The following is a list of courses offered through the Special Education Department. All classes are aligned to the mainstream curriculum and are in accordance with the Illinois Learning Standards. These classes are designed to meet the needs of students with Individual Education Plans who have significantly lower performance levels in reading and/or math than their same-aged peers. Specific accommodations and modifications are adapted throughout instruction to meet the guidelines of an eligible student’s Individual Education Plan. It is the commitment and belief of the Special Education Department to provide a solid foundation of learning to all students.

COURSE	CREDIT	OPEN TO	PREREQUISITE
Introduction to English	1	9	*
English 1	1	9	*
English 2	1	10	English 1
English 3	1	11	English 2
English 4	1	12	English 3

Principles of Math Part A	1	12-Sep	*
Principles of Math Part B	1	12-Sep	*
Intro to Algebra – Part A	1	12-Sep	Principles of Math *
Intro to Algebra – Part B	1	12-Sep	*
Algebra 1-Part A	1	12-Sep	Intro to Algebra Part A & B*
Algebra 1-Part B	1	12-Sep	*
Algebra 2-Part A	1	12-Oct	Algebra 1-Part A & B
Algebra 2-Part B	1	12-Oct	*
Geometry	1	12-Nov	Department Recommendation

Conceptual Physics	1	9	*
Biology	1	10	Conceptual Physics*
Chemistry	1	11	Biology*

World Studies	1	9	*
US History	1	10	World Studies*
American Gov’t & Politics	0.5	12-Nov	U.S. History*
Consumer Economics	0.5	12-Nov	*

Strategies	0.5/term	12-Oct	*
Secondary Work
Experience Program (SWEP)	0.5/term	12-Nov	*

INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grade 9 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	In this course students will receive in-depth instruction in learning strategies to improve their Language Arts skills, specifically with the literacy strategies students utilize with the READ 180 curriculum. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. All summer reading assignments are described on the MHS website and in the student Pathfinder. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class
ENGLISH 1 Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grade 9 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	Students will develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in accordance with the Illinois State Standards for Learning. Students will begin to understand the concept of reading, writing and learning as process. Through this process, students will study literature, vocabulary, composition, grammar and research. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. All summer reading assignments are described on the MHS website and in the student Pathfinder. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class
ENGLISH 2 Prerequisite: English 1 Open To: Grade 10 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	Students will continue to develop reading, writing and speaking skills in accordance with the Illinois State Standards for Learning. Students will read world literature exploring the theme of justice. Students will produce papers and presentations using expository, analytical and persuasive forms. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. All summer reading assignments are described on the MHS website and in the student Pathfinder. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.
ENGLISH 2 Prerequisite: English 1 Open To: Grade 10 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	Students will continue to develop reading, writing and speaking skills in accordance with the Illinois State Standards for Learning. Students will read world literature exploring the theme of justice. Students will produce papers and presentations using expository, analytical and persuasive forms. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. All summer reading assignments are described on the MHS website and in the student Pathfinder. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.
ENGLISH 3 Prerequisite: English 2 Open To: Grade 11 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	Students will read various works from American Literature and its impact on present day America. Students will integrate information via all forms of communication to better understand the given unit of study. Students will focus on literature interpretation, research and persuasion. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. All summer reading assignments are described on the MHS website and in the student Pathfinder. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.
ENGLISH 4 Prerequisite: English 3 Open To: Grade 12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	Students will develop and improve their oral and written communication skills required for future success in school and work in accordance with the Illinois State Standards for Learning. Each student’s critical thinking abilities, attitude and self-knowledge will be explored as the basis of a research project. Students will be encouraged to explore and research their field of endeavor at the post-secondary level. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. All summer reading assignments are described on the MHS website and in the student Pathfinder. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.
PRINCIPLES OF MATH - PART A Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 9-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This class is designed to instruct those students that need to gain further competence in the four areas of arithmetic. The emphasis will be placed on imparting math skills applicable to everyday life. It is relevant and builds a foundation for Principles of Math-Part B. This class fulfills a math elective credit.
PRINCIPLES OF MATH - PART B Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 9-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This sequenced course further builds and fortifies the math foundation set in the Principles of Math-Part A curriculum. This class will further investigate basic math computation as applied to practical life skills. This class fulfills a math core credit.
INTRO TO ALGEBRA - PART A Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 9-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This class is designed to meet the need of students transitioning from arithmetic to the language of algebra. The course will emphasize learning and manipulating fractions. This course fulfills a math elective credit.
INTRO TO ALGEBRA - PART B Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 9-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This course is designed for students who need further preparation before taking Algebra1and serves as a continuation of Intro to Algebra-Part A. Students selecting this course possess basic arithmetic skill but may not be ready for the abstraction of algebra. This course fulfills a math core credit.
ALGEBRA 1 - PART A Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 9-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This course is designed to use real number operations, variables, exponents, and graphing to solve equations, inequalities and other types of algebraic problems. This coursework will be incremental in nature and will stress the cumulative review process as a means of mastering the topics presented. This course fulfills a math elective credit.
ALGEBRA 1 - PART B Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 9-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This course is a continuation of the last part of the Algebra 1-Part A class. Skill development will be the focus of the course. Students’ Weaknesses will be remediated while good work habits are formed. The course work will be incremental in nature and will stress the cumulative review process as a means of mastering the topics presented. This course fulfills a math core credit.
ALGEBRA 2- PART B Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 9-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	Algebra 2 Part B expands topics such as: complex numbers, systems of equations, variations, advanced graphing, and introductory trigonometry. The applications of algebra in fields such as geometry, trigonometry and chemistry will be emphasized. The course work will be incremental in nature and will stress the cumulative review process as a means of mastering the topics presented. This course fulfills a math core credit
GEOMETRY Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 9-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This course covers all aspects of geometry. All of the standard elements of geometry will be introduced visually, analytically, inductively and finally deductively. The students will make conjectures and then investigate those conjectures in a variety of ways. Geometric concepts will be connected to students’ daily lives and to other disciplines such as art, architecture and technology.
CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grade 9 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This course focuses upon the attainment of knowledge and understanding of fundamental physics principles. Unlike physics courses traditionally taught at a 11th grade level, this course is designed to focus on the basic concepts of physics without the application of a lot of mathematics. As with any of the science department's courses, skills such as science reasoning, experimental design, laboratory procedures and problem solving are integrated and developed through a study of physics topics. The topics themselves include linear and rotational mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves, and other topics.
BIOLOGY Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grade 10 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This course emphasizes reading comprehension, data analysis, practical experimentation, hypothesis formulation, data collection, problem solving, critical thinking as they relate to the life sciences. Genetics, cell structure, photosynthesis and respiration, and ecology, microbiology, botany and zoology are the areas of concentration.
CHEMISTRY Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grade 11 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This course focuses upon data analysis, mathematical computations, and reading that are developed through a study of matter, atomic structure, chemical formulas, chemical reactions, periodic properties of elements, chemical bonding, and the behavior of atomic particles in accordance with the Kinetic Theory of Matter. Connections to relevant societal and technological issues are emphasized.
WORLD STUDIES Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grade 9 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	Students focus on selected regions of the world such as; Europe, the America’s Africa and Asia. History, geography and economics will be examined to explore human interaction with the world over time. World Studies is a graduation requirement and a prerequisite for United States History.
U. S. HISTORY Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grade 10 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	This course traces the political, social and economic development of the United States. Students will focus on issues, people and events that have shaped the American culture from Colonial times to present.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS Open To: Grades 11-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	Students will focus on American Government and the Constitution. They will gain understanding into the branches of government and their functions. Student involvement in selecting topics for discussion is encouraged in this course.
CONSUMER ECONOMICS Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 11-12 Length: 2 terms Credits: 1.0	Students learn basic economic concepts to help them define their future role as a consumer. Discussion and practical application of instruction will be developed. The student will meet the state requirement for consumer education by successfully completing this course.
STRATEGIES Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 10-12 Length: 1 term Credits: 0.5	This course is designed to assist students in attaining and refining the skills necessary to be successful in the general education core curriculum courses. Students will address personal learning styles and how it affects their study skills. Strategies will offer students the opportunity to apply learned skills to their daily assignments.
SECONDARY WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (SWEP) Prerequisite: Dept. recommendation Open To: Grades 11-12 Length: 1 term Credits: 0.5	Through SWEP, students are able to earn credit for working part time while going to high school in order to gain practical work experience. Students are required to work a minimum average of 10-15 hours per week, complete weekly journals, time sheets, and complete a final exam. On a monthly basis, students will be evaluated by their employer as part of their grade.