Innovative Courses — Other Electives

Braille
(PDF)

1.0

This course provides instruction in pre-braille skills, tactual discrimination, the reading and writing of the braille code, and the development of efficient braille reading including fluency and comprehension. The braille reading and writing course emphasizes the conventions and mechanics of braille.

TBD

College Transition
(PDF)

1.0

College Transition is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be active and successful learners, both in high school and in college. Students examine numerous research-based learning strategies (such as goal setting, effective time management, stress management, note taking, active reading, test-taking strategies, and research methods) that are proven to lead to academic success. In the College Transition course, students will research financial scholarships and grant opportunities, complete applications, and explore technical schools, colleges, and universities. With the increased emphasis on career and college readiness and postsecondary education, students need opportunities to learn how to excel in a postsecondary environment while in grades 9–12.

2029–2030

The purpose of this course is to introduce knowledge and skills to empower students to research and access public transportation options in their respective communities. Areas to be addressed include pedestrian and rider safety, navigating public transportation systems, use of technology, and general social skills, including self-advocacy, self-assertiveness, and transportation etiquette.

2025–2026

G/T Interdisciplinary Study Mentorship I–IV
(PDF)

1.0

This course, based on the Exit Level Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) for gifted/talented (G/T) students, offers a non-traditional learning experience to those students who have the ability to create innovative products or performances.

2024–2025

 Innovative Thinking teaches innovation as a process that can be applied to any subject or career. This course prepares students for college and career by developing 21st century skills, including creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication. Students are introduced to the innovative thinking framework which includes five themes: creativity, storytelling, design, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.

TBD

Logic I
(PDF)

0.5

Logic I provides course content in informal logic which includes intensive experience with logical fallacies and an emphasis on inductive reasoning, strong versus weak and fallacious arguments, and probability. In Logic I, students concentrate on evaluating the content of arguments. The course deals almost entirely with “ordinary language arguments” in the interchange of ideas between people. Logic I prepares students for college, careers and military pursuits, as inductive reasoning is integral to thinking well in various aspects of daily life that involve decision-making, problem-solving, and communication with others in civic, work, and other settings.

2029–2030

Logic II is a course in formal logic, or the logic that pertains to pure reasoning in the abstract-deductive reasoning, valid or invalid arguments, and certainty (given the premise). In Logic II, students will learn about Aristotelian logic, and they will engage in the world of syllogism where focus is placed on understanding the form and structure of an argument and arguments that can be analyzed using symbols. Students will build on those skills as they construct their own syllogisms and practice real-world application of structured deductive logic. 

Making Connections I
(PDF)

0.5

The Making Connections course sequence serves students who have an autism spectrum disorder or a related disorder which causes them to have difficulty with social skills. This course assists the students in developing an understanding of autism and other related disorders.

2024–2025

Making Connections II
(PDF)

0.5

The Making Connections course sequence serves students who have an autism spectrum disorder or a related disorder such as social (pragmatic) communication disorder which causes them to have difficulty with social skills.  The courses also assist students with developing and generalizing appropriate and beneficial social skills and in turn increases the student’s postsecondary outcomes.

2024–2025

Making Connections III
(PDF)

0.5

The Making Connections course sequence serves students who have an autism spectrum disorder or a related disorder such as social (pragmatic) communication disorder which causes them to have difficulty with social skills. The courses also assist students with developing and generalizing appropriate and beneficial social skills and in turn increases the student’s postsecondary outcomes.

2024–2025

Making Connections IV
(PDF)

0.5

The Making Connections course sequence serves students who have an autism spectrum disorder or a related disorder such as social (pragmatic) communication disorder which causes them to have difficulty with social skills. The courses also assist students with developing and generalizing appropriate and beneficial social skills and in turn increases the student’s postsecondary outcomes.

2024–2025

Methodology for Academic and Personal Success (MAPS)
(PDF)

1.0

The course focuses on the skills and strategies necessary for students to make a successful transition into high school and an academic career. Students explore the options available in high school, higher education, and the professional world in order to establish both immediate and long-range personal goals.

2024–2025

Multilingual Acculturation Studies (PDF)

1.0

The central focus of this course is to help emergent bilingual (EB) students in embracing their acculturation experience. Acculturation refers to the cultural and social changes that an immigrant undergoes when exposed to a new environment and interacts with a different cultural group (Berry & Sam, 2018). The course takes an integrated identity approach, aiming to facilitate a successful academic journey for newcomer students as they learn a new culture and language. It offers cultural and social support tailored to the diverse needs of newcomer students, guiding them through various stages of acculturation and fostering increased community engagement and academic achievement. By incorporating research-based strategies, students will explore how they can blend their home country’s culture with that of their new country, enhancing their understanding and showcasing their unique strengths to contribute to global appreciation as they prepare for their future. This course provides students with a supportive system to help them navigate and adapt during this transitional period, ultimately leading to greater success in and readiness for their academic journey.

The purpose of this course is to provide the necessary information, resources, and opportunities that will empower students who are deaf or hard of hearing to effectively apply information and skills learned in educational, home, and community settings in order to facilitate achievement in secondary and postsecondary environments.

Path College Career I
(PDF)

1.0

All students deserve academic and social support to help prepare them for the challenges they must face after high school graduation. The Path-College/Career Prep courses advance intellectual curiosity, conscientiousness, dependability, emotional stability, and perseverance through tasks that foster deeper levels of thinking and reasoning in the four core content areas.

2024–2025

All students deserve academic and social support to help prepare them for the challenges they must face after high school graduation. The Path-College/Career Prep courses advance intellectual curiosity, conscientiousness, dependability, emotional stability, and perseverance through tasks that foster deeper levels of thinking and reasoning in the four core content areas.

2024–2025

All students deserve academic and social support to help prepare them for the challenges they must face after high school graduation. The Path-College/Career Prep courses advance intellectual curiosity, conscientiousness, dependability, emotional stability, and perseverance through tasks that foster deeper levels of thinking and reasoning in the four core content areas.

2024–2025

All students deserve academic and social support to help prepare them for the challenges they must face after high school graduation. The Path-College/Career Prep courses advance intellectual curiosity, conscientiousness, dependability, emotional stability, and perseverance through tasks that foster deeper levels of thinking and reasoning in the four core content areas.

2024–2025

Peer Assistance for Students with Disabilities
(PDF)

0.5

The Peer Assistance for Students with Disabilities is designed to promote an inclusive educational environment for special education students. Peer assistants assist teachers in general education and special education settings by helping to facilitate inclusion in the classroom.

2024–2025