Electives

6th Grade

Art - Deanna Brown dbrown@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
Art is offered as a one semester class for sixth grade. The class studies the Elements and Principles of Design and creates art using paint, watercolor, charcoal, pastels, printmaking inks, pen & ink, colored pencil, yarn, tissue paper, and paper mache. They also study various artists and art history. Students are encouraged to be creative and have confidence in their own ideas. Students participate in the Trinity Valley Exposition Art Contest, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art, Youth Art Month Exhibition, and Cleveland Dairy Day Art Contest.

Band - Fred Otto, Courtney Laprelle fotto@tarkington.isd.esc4.net, claprelle@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
This band has 64 students playing all of the typical band instruments. They will perform at several concerts and will attend a Solo and Ensemble contest. There are three classes, one woodwind, one brass and one percussion class.

Choir - Mikki Johnson mjohnson@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
This is a choir made up of 6th grade students. This choir is open to anyone and currently has 18 members. The 6th grade choir entertains audiences with a Christmas Concert and Spring Concert each year. Members also are encouraged to compete at Solo and Ensemble Contest.

7th Grade

Art - Lee Stewart lstewart@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
Art is offered as a year-long course for seventh graders. The class studies the Elements and Principles of Design and creates art using paint, watercolor, charcoal, pastels, printmaking inks, pen & ink, colored pencil, yarn, tissue paper, and paper mache. They also use clay and write art critiques. In addition, they study various artists and art history. Students are encouraged to be creative and have confidence in their own ideas. Students participate in the Trinity Valley Exposition Art Contest, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art, Youth Art Month Exhibition, and Cleveland Dairy Day Art Contest.

Band - Fred Otto, Courtney Laprelle fotto@tarkington.isd.esc4.net, claprelle@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
This band has 73 Students. They play for all Pep Rallys, and two football games. Individual students tryout and many make the All-County Band, and ATSSB District and Region Band. This year in addition to Concerts in the community, the band will travel to Dallas to Participate in the Sandy Lake Band Festival.

Choir - Mikki Johnson mjohnson@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
The 7th/8th Grade Choir performs in the Christmas and Spring Choir Concerts each year. Members are given the opportunity to compete at UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest and at any area Solo and Ensemble Contests.

Drama - Linda Holleman lholleman@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
Students learn the basics of acting, including pantomime and improv techniques. Later, they have an opportunity to practice special stage moves such as stage falling, punching, slapping and hitting. Students learn to speak in front of a group of people and to analyze human nature. They also learn stage make up techniques, basic design in costuming, sets, lights and sound. Most importantly they are rewarded by the real-life application of what they have learned. Theatre develops practical lifetime skills; working as a team, self-discipline, speaking before a group, self-expression, and problem-solving are all developed in this class. Additionally, theatre is an applied art which combines everything they learn in all their other classes--writing, math, history, psychology, physics, reading, etc.

Technology Applications - Heather Burleson hburleson@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
Students work on a variety of skills in this course, including: hardware and software basics, keyboarding skills, copyright law, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, information evaluation, and Internet usage. Keyboarding is covered in depth the first six weeks, and timed writings continue to be administered throughout the rest of the semester to keep keyboarding skills sharp. Projects are used to address several topics - some are individual and others are group projects. Participation is an important element of the project grade. To be successful in this course, you must come to class prepared to work, each and every day. This course fulfills the TEA requirements of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Chapter 126, Technology Applications.

8th Grade

Art - Lee Stewart lstewart@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
Art is offered as a year-long elective for eighth grade students. The class studies the Elements and Principles of Design and creates art using paint, watercolor, charcoal, pastels, printmaking inks, pen & ink, colored pencil, yarn, tissue paper, and paper mache. They also uses clay and write art critiques. In addition, they study various artists and art history. Students are encouraged to be creative and have confidence in their own ideas. Students participate in the Trinity Valley Exposition Art Contest, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art, Youth Art Month Exhibition, and Cleveland Dairy Day Art Contest.

Speech - Ms. Henry

Teen Leadership - Mary Jo Havard mjhavard@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
Teen Leadership is a semester long course for eighth graders. This course is a program in which students develop leadership, personal, and business skills. They will learn to develop a healthy self-concept, healthy relationships, and learn to understand the concept of personal responsibility. Students will develop skills in public speaking and communication and an understanding of personal image. They will develop an understanding of the effects of peer pressure and will develop skills to counteract those effects. They will develop an understanding of the principles of parenting, enabling them to become better family members and citizens. They will also develop an understanding of the need for vision in goal-setting, personally and professionally. Each child will need a spiral notebook for this course. Nearly all of the written work in this course will be done in the spiral, which will remain in the classroom.

Vocational Agriculture - Amanda Brooks abrooks@tarkington.isd.esc4.net
Introduction to World Agricultural Science and Technology (Ag 101) and Applied Agricultural Science and Technology (Ag 102) are one semester courses for students in grades 8-12. Generally Ag 101 is taught in the fall semester and Ag 102 in the spring. Eighth grade students that complete the courses will receive high school credit.

These courses are designed to prepare students for careers in the broad field of agriculture/agribusiness. Students need to attain academic skills and knowledge, to acquire knowledge and skills related to agriculture/agribusiness, and the workplace, and to develop knowledge and skills regarding career opportunities, entry requirements, and industry expectations. To prepare for success, students need to have the opportunities to learn, reinforce, apply, and transfer their knowledge and skills and technologies in a variety of settings.

The FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Science and Technology program and makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Tarkington FFA will participate in leadership development events, career development events, stock shows and local activities throughout the year.