Academic Courses

Foreign Language credit – Grade Level: 9-12 – year-long, 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Spanish I with a C or better

This required course continues to develop communication skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.  This course builds upon the foundations laid in Spanish I with regard to grammar, vocabulary and culture.  The principal course text and accompanying audio/visual resources used to facilitate this is the AVANCEMOS II program. Additional print resources such as magazines, newspaper articles and appropriate examples of Latino cinema supplement the program.  Instructional strategies and assignments include interactive group activities, presentations and an introduction to composition.

Elective credit – Grade Level: 10-12 – year-long, 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Spanish II with a B or better

This is an elective course of two semesters.  It further refines, reinforces and develops the reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and cultural awareness previously acquired in the first two levels through the study of more advanced grammar topics and significant vocabulary expansion.  There is more reliance upon original source materials for reading and listening, such as lectures, articles, essays, short stories, films and interviews.  This course text program, AVANCEMOS III continues to provide a cohesive scope and sequence and a variety of ancillary resources, including audio, visual and cultural backup as well as aligning the curriculum with the NM standards and benchmarks.

Elective credit – Grade Level 11-12 – year-long, 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Spanish III with a B or better

The Spanish IV course represents a consolidation of all the knowledge acquired and skills developed during the previous three years of study.  Students further refine and reinforce the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking with a course conducted largely in Spanish.  In the AVANCEMOS IV text, fully aligned with NM standards and benchmarks, they are introduced to more advanced grammar concepts, significantly increasing their vocabulary and facilitating the improvement of skills through a variety of readings and audio resources as well as films, documentaries, and interviews.  More advanced performance assignments reflect this higher level of mastery of the various aspects of the language and include compositions, literary analysis and sustainable open-ended conversations requiring the use of more complex grammatical structures and syntax.

Science credit – Grade Level: 10, 11, 12 – year-long, 1.0 credit – Lab science credit

Biology is a laboratory science course that covers the study of living things. Biology is a full-year, lab-based, 10th grade science class designed to introduce the concepts of cell theory, genetics, evolution, classification, and ecology.

Science credit – Grade Level: 11, 12 – year-long, 1.0 credit – Lab science credit

Course involves the composition, properties, and reactions of substances. The behaviors of solids, liquids, and gases; acid/base and oxidation/reduction reactions; and atomic structure are typical concepts explored in Chemistry-First Year courses. Chemical formulas and equations and nuclear reactions are also studied.

Honors:  students will be required to submit extra projects, answer essay questions on tests.  Honors students will have approximately 25% more work than regular students.

(Lab science credit for Physics Honors)
Science/Elective credit – Grade Level: 11, 12 – year-long, 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra II

Course involves the study of the forces and laws of nature affecting matter: equilibrium, motion, momentum, and the relationships between matter and energy. The study of physics includes examination of sound, light, magnetic, and electric phenomenon.

Honors:  students will be required to submit extra projects, answer essay questions on tests.  Honors students will have approximately 25% more work than regular students.

The course will be offered every other year, alternately with Anatomy & Physiology. Offered in 2017-2018.

Science/Elective credit – Grade Level: 11, 12 – year-long, 1.0 credit – Lab science credit
Prerequisite: Biology or Honors Biology and Chemistry or Honors Chemistry

This course provides students with an advanced and detailed understanding of the structure and functions of the human body. It is intended to prepare those who are interested in further specialized work in the medical or biological sciences. Laboratory work including dissection and other hands-on activities will be used in teaching and reinforcing conceptual information.

The course will be offered every other year, alternately with Physics. Not offered in 2017-2018.

Science/Elective credit – Grade Level: 10, 11, 12 – year-long, 1.0 credit – Lab science credit
Prerequisite: passing grade in one laboratory science course (Integrated, Biology, or Chemistry)

Environmental Science is a rigorous course that examines the natural sciences through a multidiscipline approach integrating biology, chemistry, physics, geology, climatology, oceanography, human population dynamics along with political and economical approaches. The laboratory component consists of hands-on approach to learning through various lab activities, exercises, filed observations, and analysis.

Science/Elective credit – Grade Level: 10, 11, 12 – year-long, 1.0 credit – Lab science credit
Prerequisite: Biology with a B or better and teacher recommendation

This course provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Topics covered in this course include; biology, chemistry, physics, geology, climatology, oceanography, human population dynamics along with political and economical approaches. The laboratory component consists of hands-on approach to learning through various lab activities, exercises, filed observations and analysis. AP students will be required to complete the Advanced Placement approved lab activities and take the College Board Advanced Placement exam in order to earn college credit.

Math credit – Grade Level: 9, 10 – year-long, 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra I
A passing grade in 1st semester of Geometry is required to move to 2nd semester of the class.

This course will focus on the fundamental principles of Geometry and the application of Algebra to Geometry. Topics include learning fundamental vocabulary, postulates and theorems for basic figures (points, lines, planes, angles); postulates and theorems for angles and perpendicular lines, properties of parallel lines, triangle congruency, parallelograms and special quadrilaterals; using deductive reasoning and writing proofs; ratio, proportion and similarity; Pythagorean theorem and special right triangles; trigonometry; area of plane figures; transformations; surface area and volume; and concepts/segments related to circles.

Math credit – Grade Level: 9, 10, 11 – year-long, 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Geometry
A passing grade in 1st semester of Algebra II is required to move to 2nd semester of the class.

Algebra II starts with a continuation of concepts studied in Algebra I. Topics include inequalities and absolute value, linear equations and systems, quadratic equations and functions, complex numbers, products and factors of polynomials, rational expressions and functions, radical functions, rational exponents, exponential and logarithmic functions and statistics/probability.

Honors: includes the additional topics of sequences and series, periodic functions, and trigonometry.

Math credit – Grade Level: 10, 11, 12 – year-long, 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Geometry, Algebra II

This course includes an in depth review of linear, quadratic and exponential functions. All review from previous courses includes connections to applications in calculus. Conic Sections, Inverses, Logarithms,Trigonometry and complex numbers are covered. Trigonometry will begin with a review of the unit circle and include right triangle trig, and trigonometric identities and equations. Enhancement topics: Probability, Statistics, limits, derivative. Students successful with this course will be ready for Calculus as a next step math class.

Math credit – Grade Level: 12 – year-long, 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus with a C or above or Algebra 2 with an A- or above and teacher recommendation.

This course includes the study of derivatives, anti-derivatives, differentiation, integration, the definite and indefinite integral, and applications of calculus.  Review topics: properties of elementary functions and their graphs, vectors and polar coordinates, and concepts of limits and continuity.  Enhancement topics: improper integral; multiple integration; sequences and series, including convergence tests and series expansion theorems; anti-differentiation; and differential equations.

Math credit – Grade Level: 12 – year-long, 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra II

Course provides an understanding of the concepts and principles involved in managing one’s personal finances.  The class connects math to the real world and applies mathematical ideas to our everyday lives. Content includes: the Stock Market, Banking Services, Consumer Credit, Automobile Ownership, Employment Basics, Income Taxes, Independent Living, Retirement and Personal Budgeting. Emphasis will be on problem solving for real life. This course serves as an alternative to taking Pre-Calculus or Calculus for the 4^th year Math credit.

Social Studies credit – Grade Level: 10, 11 – year-long, 1.0 credit

Course covers the major eras and important turning points in world history from 500 CE to the present. Other elements include world geography; the development of world trade routes and the cultural exchanges they facilitated; and the legacies of the Scientific Revolution, the European Enlightenment, and the Industrial Revolution. Common Core State Standards for History/Social Studies will be included as appropriate to the course.

Social Studies credit – Grade Level: 10, 11 – year-long, 1.0 credit

Course examines the history and impact of major eras, events, and individuals in United States history since the Civil War and Reconstruction. Included within this course is U.S. Geography to support geographical concepts as they relate to the understanding of the development of the United States. In addition 9-12 Social Studies Benchmarks and Performance Standards (History, Civics, and Government, Economics and Geography) will be included as appropriate to the course.

Honors: Honors courses typically require 20% additional course work above other course assignments, which are also required.  For this course students will be required to extend answers to textbook questions as part of their homework, read two additional books with written chapter responses to be turned into the honors google classroom (1book  each semester: Blood Done Sign My Name by Tim Tyson, and choice of one of the following titles: The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Just Like Us by Helen Thorpe, or Rez Life by David Treuer—teacher will provide copies of the text you choose; 1-2 paragraph responses to the questions provided), and lead 4 classes with other honors students, 1 first semester, 3 second semester on themes assigned by the teacher.

Social Studies credit – Grade Level: 11, 12 – semester-long, 0.5 credit

The course provides an understanding of the ideals, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, and an history of the founding documents of the United States including the New Mexico and United States Constitutions, and how governments function at the local, state, tribal, and national levels.

Social Studies credit – Grade Level: 11, 12 – semester-long, 0.5 credit

The course provides for an understanding of basic economic principles and use of economic reasoning skills to analyze the impact of economic systems (including the market economy) on individuals, families, businesses, communities, and governments.

Physical Education credit – Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12 – semester long, 0.5 credit

The course provides instruction and development of skills in physical fitness.

Elective credit – Grade Level: 10 – 12 – semester-long, 1 high school credit, 3 college credits

This course is an introduction to the basic elements of poetry writing with emphasis placed on modern form and techniques, as well as reading and critique of the works of selected poets.

Note: the course is taught at NMSA by the Institute of American Indian Arts and counts toward the Creative Writing Minor.

Elective credit – Grade Level: 11, 12 – year-long, 1.0 high School credit, 3 college credits

Where do the best stories come from? This course is designed to take students on a journey through the storytelling process, from idea to execution. Along the way, students will take a look at the power of myth, universal truths and basic story structure. Ultimately, students will be encouraged to develop and write stories that are community-based or reflect an issue or concern in which they have a personal stake or vested interest. Very often, the best stories come from what is most personal.

Note: the course is taught at NMSA by the Institute of American Indian Arts and counts toward the Creative Writing Minor.