Steps to Academic Success
Transitioning from elementary to intermediate is exciting and understandably an overwhelming experience for both students and parents. This is the period of time when students begin exploring extracurricular activities, alternative coursework, and career options. To assist families in making the right choices, the Clear Creek Independent School District has created an Education Planning Guide for Intermediate Students.
Pre-advanced Placement or Advanced Placement Courses
All CCISD students who wish to accept the challenge of a PreAP or an AP course are welcome to participate in the PreAP/AP program. Students and parents should be aware of the rigor in these courses so they can make informed decisions regarding course selection. PreAP and AP curricula are written two grade levels above traditional curricula. Instruction is fast-paced and much of the work is done outside of class. Following are some indicators of Pre AP or AP candidates:
- An A or a B in a particular subject
- Scores of 2400 or above on the previous TAKS test in that subject
- Students should be reading at or above grade level, as indicated by their
Lexile score. For math and science PreAP/AP courses, Quantile scores should be at or above grade level.
Science Magnet Program
The Science Magnet Program at Seabrook Intermediate School provides unique opportunities for students with a high interest in science. Open to students in grades six through eight from throughout the district, this program combines traditional science instruction with student choice of additional science electives. Field trips and enrichment opportunities foster greater involvement of the scientific community in the classroom and bring the students into the real world of science. Family science nights and family field trips allow the entire family to become involved with the activities and experiences of the science magnet student.
Career & Technical Education: See Career and Technical Education Section
Organization
Whether it’s keeping track of research materials or remembering to bring home a lunch box, children need to be organized to succeed in school. For many students, academic challenges are related more to a lack of organization than to a lack of intellectual ability.
- Make a checklist of things your child needs to bring to and from school
every day. Put a copy by the door at home and one in his backpack. Try to check with him each day to see if he remembers the items on the list. - Find out how your child keeps track of his homework and how he
organizes his notebooks. Then work together to develop a system he will want to use. - Shop with your child for tools that will help him stay organized.
Time Management
Learning to schedule enough time to complete an assignment may be difficult for your student. Even when students have a week to do a project, many won’t start until the night before it’s due. Learning to organize time into productive blocks takes practice and experience.
Tips to help your child manage time:
- Track assignments on a monthly calendar. Work backward from the due
date of larger assignments and break them into nightly tasks. - Help your child record how much time she spends on homework each week
so she can figure out how to divide this time into manageable chunks. - Together, designate a time for nightly homework and help your child stick
to this schedule. - If evenings aren’t enough, help your child find other times for schoolwork,
such as early mornings, study halls or weekends.