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Middle 6th-8th (Core)
Our middle school students engage in rigorous, accelerated coursework. At Travis TAG, our vision is to empower and inspire life-long learning while supporting the unique potential of each student. Our middle school teachers are content experts that work hard to develop engaging opportunities through high-quality lessons for all advanced learners.
At Travis TAG, our students take 8 classes each year in middle school. Additionally, every student has 30 minutes of advisory each day in their schedule.
6th Grade
Required Courses:
Reading 6 Advanced (year) Science 6 Advanced (year)
Math 6 Advanced (year) World Cultural Studies Advanced (year)
Robotics (semester) Tech Apps (semester)
Physical Education (year)
STAAR Tests (2): Math 6 and Reading 6
Mathematics 6 Advanced - This course is designed for middle school students who demonstrate excellence in mathematics achievement. It addresses grade 6 and 1st half of grade 7 TEKS SEs and includes focal points of number and operations; proportionality; expressions, equations, and relationships; and measurement and data.
Students in this course will take the grade 6 mathematics STAAR test.
It is expected that students who enroll in and successfully complete this course will enroll in Math 7 Honors during their 7th grade school year and Algebra I Honors during their 8th grade school year.
Reading Language Arts 6 Advanced - This course prepares students for the rigor expected in honors courses and necessary for college and career readiness. It provides instruction and practice in reading a variety of genres, writing a wide variety of compositions, and listening and speaking. Students learn grammar, usage, vocabulary, and other English language skills within the context of reading and writing. Through text-dependent reading and evidence-based writing and discussion, students will master 6th grade ELAR standards (and ELPS as applicable).
Students in this course will take the grade 6 Reading STAAR test.
Science 6 Advanced - This course is designed for middle school students who demonstrate excellence in science achievement. It addresses the grade 6 and some of the grade 7 science TEKS/SEs. In grade 6, the study of science includes at least 40% of instructional time for conducting laboratory and field investigations. The grade 6 honors science course is interdisciplinary with a content focus on matter and energy; force, motion, and energy; Earth and space; and organisms and environments. Scientific investigation and reasoning skills (process standards) including safe practices as outlined in the Texas Safety Standards are integrated into the content.
It is expected that students who enroll in, and successfully complete this course, will enroll in Science 7 Honors during their grade 7 school year and Physics Honors for High School Credit Honors during their grade 8 school year.
Students enrolled in this course will take the grade 6 Science Honors ACP test. Students in this course do not take a STAAR test.
World Cultures 6 Advanced - Students study people, places and societies of the contemporary world. Our theme is “Around the World in 180 Days.” We virtually visit 30 countries and students keep a “Passport Journal” as an integral part of the course. Students research each country and describe the influence of individuals and groups on historical and contemporary events and identify locations and characteristics of societies. World Cultures includes PEGS–the four social studies disciplines of politics, economics, geography, and social integration. Students examine different economic and government systems. Specifically, they compare and contrast democracy and free enterprise in the United States to other world governments and economic systems. To support teaching and learning, students use a variety of primary and secondary sources and are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills.
Students in this course do not take a STAAR test.
7th Grade
Required Courses:
Reading 7 Advanced (year) Science 7 Advanced (year)
Math 7 Advanced (year) Texas Studies Advanced (year)
Physical Education (semester) College & Career Readiness (semester)
French I or Spanish I/II (year) (high school credit)
STAAR Tests (3): Math 8, Reading 7, and Science 8
Mathematics 7 Advanced - This course is designed for middle school students who demonstrate excellence in mathematics achievement. It addresses the 2nd
half of grade 7 TEKS SEs and all grade 8 TEKS SEs and includes number and operations; proportionality; expressions, equations, and relationships; foundations of functions; and measurement and data.
Students in this course will take the grade 8 mathematics STAAR test.
It is expected that students who enroll in and successfully complete this course will enroll in Algebra I Honors during their 8th grade school year.
Reading Language Arts 7 Advanced - This course prepares students for the rigor expected in honors courses and necessary for college and career readiness. This course provides instruction and practice in reading a variety of genres, writing a wide variety of compositions, and listening and speaking. Students learn grammar, usage, vocabulary, and other English language skills within the context of reading and writing. Through text-dependent reading and evidence-based writing and discussion, students will master 7th grade ELAR standards (and ELPS as applicable).
Students in this course will take the grade 7 Reading STAAR test.
Science 7 Advanced - This course is designed for middle school students who demonstrate excellence in Science achievement. It addresses the 2nd half of grade 7 TEKS SEs and all grade 8 TEKS SEs and with an emphasis on scientific investigations within a laboratory setting. The curriculum includes Ecology and Environmental Science, Geology, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy.
Students in this course will take the grade 8 Science STAAR test.
Students who enroll in and successfully complete this course will enroll in Honors Physics during their 8th grade school year at Travis TAG.
Texas Studies 7 Advanced - This required course emphasizes an integrative approach to the teaching of history, geography, government, economics, culture, science, and technology. The focus in each era is on key individuals, events, and issues and their impact. Emphasis is placed on evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, and developing analytical skills necessary to interpret historical events. The content, as appropriate for the grade level or course, enables students to understand the importance of patriotism, function in a free enterprise society, and appreciate the basic democratic values of our state and nation. Speeches and project-based learning are also an essential part of this course. There will be a variety of projects that give students the opportunity to utilize different skill sets that they enjoy. Creativity in the classroom through Music, Art, Culture, and Technology are strongly encouraged.
Students in this course do not take a STAAR test.
8th Grade
Required Courses:
Reading 8 Advanced (year) Physics Advanced (year)
Algebra I Advanced (year) U.S. Studies Advanced (year)
Physical Education (semester) Health (semester)
French II or Spanish II/III (year)(high school credit)
STAAR Tests (3): Algebra I STAAR/EOC, Reading 8, and Social Studies 8.
Algebra I Advanced (High School Credit) - This course addresses all Algebra I TEKS SEs and provides the foundation for advanced mathematics courses in high school. The course focuses on algebraic thinking and symbolic reasoning; function concepts; the relationship between equations and functions; multiple representations, tools, and technology to model mathematical situations to solve meaningful problems; and the underlying mathematical processes of algebra.
Students in this course will take the STAAR Algebra I EOC.
It is expected that students who enroll in this course are on an accelerated path and will enroll in Geometry or Geometry Honors during their 9th grade school year.
Reading Language Arts 8 Advanced - This course prepares students for the rigor expected in honors courses and necessary for college and career readiness. This course provides instruction and practice in reading a variety of genres, writing a wide variety of compositions, and listening, and speaking. Students learn grammar, usage, vocabulary, and other English language skills within the context of reading and writing. Through text-dependent reading and evidence-based writing and discussion, students will master 8th grade ELAR standards (and ELPS as applicable).
Students in this course will take the grade 8 Reading STAAR test.
Physics Advanced (High School Credit) - This course is the study of the nature of matter and energy and how they interrelate. It will provide the student with a foundation for understanding the concepts and laws of physics, as well as providing a good foundation for the AP Physics course curriculum. Physics education is essential for those preparing for a career in science and those that will be touched by aspects of it through technology, medicine, engineering, architecture, biomechanics, and many other related fields. Pre-AP Physics will give the student hands-on lab experience and will reinforce crucial math & critical thinking skills.
Students in this course do not take a STAAR test.
It is expected that students who enroll in this course are on an accelerated path and will enroll in advanced placement courses (AP) in high school after successfully completing Biology and Chemistry in 9th and 10th grades.
United States History 8 Advanced - This required course emphasizes an integrative approach to the teaching of U.S. History (Colonization through Reconstruction), with an emphasis on geography, government, economics, culture, science, and technology. Emphasis is placed on evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, and developing analytical skills necessary to interpret historical events. Students understand that a constitutional republic is a representative form of government whose representatives derive their authority from the consent of the governed, serve for an established tenure, and are sworn to uphold the constitution. Honors course will include: free response questions, document based questions (persuasive and compare/contrast), image analysis, low and high stakes.
Students in this course take a STAAR test.