Electives and exploratory courses (interest-based)
Interest-based electives are part of what makes the middle grades experience special. For the first time, students have a choice of which classes to take. They also begin to exercise autonomy while exploring personal interests and possible career choices.
The “exploratory wheel” is a common elective choice primarily for first-year students to the school. The exploratory "wheel" rotates several subjects during a one- or two-semester course, thereby exposing students to a variety of new experiences. Exploratory wheel electives often include short classes in art, music, drama, computer applications (including keyboarding when needed), foreign language or culture, food science, or other areas of specialty represented on the faculty. Exploratory classes offer students a range of opportunities or experiences that they may want to pursue in the future. Typically, sixth-grade students have an opportunity to select the seventh-grade electives they would like to take, unless they are required to take intervention classes.
Some schools offer a “power wheel” as a support class for all students who need academic and behavioral support. When the power wheel is scheduled at the same time as an elective wheel, it provides the opportunity to move between a selected wheel and the power wheel. The opportunity to move from a power wheel into interest-based classes can motivate students to work hard and keep up their grades.
The following examples demonstrate a two-semester schedule that includes a power wheel and possible exploratory wheel configurations. These classes may be offered at the same time, allowing students to move from one half-semester offering to another. (Some classes may have prerequisites, making it difficult for students to move from one themed wheel to another.)
| Power Wheel Configurations |
Half Semester |
Half Semester |
Half Semester |
Half Semester |
Student Skill
Building
|
Study skills |
Reading/Math
Support
|
Adolescent/ Leadership skills
|
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills |
Performing Arts |
Drama sampler |
Choir sampler |
Debate |
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills |
| Performing Arts |
Beginning band |
Beginning band
- continued
|
Debate |
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills |
Integrated Technology |
Keyboarding |
Computer applications |
Integrated technology lab or robotics |
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills |
Arts and Humanities |
Arts and crafts |
Publications |
Community service |
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills |
Arts and Humanities
|
Foreign language
|
Foreign language
- continued
|
Community service |
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills |
Career – Technical Education |
The Real Game, CareerZone (PDF; Outside Source)
|
Broadcast reporting – School TV and podcasting |
Culinary skills |
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills |
Science Sleuth |
Eye in the sky
(astronomy)
|
Big Dig
(archaeology)
|
Forensics (crime scene investigation)
|
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills |
Get Moving |
Hip-hop and line dance |
Drum and drill Team |
Swimming at the high school or surfing at the beach |
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills
|
Academic Enrichment |
Science Fair |
History Day |
Odyssey of the Mind |
7th - Health and family life
8th - Life skills |
In the Spotlight
Alvarado Intermediate School (Outside Source), a Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage 2004 model, Rowland Unified School District. The administration and staff at Alvarado developed exploratory and advanced elective courses that use students’ talents and accommodate students’ interests. Alvarado offers a variety of elective classes and exploratory classes that allow students to display their skills through performances, competitions, and projects.
Many middle schools serving low-achieving students face the challenge of eliminating electives and exploratory wheel classes so that they can focus on reading and math. However, it is possible to make room for electives—even in state-monitored schools that double math and reading periods.
- Before- and after-school electives, such as band, choir, and art, provide enrichment for students who cannot take them during the day.
- Academic enrichment centers (see previous section) provide options for students to explore specific interests, such as computer applications, outside the school day.
Clubs, ( See Chapter 5, Relationships, Relationship building through student clubs and connections ) can focus on career-related subjects outside the school day.
In the Spotlight
Toby Johnson Middle School (Outside Source), a Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage 2006 model, Elk Grove Unified School District. Electives at Toby Johnson always come in block period four. Seventh graders choose from art, band, computer technology, and public speaking. Eighth graders have a much wider selection: computer technology, video production, criminology, theater, choir, Spanish, 3-D art, consumer/family life, public speaking, leadership, or math support.
Gaspar De Portola Middle School (Outside Source), a Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage 2006 model, San Diego Unified School District. Electives include technology, media, Spanish, computers, cooking and sewing, band, art, and consumer and family studies classes. A late bus schedule allows students to participate in after-school drama, the “6-to-6” program (available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.), sports, and other activities.
Winship Middle School (Outside Source), Eureka City Unified School District. Every student enrolls in an academic class during seventh period and in one of many enrichment classes offered during either eighth or ninth period. Students who need additional makeup credits or who are below grade level and need more intervention can take academic classes during eighth period.
A strong exploratory program includes jazz band, orchestra, choir, band, art, computers, Spanish, speech, and drama. Other classes that are more academic include EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology), reading, English language development, core support/study skills, student government activities, and service-learning.
The 2005 California Distinguished Middle Schools Web site lists middle schools that have self-identified electives as one of their signature practices.
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Academic enrichment centers
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Gaining relevance through visual and performing arts