2015 School COURSE DESCRIPTIONS Riviera Preparatory School
GEOMETRY (9-12) Geometry presents students with concepts, definitions, properties, and applications of the course topics listed below. Students use various computational skills and strategies to solve mathematical problems and address real-world applications. Furthermore, they develop critical thinking and higher order thinking skills by connecting geometric and algebraic concepts to practical applications. Students are expected to work independently as well as part of a collaborative group. Topics include geometric reasoning and proofs; parallel and perpendicular lines; triangle congruence; properties and attributes of triangles, polygons, quadrilaterals, and circles; perimeter, area, surface area, and volume; right triangles in conjunction with trigonometry; transformations; and probability. The skills and concepts are integral to success on college placement exams. Completion of the summer course of study allows students to accelerate and expand their options in high school mathematics. TI-30XIIS Scientific or TI84 Plus Graphing Calculator is recommended for the course. GEOMETRY Honors (9-12) Geometry Honors, with accelerated pacing, presents concepts, definitions, properties, and applications of the course topics listed below. Students use various computational skills and strategies to solve mathematical problems and address real world applications. Furthermore, they develop critical thinking and higher order thinking skills by connecting geometric and algebraic concepts to practical applications. Students are expected to work independently and as part of a collaborative group. Topics include geometric reasoning with emphasis on proofs; parallel and perpendicular lines; triangle congruence; properties and attributes of triangles, polygons, quadrilaterals, and circles; perimeter, area, surface area, and volume; right triangles in conjunction with trigonometry; transformations; and probability. The skills and concepts are integral to success on college placement exams. Completion of the summer course of study allows students to accelerate and expand their options in high school mathematics. TI-30XIIS Scientific or TI84 Plus Graphing Calculator is recommended for the course. Prerequisite: grade of B- or higher in Algebra I Honors or grade of A- or higher in Algebra I; teacher recommendation PRE-ALGEBRA Honors (7-8) Pre-Algebra Honors accelerates instruction for students who wish to take Algebra I Honors in the fall. The same topics addressed in Pre-Algebra are studied in an accelerated format to assure students understand and can apply the concepts of mathematics for problem solving. Reinforcement of basic arithmetic concepts assures a smooth transition to algebraic principles in high school level mathematics. Prerequisite: grade of A- or higher in Math 6 Honors or Math 7; teacher recommendation Full summer session; 1 MS credit MUSIC TECHNIQUES (6-12) Music Techniques students focus on the development of musical and technical skills through etudes, scales, and selected music literature. Students in this class learn two instruments. They have the opportunity to choose among guitar, bass, percussion, piano, and any woodwind instrument (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, etc.) Students also explore the fundamental applications and tools of music technology and sound engineering. As they create and learn terminology, students also study the history and aesthetic development of technology used to capture, create, and distribute music. The course culminates with a recording at the end of the summer. Students are required to provide their own woodwind instrument (rented or owned). All other instruments are available for use at school. Instrument required Fulfills Fine Art requirement for students in grades 9-12 Full summer session; 1 MS or HS credit 2
SPANISH I (8-11) Spanish I students are immersed in an accelerated curriculum. Oral communication is the focus, as students participate in dialogues, skits, songs, games, films, and projects that help build communication skills and introduce them to the distinct cultures in the Hispanic world. Each class period includes the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Structured writing and reading activities help students internalize vocabulary, grammar, and rhetorical functions. Me encanta el español! SPANISH II (8-12) Spanish II reinforces and further develops the communication skills, grammar, vocabulary, and concepts learned in Spanish I at an accelerated pace. Oral communication continues to be the focus as students expand their speaking and listening skills with increasing confidence. Students also develop reading and writing skills while reading for meaning and purpose from various genres written in Spanish. Familiarity with the different peoples and cultures of the Hispanic world is expanded through classroom and research activities. Me encanta el español! Prerequisite: Spanish I or its equivalent; teacher recommendation STUDY SKILLS (6) Study Skills enables students to develop metacognitive awareness, learning strategies, critical-thinking skills, and problemsolving skills to enhance their performance in both academic and nonacademic endeavors. Activities address time management and organizational skills; memory skills for acquiring, storing, and retrieving information; test-taking skills and strategies for linking new information with prior knowledge; various note-taking strategies; successful oral and written communication; and effective integration of creativity and logical reasoning in completing projects and tasks. Students also become familiar with organization and integration of tablets as they study. Required in 6 th grade Paired with Writing Workshop I A WRITING WORKSHOP I A (6) Writing Workshop I A provides an integrated and sequential approach to the introduction and reinforcement of word study skills, grammar, and composition skills. The course specifically addresses roots, prefixes, and suffixes as well as grammar, usage, and syntax of Standard Written English. In coordination with the 6 th grade Language Arts curriculum, the course addresses the five writing standards identified in research as integral to developmental growth in the complexity of knowledge, skills, and strategies to be expected for college readiness: (1) rhetorical analysis and planning, (2) generating content, (3) drafting, (4) evaluating and revising texts, and (5) editing to present technically-sound texts. These fundamental skills in written communication are developed incrementally in middle school and further refined in high school courses. Required in 6 th grade Paired with Study Skills WRITING WORKSHOP I B (7) Writing Workshop I B continues the integrated and sequential approach to the expansion and reinforcement of word study skills, grammar, and composition skills. The course expands the students knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes as well as grammar, usage, and syntax of Standard Written English. In coordination with the 7 th grade Language Arts curriculum, the course continues emphasis on the five writing standards identified in research as integral to developmental growth in the complexity of knowledge, skills, and strategies to be expected for college readiness: (1) rhetorical analysis and planning, (2) generating content, (3) drafting, (4) evaluating and revising texts, and (5) editing to present technically sound texts. These fundamental skills in written communication are developed incrementally in middle school and further refined in high school courses. Required in 7 th grade Paired with Computer Applications 3
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (7) Computer Applications prepares students to work with Microsoft Office in an academic and professional setting and for personal use. Using courseware that incorporates an accelerated, step-by-step, project-based approach, students develop an introductory level competency in Word, Excel, Access, OneNote, and PowerPoint. They also acquire necessary keyboarding skills and explore features of Windows and Internet Explorer. In addition, students develop an understanding of key ethical issues they face in the context of using information technology. Required in 7 th grade Paired with Writing Workshop I B MEDIA LITERACY (8) Media Literacy enables students to analyze how media producers use various media and conventional production elements to achieve purposes, affect target audiences, convey a point of view, and establish narrative elements. A focus on how prior knowledge, experiences, attitudes, beliefs, demographic characteristics, and context affect the interpretation of a media message guides students in evaluating the credibility and ethics of any particular media communication. With this awareness, students plan media communication by determining purpose, investigating audience characteristics, and selecting a media channel. Moreover, students consider strategies for creating well-reasoned messages, making emotional appeals, and building credibility when developing a media communication. Required in 8 th grade Paired with Writing Workshop I C WRITING WORKSHOP I C (8) Writing Workshop I C provides an integrated and sequential approach to the teaching and reinforcement of grammar and composition skills, focusing on using connectives logically and forcefully. Grammar nomenclature is simplified through the use of visual punctuation rules. Emphasis is placed on the purpose of the connective used to show logical relationship between ideas. Through a sequential sentence-combining approach, students learn to recognize and apply visual rules for combining ideas and using coordination and subordination appropriately. After mastering a series of skill builders for each type of connective, students write their own responses to questions based upon readings from literature. Students further develop their skills in coordination and subordination of ideas as they write formal extended responses to questions. Assessments include a pre-test, skill building exercises, formative evaluating exercises, and a summative post-test. Required in 8 th grade Paired with Media Literacy WRITING WORKSHOP I Honors (9) Writing Workshop I Honors provides an integrated and sequential approach to the teaching and reinforcement of grammar and composition skills, focusing on using connectives logically and forcefully. Grammar nomenclature is simplified through the use of visual punctuation rules. Emphasis is placed on the purpose of the connective used to show logical relationship between ideas. Through a sequential sentence-combining approach, students learn to recognize and apply visual rules for combining ideas and using coordination and subordination appropriately. After mastering a series of skill builders for each type of connective, students write their own responses to questions based upon readings from literature. Students further develop their skills in coordination and subordination of ideas as they write formal extended responses to questions. Assessments include a pre-test, skill building exercises, formative evaluating exercises, and a summative post-test. Required in 9 th grade Paired with Writing Workshop II Honors 4
WRITING WORKSHOP II Honors (9) Writing Workshop II Honors uses a three-pronged approach in developing analytical skills to enhance written communication. Students learn paragraph and multi-paragraph structures based on the sentence skills mastered in Writing Workshop I in 9 th grade. Students simultaneously reinforce standard English grammar skills and develop essay writing strategies and test-taking strategies for the English and Writing sections of the SAT and ACT. Required in 9 th grade Paired with Writing Workshop I Honors CRITICAL THINKING: SAT/ACT PREP (11) Critical Thinking: SAT/ACT Prep prepares students for optimal performance on traditional college entrance exams. Through review of skills repeatedly addressed on the tests and practice and review on multiple full length SAT and ACT exams, students develop efficient test taking strategies. Students should be prepared for the SAT or ACT in the spring of their junior year. Required in 11 th grade Paired with Ethics Honors ETHICS Honors (11) Ethics Honors examines the moral values of one s life and the principles by which one is governed. Students engage in indepth class discussions designed to challenge each student to question and understand the ethical implications related to moral theory, ethics of death and dying, business ethics, bio-ethics, political ethics, and several current ethical issues. Required in 11 th grade Paired with Critical Thinking: SAT/ACT Prep INTENSIVE MATH [6-7]/INTENSIVE PRE-ALGEBRA (8) These non graded and individualized courses strengthen the computational and problem solving skills required for entry in the student s appropriate math level in the fall. The developmental aspect of the curriculum requires daily focus and reiteration of foundation skills. Some practice is required at home. This course of study can fulfill tutoring in mathematics required for admission. ½ summer session; no credit 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM 5
ADMINISTRATION Lawrence Cohen, Director Peter Cohen, Associate Director Jorge Ortega, Director of Financial Operations Patrick Snay, Headmaster Dr. Linda Grant, Associate Headmaster Dr. Carole Repensek, Director of Academic Advancement Olga Bueno, Admissions Director Jessica Lanz, Dean of Student Affairs Sally Coords, Director of Counseling Courtney Young, Athletic Director Riviera Preparatory School 9775 SW 87 Avenue Miami, FL 33176 786-300-0300 www.rivieraschools.com 6