Life Syllabus
*CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS (College Prep & Honors)
Physics is the study of the laws, principles, and phenomena that make our universe function the way it does. In Conceptual Physics, students will study concepts such as force, motion, and energy in a hands-on and practical way. Each unit will contain various labs, activities, and projects designed to aid in the students’ understanding of the material as well as give them real-world examples of how physics is part of their everyday lives. Students explore force and motion through discussions of vehicle safety and roller coaster engineering. They explore sound and light through waves, paper circuits, mirrors and lenses. The goal of these various activities is for students to actively engage in the curriculum, use their creativity to solve problems and answer questions, and ultimately gain a better understanding of how the universe around them works. A major focus for this class will be the scientific process as well as analyzing and interpreting data.
**COUNSELING 1 - Orientation to College Success - LBCC Dual Enrollment
This college course (taught by a Long Beach Community College Professor and IVA High Teacher) contains an introduction to the principles of student development theory, student conduct, academic procedures, policies, goal setting, educational planning, and LBCC student support services. Students will learn the various academic opportunities of higher education in California, and develop a tentative educational plan to achieve personal and academic goals.
*CREATIVE WRITING (College Prep & Honors)
You are a writer. You seek to be understood and to understand. What distinguishes this year’s English curriculum from previous years is that we will see written, visual and auditory texts from the perspective of a creative writer. You will develop your style, voice and imagination. We’ll brainstorm together, workshop together, and publish together.
For writer’s who don’t quite believe that they are writers, we’ll have lots of “Word Fun” to build your confidence. And for writer’s who are already privately producing work, they’ll learn techniques to avoid writer’s block and come up with new, inspirational ideas. Over the course of the year, we’ll examine critical elements of character creation, dialogue, description, conflict, and word choice. You will gather a portfolio that includes your original quick pieces, character sketches, anecdotes, short stories, and nonfiction articles. To celebrate and curate all this creative output, writers will develop and maintain an online portfolio.
Writers in the Honors class will oversee a schoolwide literary journal by curating and editing work from other classes, as well as producing their own chapbook of original writing. Throughout the year, the Honors class will coordinate community reading events and open mics at local coffee shops.
ENGLISH: COMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA
Try as we might, escaping advertising and marketing messages is nearly impossible. Then again, business communications are an essential part of our economy, democracy and humanity.
This English course uses advertising, marketing and public relations material as the content for students to learn and apply Common Core State Standards. By studying how marketers effectively communicate to their audience and build connections with language, our writers will consume and create content more critically and creatively. Over the course of the year, students will study advertising campaigns and marketing strategies as well as practice their own business pitches and marketing creations on independent and team projects. Guest speakers from advertising agencies and marketing companies will occasionally work with our class to deepen our understanding or collaborate on projects. (This is a new course. Approval for UC Doorways will be submitted in February 2024.)
Communications and Media Syllabus
*ENGLISH 9 (College Prep)
The mission of IVA High’s English department is to help students grow as creative and empathetic critical thinkers and communicators. Learners will read challenging fiction and non-fiction from diverse perspectives, discuss their inquiries and interpretations, write for a variety of real-world purposes, and present their ideas. Learners develop an appreciation for how multiple perspectives enhance their own values and understanding.
In English 9 specifically, students will learn the skills necessary for high school reading, writing, speaking and listening. They will recognize and value the craft and artistry of word choice. Students will follow their curiosity and creativity to grow as interpreters of texts and effective communicators. The direction of study is directly aligned with Common Core State Standards, designed to make students career and college ready.
ENGLISH 9 (Honors)
It’s all about the words. Students will learn to recognize and value the craft and artistry of word choice. This year, students will follow their curiosity and creativity to use and respect the power of language and grow as effective communicators. The direction of study is directly aligned with Common Core State Standards, designed to make students career and college ready. Then again, with the interesting projects we’ll work on, it may just seem like we’re having fun. And we will. In order for this magic to happen, a student must be open-minded to self-discovery, develop productive study habits, and participate in class. We will mostly work with a wide variety of teacher curated supplemental texts in addition to the textbook, California Connections. Students will have access to a hard copy and an online version.
*ENGLISH: LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION (College Prep & Honors & AP)
It’s all about the words. Students will learn to recognize and value the craft and artistry of word choice. Learners will follow their curiosity and creativity to use and respect the power of language and grow as effective communicators. The direction of study is directly aligned with Common Core State Standards, designed to make learners career and college ready. Then again, with the interesting projects we’ll work on, it may just seem like we’re having fun. And we will.
In order for this magic to happen, a learner must be open-minded to self-discovery, develop productive study habits, and participate in class. Classroom text includes a wide variety of authors specifically chosen to introduce learners to engaging writers, compelling stories and outstanding examples of the art of language. Most of the essays in this class will be in the form of letters to a particular audience so writers are focused on the needs, expectations and motivations of their potential readers.
Language & Composition Syllabus
English AP Language and Composition
*ENGLISH: LITERATURE & COMPOSITION (College Prep & Honors & AP)
English: Literature and Composition (Eng Lit & Comp and Eng Lit & Comp H) builds upon students' foundation of critical reading and analytical writing skills. Through texts that range from investigative journalism, essays, articles and historical documents to a novel, drama, poetry and short stories, students analyze the use of elements of literature and nonfiction. As they develop their writing skills and respond to claims, students learn to refine arguments and organize evidence to support their position. To hone their listening and speaking skills, students engage in a variety of media types through which they analyze and synthesize information, discuss material, create presentations, and share their work. Students build their writing and speaking skills in journal responses, discussions, frequent free-response exercises, and essays or presentations, learning to communicate clearly and credibly in the narrative, argumentative, and explanatory styles.
Literature and Composition Syllabus
Literature and Composition AP Syllabus
*ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (College Prep & Honors)
Environmental Science is the study of the natural world and how humans interact with the environment. This class will focus on many different aspects of the environment including environmental ethics, government policy, human impacts, and use of resources. The overarching goal of this class is for students to learn more about how they affect the world they live in and for them to gain a better appreciation for the natural systems that we sometimes take for granted.
“The Earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry
Environmental Science Syllabus
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT (ELD)
We work in partnership with our English language learners, supporting their English acquisition across all academic subjects. The ELD coordinator works with English learners and their teachers to identify what support will be most helpful for their development of Academic language skills. Each student's program is tailored to their strengths and needs, with options for push-in or pull-out assistance with classroom learning as well as structured language practice using National Geographic's Academic Vocabulary Toolkit and Edge textbooks. Students' culture and native languages are an asset for our community, and our ELD program helps students apply their heritage language skills to an English language setting.
El programa del desarrollo de la lengua inglesa acompaña y apoya las clases de otras asignaturas. La coordinadora trabaja con los estudiantes y sus maestros para identificar qué apoyo les resultará más útil. Se adapta el programa individualmente por las habilidades y necesidades de cada estudiante. Por ejemplo, un estudiante puede recibir instrucción en lenguaje académico y/o apoyo individual en las demás clases. Se usan los libros de texto Academic Vocabulary Toolkit (Herramientas del vocabulario académico) y Edge. El primer lenguaje de un estudiante es una gran ventaja, y nuestro programa ayuda a los estudiantes a aplicar sus habilidades de español en sus clases que son espacios dominados por inglés.
*ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY- PLTW (College Prep & Honors)
Environmental Sustainability (ES) is a high school level course in the Project Lead the Way Engineering pathway. In Environmental Sustainability, students investigate and design solutions to solve real world-challenges related to clean drinking water, a stable food supply, and renewable energy. Students are introduced to environmental issues and use the engineering design process to research and design potential solutions. Utilizing the activity-, project-, problem-based (APB) teaching and learning, students transition from completing structured activities to solving open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop professional skills such as planning, documentation, and communication. Through both individual and collaborative team activities, projects, and problems, students problem solve as they practice common design and scientific protocols such as project management, lab techniques, and peer review. Students develop skills in designing experiments, conducting research, executing technical skills, documenting design solutions according to accepted technical standards, and creating presentations to communicate solutions. Building enthusiasm for and a real understanding of the role, impact, and practice of environmental sustainability is a primary goal of the course.
Environmental Sustainability Syllabus
*ETHICS (College Prep & Honors)
Our central question for this course is “What is the right thing to do?” By engaging with contemporary moral problems through readings, films, discussions, thinking routines, thought experiments, writing, creative projects and reflection, we will inquire what constitutes morally right action. Through this inquiry, we will develop key skills that underlie moral argumentation, engage with both historical and contemporary philosophical works, and gain familiarity with and command over key philosophical concepts and movements.
*FINITE MATH (College Prep & Honors)
Finite Math (CP & H) is a year-long, mathematical modeling course that is built on how Algebra, Geometry, and other non-Calculus math concepts apply to both the real world and our lived experiences. It’s designed to introduce students to a wide range of less traditional, advanced math topics and to help them build an appreciation for the beauty and complexity of mathematics. The general intention is to start with a topic, complex problem, or idea, and then explore it through inquiry, experiment, and research. From there students will build up knowledge and demonstrate mastery through practice and application of math processes and procedures. Essentially, finite math is a course designed to bridge the theoretical gap between pure and applied mathematics through a variety of topics of study. To those ends, it covers a broad range of mathematical concepts ranging from graphing and graph theory to deductive and inductive reasoning to periodic functions and music theory. Finite Math Honors is aligned with the Common Core Math Standards, as well as the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice. The Honors version of the class includes additional projects and extensions to provide for a deeper learning experience.
*FORENSIC SCIENCE (College Prep & Honors)
This course combines aspects of earth and physical science as well as biology, chemistry, as well as physics, and anatomy. It teaches students how to use critical thinking, deductive reasoning, laboratory techniques, and problem solving skills. These skills are then related to real-life situations and criminal law cases. Students use reality and research based activities to investigate complex scenarios and learn various scientific methods for solving real-world problems. This course focuses on the following overall student outcomes:
- Apply scientific laboratory processes and techniques to the solving of a crime
- Determine and perform the most appropriate method of testing samples while obtaining the most accurate results;
- Evaluate the scientific accuracy of various fields of forensic science; and
- Predict and appropriately communicate the results of evidence collection and evaluation.
*GEOMETRY (College Prep & Honors)
Geometry is a year-long course built on the fundamental properties of geometric relationships and mathematical reasoning. It fulfills one of the two required math courses in the California High School Course Requirements, one of the three required math courses in both the UC/CSU Course Requirements and the Intellectual Virtues Academy’s Graduation Requirements. Geometry is fully aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics in both content and its guidelines for Mathematical Practice.
Topics will include geometric relationships, logical reasoning, mathematical arguments, proportional reasoning, polygons and angles, circles, transformations, coordinate geometry, and trigonometry amongst some other concepts and topics that develop naturally out of a study from the main ones listed. The course is designed as an exploration of math and concepts through solving complex problems and learning within that context through experimenting, investigating, asking questions, making and testing conjectures, reflecting on your work, and then communicating your ideas. More specifically, the goal is to learn about mathematics by doing mathematics–building, designing, proving, exploring, experimenting.
*GOVERNMENT & ECONOMICS
U.S. Government incorporates the structure, organization, and function of the American political system. Topics studied include: foundations of the United States government, the three major branches of government, and the Constitution. Students will study the details of the political system at the national, state, and local levels as well as individuals’ identity within the political spectrum. Both courses will extend student’s understanding of the world around them through an exploration of the United States Government and economy. Students will explore the role of government and economy in their own lives.
Economics is a required course that is designed to deepen your understanding of the American economic system and fundamental economic principles that you will confront in your future.
*HUMANITIES: SELF & SOCIETY
“Humanities: Self and Society” is a year-long, co-taught English course with a decidedly philosophical bent. Guided by CA common core English standards, we will explore values, how our values shape us, where our values come from, and how our values affect our interactions with the world. Through reading, writing, analysis, discussion, and project development, we will explore our own values and those of our communities. We will do so by engaging with units such as:
- In the beginning… (origin stories)
- The treachery of images (art and imagery)
- Have you seen the one where? (popular culture)
- 24 hours a day (news, opinion, and the age of information)
In exploring these topics, students will deepen their reading comprehension, develop their abilities as writers, conduct analysis of multiple sources, engage in relevant and meaningful socratic discussions, and explore philosophical questions that grow from our exploration as a learning community.
Humanities: Self & Society Syllabus
**INTRODUCTION TO ACTING 101 - LBCC Dual Enrollment
Coming Spring 2024
**LEARN 11 - LBCC Dual Enrollment
Learn 11 is a class where you are the subject. It is a learning and academic strategies course designed to help you discover how you learn best by applying practical strategies to strengthen your academic success. In addition, you will explore the psychological, social and physical factors that influence success in college and in life.
*LOGIC & CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT
This is a course about logic and critical engagement. This can take many forms. It means engaging with the ideas of others; it means scrutinizing the dominant norms, policies, and traditions that characterize our communities; and it means closely and frequently examining our own beliefs and assumptions. As the quotes above indicate, such a disposition relies on recognizing our own deficiencies as knowers, our connection to those in our community, and the responsibility we have to engage and reflect with the world around us. In this course, we will 1) aim to develop the habits of mind and heart that underlie logical engagement and 2) strengthen the underlying skills that guide critical engagement in all of its forms
Throughout the year, we will develop our argumentative skills through concepts and practice in:
- Deductive reasoning (syllogisms and proofs)
- Inductive reasoning (inferences, causes, and probabilistic evidence)
- Fallacies (bad forms of reasoning)
- Rhetoric (The way we say things to the particular audiences we address)
To engage these abstract concepts, we will critique and analyze contemporarily relevant arguments in areas like:
- Evidence based public policy (COVID, Climate Change, etc.)
- Systems of oppression and exploitation (School to prison pipeline, mass incarceration, economic inequality, etc.)
- Political theater (campaign speeches, smear campaigns, socio-political movements)
Logicians will complete this course able to see the complexity of the world with more clarity, critique it more openly and precisely, and more vividly define and defend directions for change.
*PERSONAL FINANCE (College Prep & Honors)
Personal Finance is a year-long, mathematical modeling course that covers college preparatory topics from Algebra, Statistics, Probability, mathematical modeling, and Pre-Calculus in addition to a more traditional computational finance approach. As students continue on past high school, they will need to both make and spend money in a variety of contexts, and this class is designed to teach them how to do that responsibly. The goal is that students will engage with finances and money in ways that are both relevant and helpful for their day-to-day lives and their futures. In that sense, it’s built to encourage problem-solving skills and strategies in multiple contexts, with the end goal of having students ask questions about things that interest them and then having them find the answers and make their own decisions that they can justify. There are several different opportunities to use, construct, question, model, and interpret financial situations. It provides students a motivating, young-adult centered financial context for understanding and applying the mathematics that they are guaranteed to use in the future. The course is aligned with the recommendations of the Common Core State Standards, including those for Mathematical Practice.
*PHILOSOPHY (College Prep & Honors)
Who are you? What makes you you? What gives your life a sense of purpose? How do you know what you know? Do you really know it? In Philosophy, students investigate these big questions while building an autobiographical portfolio. Their final portfolio will include projects from throughout the year such as the self-portrait, personal soundtrack, intergenerational interview, and ‘north stars’ of meaning and purpose. In the end, our analysis and reflection deepens our knowledge of self and the world we share.
Introduction to Philosophy Syllabus
*PHILOSOPHY OF FILM
The mission of IVA High’s Humanities department is to foster critical, reflective, and collaborative modes of inquiry that support the flourishing of communities, relationships, and self. Learners will explore big questions, philosophical texts, contemporary issues, community connections, and their own understandings. They will develop meaningful projects by synthesizing diverse texts and media, participating in socratic discussions, collaborating with peers and community partners, building nuanced arguments, and engaging in self-reflection.
Learners develop the capacity to investigate and navigate a complex world, build meaning from chaos, and integrate their own standpoint within their communities. The central theme of this course is “reflection / extension”. In analyzing a series of films, we will reflect on philosophical connections in our own lives, confront limitations of our own perspectives, and enrich our understanding of the world insofar as film can allow us “to see the world as another person sees it”. Through this inquiry, we will develop key skills that underlie philosophical argumentation, engage with both historical and contemporary philosophical works, and gain familiarity with and command over key philosophical concepts.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION/HEALTH
In PE, we teach games for understanding. Students take the lead in understanding gameplay, designing strategies, and mastering appropriate skills for various sports and games. Their understanding of fitness and gameplay develops as students make playbooks, participate in peer coaching, and create personal fitness plans. Students' efforts in PE are supported by a health curriculum focusing on personal health and how it relates to activity and fitness. Through active participation, students gain autonomy over their personal fitness and health.
*PRECALCULUS
Precalculus is a comprehensive course that weaves together previous study of algebra, geometry, and functions into a preparatory course for calculus. The course focuses on the mastery of critical skills and exposure to new skills necessary for success in subsequent math courses. The first semester includes linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, radical, polynomial, and rational functions; systems of equations; and conic sections. The second semester covers trigonometric ratios and functions; inverse trigonometric functions; applications of trigonometry, including vectors and laws of cosine and sine; polar functions and notation; and arithmetic of complex numbers.
Additionally, connections are made throughout the Precalculus course to calculus, art, history, and a variety of other fields related to mathematics.
In the Honors course, Explore activities help students see further connections to other disciplines and other areas of mathematics, including calculus and geometry. Teacher-scored unit tests and semester exams are more open-ended and challenging than their Core counterparts, and Projects allow students to apply advanced mathematics in real-world contexts. The is an online course, supported by an IVA High teacher on campus. It is built to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards and is aligned with state standards.
RESOURCE SPECIALIST PROGRAM (RSP)
We are an inclusive learning community who mainstreams our students into the general education classroom. RSP is a small, supportive academic environment designed to meet the needs of students who have been identified with mild to moderate learning disabilities. We work in partnership with our students who have Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and their support team, to assist their skill development across all academic subjects and with their social development. The RSP coordinator works with our students and their teachers to identify what support will be most helpful for their individual goals. Each student's program is tailored to their strengths and needs, with options for push-in or pull-out assistance with classroom learning. Students' culture and learning styles are an asset for our community and our RSP program helps students apply their unique abilities to a holistic learning approach.
RSP class is designed to assist students learn, understand, and reinforce concepts and/or assignments presented in the general curriculum. Students have the opportunity to develop and strengthen good study habits and learning strategies through various instructional methods and strategies. Specific goals and objectives identified in the student’s IEP will be integrated into the class.
Resource Support Program Syllabus
*SCIENCE FICTION AS LITERATURE
Science Fiction as Literature (Sci Fi as Lit) is an English elective that allows us to engage with the English standards in reading, writing, speaking and listening by studying speculative fiction texts. Through science fiction, we'll think about technology, human psychology, philosophy, and ethics. We'll also look at writer's craft in world-building, character development, and creating suspense. Students will analyze fiction and non-fiction texts, present their ideas, and write their own short stories.
*SEMINAR (AP)
AP Seminar is an inquiry-based course that aims to engage students in cross-curricular research and conversations to explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics/ issues. Students explore these complexities via thematic connections between multiple perspectives and lenses (e.g., cultural, social, artistic, philosophical, political, historical, environmental, economic, scientific, futuristic, ethical) [CR1]. They gain a rich appreciation and understanding of these real-world issues by reading articles and research studies; reading foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; viewing and listening to speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances [CR3].
Students are empowered with the skills necessary to research and analyze information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments [CR2], while practicing ethical research [CR4]. Students also work collaboratively with a team to identify, investigate, analyze, and evaluate a real-world or academic problem or issue; consider and evaluate alternatives or options; propose one or more solutions or resolutions; and present and defend the argument for their solutions through a multimedia presentation [CR5]. Students then work independently to identify another research question based on provided stimulus material from the College Board; research the issue; analyze, evaluate, and select evidence to develop an argument; present and defend a conclusion; and produce a multimedia presentation to be delivered to their peers [CR6].
*SPANISH I
In this year long course, our goal will be to acquire the Spanish language. “Acquiring” a language is very different from “learning” a language. When you learned how to speak your first language, you acquired it naturally by listening to other people speak it around you for a long time; not by studying it. Therefore, almost all of our class time will be spent using Spanish--not using English to talk about Spanish--and the main focus will be on listening and reading which will lead to speaking and writing skills. Those skills will come naturally as you take in more and more Spanish by listening and reading. You will be amazed to see what you can do with speaking and writing with a strong foundation in listening and reading. We will focus our class time on the acquisition of high frequency structures (the most frequently used words in a language); between three and six new target structures each week. (You will learn more than this, but you will only be assessed on the target structures.) We will use these structures in class discussions, stories, and cultural explorations, and you will be expected to recognize them when you read or hear them and, in time, be able to produce them in speech and writing.
In addition to vocabulary, stories, and cultural explorations, you will be completing projects which emphasize and place value on diverse perspectives and experiences. They will allow you to communicate your ideas in Spanish through scaffolded steps which allows for peer and student feedback. The course and projects are aligned with ACTFL World Language Standards. Spanish 1 will be focused on the foundational language needed to introduce oneself, ask questions, make descriptions about people and objects, and describe events.
*SPANISH II
In this year long course, our goal will be to acquire the Spanish language. “Acquiring” a language is very different from “learning” a language. When you learned how to speak your first language, you acquired it naturally by listening to other people speak it around you for a long time; not by studying it. Therefore, almost all of our class time will be spent using Spanish--not using English to talk about Spanish--and the main focus will be on listening and reading which will lead to speaking and writing skills. Those skills will come naturally as you take in more and more Spanish by listening and reading. You will be amazed to see what you can do with speaking and writing with a strong foundation in listening and reading. We will focus our class time on the acquisition of high frequency structures (the most frequently used words in a language); between three and six new target structures each week. (You will learn more than this, but you will only be assessed on the target structures.) We will use these structures in class discussions, stories, and cultural explorations, and you will be expected to recognize them when you read or hear them and, in time, be able to produce them in speech and writing.
In addition to vocabulary, stories, and cultural explorations, you will be completing projects which emphasize and place value on diverse perspectives and experiences. They will allow you to communicate your ideas in Spanish through scaffolded steps which allows for peer and student feedback. The course and projects are aligned with ACTFL World Language Standards. Spanish II will be focused on deeper cultural topics and more complex readings. Students will engage in self-reflection on language acquisition progress and growth through the school year.
*21ST CENTURY GLOBAL ISSUES
What creates change and a movement? How have these changes impacted your life today? Our study will center around learning about current global issues. These issues include Democracy, the Enlightenment/Renaissance, Human Rights, Global Terrorism, Industrialization, Climate Change, and Refugees. Students will gain a key understanding of the historical context, geography, and cultures discussed.
Students will be able to critically link the past to the present by using writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and high levels of literacy. They will engage in formal and informal discussions, practice historical analysis of primary and secondary sources. These practices lead to development and strengthening of Intellectual Virtues throughout the course of the year.
"The past isn't dead. It's not even past" - William Faulkner.
21st Century Global Issues Syllabus
*WORLD HISTORY
In this course students examine major developments and turning points in World History from the Enlightenment to the Cold War while taking a look at how history is connected to modern day. Students will have the opportunity to examine countries, cultures, and time periods through a political, economic, and social lens. The overarching goal of this class is for students to understand cause and effect relationships throughout history, interactions among groups of people and social processes, and the identification of multiple perspectives on the past.
