FRESHMEN ENGLISH 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 809
This course of study supports students with learning disabilities to
develop competence in reading and writing. In this class, students
follow the general education English 12 curriculum with modified
assignments at a more individualized pace. These smaller classes provide
more step-by-step instruction, in-class reading, development of
concrete reading skills and some independent reading. Students will
practice organization and study skills, break longer assignments into
manageable pieces, review ten vocabulary words per unit in class,
discuss word attack skills, prepare for the MCAS, and participate
appropriately. The core literary selections include "The Odyssey",
"Romeo and Juliet", "To Kill a Mockingbird", classic short stories,
non-fiction, and poetry. Other reading selections may include "The
Chocolate War", "The Street Lawyer", "The House on Mango Street", "When I
was Puerto Rican", "The Princess Bride", "Forgotten Fire" and
"Witness".
SOPHOMORE ENGLISH 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 810
In this class, students follow the general education English 22
curriculum with modified assignments at a more individualized pace.
These smaller classes provide more step-by-step instruction in-class
reading, development of concrete reading skills, and some independent
reading. This course is designed for students who may further their
formal education or enter the work force following high school. The
program integrates study of literature, vocabulary and writing skills,
in practical, personal and academic realms. Composition assignments are
developed from the literature, including both classic and modern
fiction, poetry, non-fiction and film. Core literatures include "Oedipus
Rex", "Ordinary People", "Last Days Of Summer", "Pobby and Dingan" and
"Many Stones", as well as thematically related nonfiction, short
stories and poetry. Skills outlined in state curriculum frameworks are
built upon to provide a solid foundation of critical thinking skills and
preparation for the MCAS. Vocabulary is studied in a sequential program
and includes some PSAT preparation. Students will also continue to
develop specific writing skills.
JUNIOR ENGLISH 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 811
Designed to support students with learning disabilities, this course in
American literature is approached thematically and covers major American
authors such as Twain, Miller, Steinbeck and Salinger. Some core
literary selections include "Death Of A Salesman", "Of Mice and Men",
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", "The Catcher in the Rye", classic
short stories, non-fiction and poetry. Students will continue to work on
sentence structure that incorporates phrases and varied verb tenses
while writing multi-paragraph papers with emphasis on the expository
paper. Students are provided a variety of opportunities to expand their
vocabulary and refine their overall communication skills.
SENIOR ENGLISH 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 812
Designed to support students with learning disabilities, this course
approaches literature by genres: short story, novel, drama, poetry,
biography/autobiography and film. Some works explored include "Macbeth",
"The Canterbury Tales", "Beowulf", "All Souls", "Maus I", "Floating in
My Mother's Palm" and "Kindred". Students are provided a variety of
opportunities to expand their vocabulary using writing exercises.
ALGEBRA I 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 801
This course places a focus on the key concepts and application as
outlined in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks; understanding
patterns, relations and functions, represent and analyze mathematical
situations and structures using algebraic symbols, use mathematical
models to represent and understand quantitative relationships and
analyze change in various contexts. Topics covered include:
investigating patterns, linear, quadratic and exponential functional
relationships, understanding various representations of a line,
addition, subtraction and multiplication of polynomials, solutions to
quadratic equations, solve equations and inequalities, solving everyday
verbal representations of problems. Students will be introduced to basic
calculator functions to assist their efforts.
GEOMETRY 07 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 803
This course places a focus on the key concepts and applications
addressed in Geometry 22 classes. Students will develop skills and
strategies to prepare for future mathematical courses, as well as
standardized tests. In following the Massachusetts Curriculum
Frameworks, topics covered include: the properties and identification of
common geometric figures, the calculation of perimeter, circumference
and area of common geometric figures, the solution of problems involving
angles formed by transversals of coplanar lines, the Pythagorean
Theorem, the identification and application of similar and congruent
triangles, coordinate geometry, linear equations, the calculation of
slope, midpoint, distance and the determination of parallel and/or
perpendicular lines. Finally, students will be briefly introduced to the
concepts of proofs. The focus of this course is placed on the
development of problem solving strategies utilizing the identification
and application of each of the aforementioned concepts. Students will
utilize calculators when appropriate.
ALGEBRA II 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 830
This course places a focus on the key concepts and applications
addressed in Algebra II (32) classes. Students will develop skills and
strategies to prepare for future mathematical courses, as well as
standardized tests. In following the Massachusetts Curriculum
Frameworks, topics covered include: real numbers and integers, sequences
and series involving monomials and polynomials, systems of equations
and inequalities, radical expressions and exponents, quadratic equations
and basic logarithms. The focus is placed on problem solving strategies
that can be applied to real world mathematics. Students learn to use a
graphing calculator to apply appropriate formulae, sequence and order of
operation.
INTEGRATED MATH 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 830
This course places a focus on the application of key concepts addressed
in Algebra and Geometry classes. Students will develop skills and
strategies to prepare for future mathematical courses, as well as
standardized tests. In following the Massachusetts Curriculum
Frameworks, topics covered include: sequences and series, radical
expressions and exponents, quadratic equations, systems of equations and
inequalities for both algebra and geometry, identification and
application of geometric theorems and proofs, and the use of formulae to
solve a variety of mathematical problems. The focus is placed on the
problem solving strategies that can be applied to real world
mathematics. Students learn to use a graphing calculator to apply
appropriate formulae, sequence and order of operation.
PHYSICS 07 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 830
This course is designed for students who may be planning to further
their education beyond high school, but who have difficulties with math
and/or science classes at the middle or high school level. A focus is
placed on the fundamental math skills necessary to interpret data,
analyze data and apply their results. Lessons and labs focus on main
concepts, with additional information provided in smaller topic
worksheets and handouts. Sections will include measurement, motion in
one and two dimensions, Newton's Laws of motion, circular motion,
momentum and energy, heat, electromagnetism, simple harmonic motion,
waves and sound.
LEARNING STRATEGIES 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 819
This full year course has been specifically designed for incoming
freshmen in order to provide a solid foundation of study strategies and
their applications. These study strategies will be incorporated and
utilized throughout their high school careers and any future endeavors.
Units include: Specific Learning Styles, Time Management, Organizational
Strategies, Performance Management, Note Taking and Test Taking
Strategies. Students will receive a grade based on their ability to
demonstrate specific skills as well as apply them in all curriculum
areas.
LEARNING CENTER 1.25 Credits/Semester
Grades 9-12
Course #s 819CS, 819DB, 819JD, 819MC, 819MM, 819NK
The Learning Center is available to students who have a current
Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), and who need academic support
and/or positive behavioral supports to compensate for learning
differences, and to experience success at Natick High School. Students
are placed into Learning Center as outlined in their IEP. They are in
general education classes or replacement classes for the remainder of
their schedule. Special Education teacher provide review and re-teaching
of key concepts in other classes, support for organizational, study and
planning skills and strategies, standardized test preparation and
monitoring of work completion and comprehension. The goals of Learning
Center are to maximize student access to available programs at Natick
High School, to assist students in reaching their fullest potential, and
to support students in their efforts to effectively transition to
post-graduate opportunities, including college, technical schools or
career options.
READING 07 2.5 Credits/Semester
Course # 814
This special education course is designed for students who will benefit
from a program that directly and systematically teaches them to fluently
and accurately decode. This code-based instruction is very interactive
and multisensory. It teaches "total word construction" both encoding and
decoding. It is taught within a small-group format.