12th Grade Curriculum

The focus of this class will be to prepare students for college and the world beyond John Milledge. Students will polish their writing skills, producing various types of writing, including but not limited to: personal narratives, literary analyses, persuasive essays, original poetry, and a research paper. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: Use elements of good writing and understand writing as a process; Expand vocabulary through reading, root word work, and context clues; Use proper grammar and mechanics in writing and speaking; and cite others work using MLA guidelines.

Vocabulary and grammar lessons accompanying the literature and composition units will help broaden students’ language skills and educate them for the future that lies ahead. In addition, students will also become more intuitive about literature. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: Connect literature to history, life, and the “real” world; Evaluate grade level or higher literature thoughtfully, using critical thinking; Critique literature independently via written and oral discussion. Each Student will be required to read ONE AR book per semester outside of class. Seniors will read “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, and excerpts from The Canterbury Tales.

An AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of  the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style and themes, as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone. Students enrolled in AP classes are expected to take the cumulative exam in May, necessary to pass the class and earn college credit or advanced placement.

Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics explores the political theory and everyday practice that direct the daily operation of our government and shape our public policies. The express purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam for U.S Government and Politics. The course is for all intents and purposes taught on a college level and it requires a substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class. The objectives of this course go beyond a basic analysis of how our government “works.” Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, as well as their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Key elements include:  Analysis of Contemporary Events, Analysis of Data, Primary Source Materials, Using Graphs, Maps, and Charts, and Writing for a Purpose. The course includes various supplemental readings such as the Federalist Papers, the U.S. Constitution, American Government: Readings & Cases, Lanahan Readings in the American Polity.

Students will engage in the class through a foundation in the philosophy, function, and structure of the United States government. Through reading and discussion, students will realize that government affects them even today. The focus of this class will be to encourage students to participate in politics by not just voting, but understanding the issues and candidates. We will also have weekly discussions on current events.

By successfully completing this AP course, students  will be able to: Work with functions represented in a variety of ways and understand the connections among these representations; Understand the meaning of the derivative in terms of a rate of change and local linear approximation, and use derivatives to solve a variety of problems; Understand the relationship between the derivative and the definite Integral; Communicate mathematics both orally and in well-written sentences to explain solutions to problems; Model a written description of a physical situation with a function, a differential equation, or an integral; Determine the reasonableness of solutions, including sign, size, relative accuracy, and units of measurement; Develop an appreciation of calculus as a coherent body of knowledge and as a human accomplishment. Students enrolled in AP classes are expected to take the cumulative exam in May, necessary to pass the class and earn college credit or advanced placement.

Calculus will cover topics normally covered in the first semester of Calculus in college. Topics covered will include Limits, Differentiation, Integration, and Solving Differential equations. Applications of these topics will also be covered. Students will learn to solve problems numerically, analytically, and graphically.

A graphing calculator is necessary. The TI-83 + or 84 + are recommended and the TI-84 + will be used by the instructor.

We use a college textbook for this class to ensure exposure to all necessary concepts prior to graduation. There is an emphasis on technology with testing online and assignments online as well. It promises to be a very exciting transition focusing on a more traditional concepts but utilizing the brand SMART board technology. We will cover traditional Algebra 3 concepts including but not limited to: Equations and Inequalities, Linear functions, Polynomials and exponents, Quadratic equations and inequalities, Logarithmic Functions, and Statistics. All students will be required to have the Texas Instrument 83 or 84 plus edition graphing calculator.

The purpose of Statistics is to introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing and drawing conclusions from data. Students are exposed to four broad conceptual themes: Exploring Data: Describing patterns and departures from patterns; Sampling and Experimentation: Planning and conducting a study; Anticipating Patterns: Exploring random phenomena using probability
and simulation; and statistical Inference: Estimating population parameters and testing hypotheses.

AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes — energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions. This course requires that 25 percent of the instructional time will be spent in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations that provide students with opportunities to apply the science practices.

Environmental science is a multidisciplinary field that draws from all the sciences, as well as other fields of study, to help us better understand how the world works. It also studies the relationship between humans and the world in which we live.  Much of environmental science is applied science that focuses on research and conservation and protection of natural resources.  Aspects of ecology, biology, chemistry, geology, geography, and other fields all play a part in environmental science.

Anatomy offers students a scientific overview that aids students to grasp and employ basic scientific terminology, an understanding of cells, and an understanding of the human body to prepare them for a college level anatomy course. Our study will include but not be limited to the characteristics of life, chemical compounds of cells, and cell division. We also look at the systems of the human body: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, digestive, and homeostasis.

This course is designed to help students develop a healthy attitude toward lifetime fitness and to introduce a variety of recreations/leisure time activities.  Various activities will be introduced throughout the year. Requirements: Students are expected to dress out in John Milledge P.E. attire daily.

Spanish IV is an interactive class.  Because of the advanced nature of this class, it is vital that students use their oral Spanish on a regular basis.  This includes responding to questions, conversing with the teacher and other students, and active participation on assignments.  Students will speak in front of the class on prepared topics, as well as impromptu topics.  Students are required to read and understand Spanish.  Class discussions will be held in  Spanish and students will be expected to participate.  By the end of Spanish IV, students should be comfortable, confident Spanish speakers, while keeping in mind that mistakes are still common.

Psychology provides a solid overview of the field’s major domains: methods, biopsychology, cognitive and developmental psychology, and variations in individual and group behavior. By focusing on significant scientific research and on the questions that are most important to psychologists, students see psychology as an evolving science. Each topic clusters around challenge questions, such as “What is happiness?” Students answer these questions before, during, and after they interact with direct instruction.

Sociology examines why people think and behave as they do in relationships, groups, institutions, and societies.Major course topics include individual and group identity, social structures and institutions, social change, social stratification, social dynamics in recent and current events, the effects of social change on individuals, and the research methods used by social scientists.

In online discussions and polls, students reflect critically on their own experiences and ideas, as well as on the ideas of sociologists. Interactive multimedia activities include personal and historical accounts to which students can respond, using methods of inquiry from sociology. Written assignments provide opportunities to practice and develop skills in thinking and communicating about human relationships, individual and group identity, and all other major course topics.

French I teaches students to greet people, describe family and friends, talk about hobbies, and communicate about other topics, such as sports, travel, and medicine. Each lesson presents vocabulary, grammar, and culture in context, followed by explanations and exercises. Vocabulary includes terms to describe school subjects, parts of the body, and people, as well as idiomatic phrases. Instruction in language structure and grammar includes the verb system, adjective agreement, formal and informal address, reflexive verbs, and past tense. Students also gain an understanding of the cultures of French-speaking countries and regions within and outside Europe, as well as insight into Francophone culture and people.

The material in this course is presented at a moderate pace.

Creative Writing is an English elective course that focuses on the exploration of short fiction and poetry, culminating in a written portfolio that includes one revised short story and three to five polished poems. Students draft, revise, and polish fiction and poetry through writing exercises, developing familiarity with literary terms and facility with the writing process as they study elements of creative writing. Elements of fiction writing explored in this course include attention to specific detail, observation, character development, setting, plot, and point of view. In the poetry units, students learn about the use of sensory details and imagery, figurative language, and sound devices including rhyme, rhythm and alliteration. They also explore poetic forms ranging from found poems and slam poetry to traditional sonnets and villanelles.