Rationale

Connections is a ninth-grade transition/college-prep course that helps students prepare for college-level work as they develop an understanding of the relationship between their interests, skills, academic performance and future college/career choices. Connections is the cornerstone course for ninth grade teams at Downcounty Consortium (DCC) high schools, and was implemented as part of the US Department of Education (USDE) Smaller Learning Communities Grant. Connections teachers work collaboratively with ninth grade team members and other school staff to reinforce and strengthen academic skills for success across curriculum areas and to provide opportunities for college and career exploration.

The MCPS Board of Education (BOE) approved the initial implementation of the course when it approved the Smaller Learning Communities Grant for the DCC in 2002. Schools initially implemented the course in varied ways. In 2004 Downcounty Consortium (DCC) staff worked with representatives from each of the participating high schools to develop a new curriculum. On March 9, 2004, the BOE formally approved Connections as a pilot course.

The new curriculum provides teachers resources and strategies to prepare freshmen for future success. The curriculum is aligned with curricula in other core subject areas, allowing teachers to work together to strengthen skills and help students apply these skills in other coursework. The new curriculum provides teachers resources and strategies to prepare ninth graders for future success. The curriculum is aligned with curricula in other core subject areas, allowing teachers to work together to strengthen skills and help students apply these skills in other coursework. Connections can be offered as a one- or two-semester course (Connections A & B). High Schools have the option to offer student advisory, academy introductions, and/or community service components to enhance and expand the curriculum.

Unit One: Learn to Navigate Your Brave New World
Students hit the ground running as they transition to high school. One of the major goals of this unit is to help students develop an understanding of what steps they can take to become effective students. Students build on what they have learned in middle school to apply skills and strategies to increasingly difficult texts and instructional challenges.

Unit Two: Chart a Path to Your Future
Students make big plans as they learn about their own strengths and interests and how they may connect to future career and college choices.

Unit Three: Get Out There - The Ninth Grade Project
Students work collaboratively on an authentic project designed to help them see the relevance of academic work and career interests and to strengthen their research, problem-solving and communication skills.

Unit Four: Get Ready to Soar
Students develop understanding of the knowledge, skills and processes needed to master rigorous coursework and assessments. Students consider the big picture---that the best way to prepare for high stakes tests and college-level work is to take rigorous courses, read widely and strengthen critical reading, writing and thinking and vocabulary skills.

Connections supports the following MCPS goals:

GOAL 1: ENSURE SUCCESS FOR EVERY STUDENT
Milestones:
• All students will achieve or exceed proficiency standards in mathematics, reading, and writing on local and state assessments.
• All schools will increase participation and performance of all students taking the SAT.
• All students will meet or exceed the state's graduation requirements.
• All students will graduate prepared for post-secondary education or employment.

  GOAL 2: PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM
  Milestones:

• All schools will increase enrollment and performance of all students in gifted, Honors, Advanced Placement, and other advanced programs.
• All schools will achieve or exceed local and state standards for attendance, promotion, and dropout.

  GOAL 3: STRENGTHEN PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS IN EDUCATION
  Milestones:

• The school community demonstrates shared responsibility for student success.

Enduring Understandings

• A successful transition to ninth grade prepares students for future success.
• Students who are part of a small learning community with a dedicated team of teachers who know them well are more likely to succeed in high school.
• Being a successful student is a learned process that includes development of effective academic, organizational, problem-solving and interpersonal skills and strategies.
• Individuals need advanced literacy skills to participate actively and successfully in today's demanding, information-based society.
• Readers, listeners, and viewers continually develop and apply strategies to construct meaning from increasingly complex and challenging texts.
• Career and college planning are important steps for the future. High school is the place for students to begin the life-long learning process and to explore multiple options for future careers.
• The high school curriculum is relevant to the real world and taking rigorous courses in high school prepares students for college and career.
• Participating in authentic learning experiences helps students clarify their interests and deepen their understanding of how what they learn in school may be applied in future endeavors.
• Students need strong transferable research, technology and communication skills to succeed in our fast-paced information society.

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Updated October 25, 2006
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