Honors Literature I & II
Students in grades 9 and 10 will take Honors Literature. A wide variety of literary forms (novels, drama, poems, essays and short stories), themes, cultures, and periods will be explored. Students will read thoughtfully and purposefully, constantly checking for understanding of the author's intent and meaning in order to determine a sound interpretation. Students will be taught to analyze the literature they read through both oral forums and written composition. All facets of language arts - listening, speaking, reading, writing will be employed. The study of language in use – grammar, mechanics, sentence structure, and usage will be stressed. Students will be able to understand and articulate the school policy on academic integrity and honesty. They will understand what constitutes plagiarism. and will actively demonstrate how to properly reference sources in the context of the course.
Honors American History
Students in grade 9 will take Honors American History. Students will understand the historical origins of the United States during the Revolutionary and Constitutional eras. They will learn about both the political and economic factors that contributed to major events such as the Revolution, Civil War, World War I and II and the Cold War, as well as the consequences of such events. Students will examine the key ideas of the U.S. Constitution, the framework of American democracy and certain concepts of our government, including: popular sovereignty, federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights. Through out the course, students will be encouraged to critically explore the role of the European/western perspective while examining the course text.. To provide a balanced view of history, other sources will be used. The role of Muslims in American History during this period in history will be a re-occurring theme throughout this course.
Honors Algebra I
Students in grade 9 will take Honors Algebra I. This course emphasizes algebraic language, structure, concepts and skills. Major topics include algebraic properties and the real number system, functions and their graphs, linear equations and inequalities, linear regression and modeling, systems of linear equations and inequalities, polynomial and factoring, algebraic fractions and real world applications. Skills taught in the course lay groundwork for upper level math and science courses both at the high school and college level.
Honors Algebra II
Students in grade 10 will take Honors Algebra II. This course emphasizes algebraic language, structure, concepts and skills. Major topics include linear, quadratic, inverse, radical, exponential and logarithmic relations and functions, polynomials and polynomial functions, trigonometric functions as well as probability and statistics. Skills taught in the course lay groundwork for upper level math and science courses both at the high school and college level.
Honors Geometry
Students in grade 10 will take Honors Geometry. This course is designed to emphasize the study of the properties and applications of common geometric figures in two and three dimensions. Relationships in triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons and circles are studied. It also includes the study of transformations, right triangle trigonometry, proportions and symmetry, surface area and volume. Inductive and deductive reasoning and writing proofs are used in problem solving situations, and applications to the real world are stressed.
Honors Biology
Students in grade 9 will take Honors Biology. This college preparatory course is a survey of all the basic areas of biology with an emphasis on the application of the scientific method. Students will explore connections to Islamic beliefs, and the research of Muslim scientists throughout the course. Topics include cellular structure and function, genetics and evolution, energy transformations, microorganisms, biotechnology, carbon- based molecules, metabolism, and ecological relationships. Societal issues related to the above topics will be investigated. The emphasis is on the development of abstract concepts, critical analysis, and independent learning. Laboratory work is an integral part of this course. Students are required to be able to express concepts through writing in all aspects of the course including laboratory reports.
Honors Chemistry
Students in grade 10 will take Honors Chemistry. This college preparatory course introduces students to the theory of matter. The course helps the students develop an understanding of the scientific method through experimental investigations and applications of theories. Some of the topics included in this course include the atomic theory, the periodic table and laws, chemical reactions, the mole, stoichiometry, energy and chemical change, reaction rates, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, redox reactions, electrochemistry, hydrocarbons and nuclear chemistry. This course will help students realize the importance of chemistry in our lives and make informed decisions regarding science and technology. Laboratory work is an integral part of this course. Students are required to be able to express concepts through writing in all aspects of the course including laboratory reports.
Self-Leadership
The Self-Leadership class is a peer-driven, self-learning model. The aim of the Self-Leadership curriculum is to enable the students to develop a healthy sense of who they are as individuals, as Muslims and as Americans; and learn how to thrive in various life’s situations such as college, careers, etc. through self-leadership by:
1. Learning and applying basic techniques of self-reflection
2. Learning and applying the basics of core Islamic values
3. Learning and applying the basics of beneficial life skills
4. Learning and applying the basics of effective habits
Public Speaking
Students in upper school will take Public Speaking as one of their Career and Life Skills electives. The purpose of this course is for students to gain the confidence and skills they need to create and deliver eloquent speeches when needed for personal or professional reasons. Students will engage in practice speeches throughout the year to become more comfortable speaking in public. Topics covered include the ethics of public speaking, analyzing the audience, gathering materials, organizing the body of the speech, beginning and ending the speech, outlining the speech, using visual aids and methods of delivery.
Computer Science
Students in upper school will take several Computer Science courses to satisfy their Career and Life Skills electives. Students will learn how to develop their own websites using HTML and CSS. Advanced Excel functions and working with large sets of data will be emphasized. Students will create their own relational databases using Microsoft Access. They will study various photo editing and manipulation techniques using GIMP. Students will have the basic programming knowledge to learn any programming language. These are just a few of the skills covered in the Computer Science courses.
Personal Finance
Students in upper school will take a Personal Finance course to satisfy their Career and Life Skills electives. Some of the topics covered in this course include financial planning, finances and career planning, money management strategies, consumer purchasing and protection, banking, consumer credit, the finances of housing, saving and investing, stocks, bonds and mutual funds, real estate, tax strategies, filing taxes, and various types of insurance. All topics covered will be studied according to the common practices in the U.S. as well as from an Islamic perspective and the alternatives available for Muslims.
Religious Studies & Tajweed
Students in all upper school grades will take Islamic Studies and Tajweed classes. The Religious Studies curriculum is broken into 5 categories: faith, Quran and hadeeth, early Islamic history, worship, and manners. Students in Tajweed class will improve their pronunciation, reading and memorization skills. They will learn the rules of tafkheem and tarqeeq, rules of noon, meem, and mudood.
Arabic as a Second Language
Students in all upper school grades will take Arabic as a Second Language. The main components of each course are grammar, reading, and comprehension. Some of the topics covered are the feminine and masculine, demonstrative nouns, the definite article, moon and sun letters, possessive and object pronouns, question articles, subject pronouns, singular and plural, noun sentences, verbs, verb sentences, verb negation, adverbs, noun-adjective sentences, past tense, roots and patterns, numbers, ordinal numbers, and time.
SAT Preparation
Students in all upper school grades will take classes to help them prepare for all sections of the SAT exam. Starting in grade 9, students review their middle school Math and English skills and practice with real SAT questions to learn the various tricks. Although all students in the class will be reviewing the same concepts together, individualized plans will be created for each student to help them succeed at their own pace.
Capstone Project
The Capstone Project is a year long, integrative course designed for high school juniors & seniors. In it students research a topic that will aid in preparing them for further education and propose a senior design that may influence the status quo. Projects have ranged from innovative business models, to improving international relations, to advancements in current research methods. The Capstone Project is a requirement for high school graduation in Connecticut. In addition, Madina Academy instructs students to relate their projects back into Islam and explain how their project could potentially help the Muslim Ummah.
Health Education
Health education class covers topics such as human development, relationships, decision-making, nutrition, nicotine, drugs, abstinence and disease prevention. The overall goal of this course is to provide young adults with the knowledge and skills to aid them in making healthy and proper choices. Some of the topics covered in class include: health promotion and disease prevention, practicing basic health-enhancing behaviors to avoid and reduce health risks, the ability to use decision making skills to enhance health, comprehending concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention, demonstrating the ability to access valid health information, products and services, using goal setting skills to enhance health, learning about constructive skills to improve overall quality of life, exploring growth and development, learning about disease prevention, substance abuse education, in depth study of nutrition, and evaluating and learning ways to improve health, nutrition and overall well-being. Topics will also be discussed from an Islamic perspective.
Physical Education
Students in all grades participate in Physical Education. Students learn, acquire and practice healthy behaviors and perform various physical activities. The intensity, complexity and the duration of the activities are adjusted according to grade level. Students will master the strategies of the games and the physical abilities to play them. This course focuses on the following: health-related fitness, skill development for lifetime activities, learning to coordinate their movement with others around them through a variety of games and activities, demonstrate competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities, demonstrate an understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities, incorporate fitness and wellness concepts to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness and exhibit responsible personal and social behaviors that respect self and others in physical activity settings.
Fine Arts
Students in upper school will take Art classes . They will create, imagine, experiment, plan, make, evaluate, refine and present artworks that express concepts, ideas and feelings. They will understand the importance of the arts in expressing and illuminating human experiences, beliefs and values.
Students in grades 9 and 10 will take Honors Literature. A wide variety of literary forms (novels, drama, poems, essays and short stories), themes, cultures, and periods will be explored. Students will read thoughtfully and purposefully, constantly checking for understanding of the author's intent and meaning in order to determine a sound interpretation. Students will be taught to analyze the literature they read through both oral forums and written composition. All facets of language arts - listening, speaking, reading, writing will be employed. The study of language in use – grammar, mechanics, sentence structure, and usage will be stressed. Students will be able to understand and articulate the school policy on academic integrity and honesty. They will understand what constitutes plagiarism. and will actively demonstrate how to properly reference sources in the context of the course.
Honors American History
Students in grade 9 will take Honors American History. Students will understand the historical origins of the United States during the Revolutionary and Constitutional eras. They will learn about both the political and economic factors that contributed to major events such as the Revolution, Civil War, World War I and II and the Cold War, as well as the consequences of such events. Students will examine the key ideas of the U.S. Constitution, the framework of American democracy and certain concepts of our government, including: popular sovereignty, federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights. Through out the course, students will be encouraged to critically explore the role of the European/western perspective while examining the course text.. To provide a balanced view of history, other sources will be used. The role of Muslims in American History during this period in history will be a re-occurring theme throughout this course.
Honors Algebra I
Students in grade 9 will take Honors Algebra I. This course emphasizes algebraic language, structure, concepts and skills. Major topics include algebraic properties and the real number system, functions and their graphs, linear equations and inequalities, linear regression and modeling, systems of linear equations and inequalities, polynomial and factoring, algebraic fractions and real world applications. Skills taught in the course lay groundwork for upper level math and science courses both at the high school and college level.
Honors Algebra II
Students in grade 10 will take Honors Algebra II. This course emphasizes algebraic language, structure, concepts and skills. Major topics include linear, quadratic, inverse, radical, exponential and logarithmic relations and functions, polynomials and polynomial functions, trigonometric functions as well as probability and statistics. Skills taught in the course lay groundwork for upper level math and science courses both at the high school and college level.
Honors Geometry
Students in grade 10 will take Honors Geometry. This course is designed to emphasize the study of the properties and applications of common geometric figures in two and three dimensions. Relationships in triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons and circles are studied. It also includes the study of transformations, right triangle trigonometry, proportions and symmetry, surface area and volume. Inductive and deductive reasoning and writing proofs are used in problem solving situations, and applications to the real world are stressed.
Honors Biology
Students in grade 9 will take Honors Biology. This college preparatory course is a survey of all the basic areas of biology with an emphasis on the application of the scientific method. Students will explore connections to Islamic beliefs, and the research of Muslim scientists throughout the course. Topics include cellular structure and function, genetics and evolution, energy transformations, microorganisms, biotechnology, carbon- based molecules, metabolism, and ecological relationships. Societal issues related to the above topics will be investigated. The emphasis is on the development of abstract concepts, critical analysis, and independent learning. Laboratory work is an integral part of this course. Students are required to be able to express concepts through writing in all aspects of the course including laboratory reports.
Honors Chemistry
Students in grade 10 will take Honors Chemistry. This college preparatory course introduces students to the theory of matter. The course helps the students develop an understanding of the scientific method through experimental investigations and applications of theories. Some of the topics included in this course include the atomic theory, the periodic table and laws, chemical reactions, the mole, stoichiometry, energy and chemical change, reaction rates, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, redox reactions, electrochemistry, hydrocarbons and nuclear chemistry. This course will help students realize the importance of chemistry in our lives and make informed decisions regarding science and technology. Laboratory work is an integral part of this course. Students are required to be able to express concepts through writing in all aspects of the course including laboratory reports.
Self-Leadership
The Self-Leadership class is a peer-driven, self-learning model. The aim of the Self-Leadership curriculum is to enable the students to develop a healthy sense of who they are as individuals, as Muslims and as Americans; and learn how to thrive in various life’s situations such as college, careers, etc. through self-leadership by:
1. Learning and applying basic techniques of self-reflection
2. Learning and applying the basics of core Islamic values
3. Learning and applying the basics of beneficial life skills
4. Learning and applying the basics of effective habits
Public Speaking
Students in upper school will take Public Speaking as one of their Career and Life Skills electives. The purpose of this course is for students to gain the confidence and skills they need to create and deliver eloquent speeches when needed for personal or professional reasons. Students will engage in practice speeches throughout the year to become more comfortable speaking in public. Topics covered include the ethics of public speaking, analyzing the audience, gathering materials, organizing the body of the speech, beginning and ending the speech, outlining the speech, using visual aids and methods of delivery.
Computer Science
Students in upper school will take several Computer Science courses to satisfy their Career and Life Skills electives. Students will learn how to develop their own websites using HTML and CSS. Advanced Excel functions and working with large sets of data will be emphasized. Students will create their own relational databases using Microsoft Access. They will study various photo editing and manipulation techniques using GIMP. Students will have the basic programming knowledge to learn any programming language. These are just a few of the skills covered in the Computer Science courses.
Personal Finance
Students in upper school will take a Personal Finance course to satisfy their Career and Life Skills electives. Some of the topics covered in this course include financial planning, finances and career planning, money management strategies, consumer purchasing and protection, banking, consumer credit, the finances of housing, saving and investing, stocks, bonds and mutual funds, real estate, tax strategies, filing taxes, and various types of insurance. All topics covered will be studied according to the common practices in the U.S. as well as from an Islamic perspective and the alternatives available for Muslims.
Religious Studies & Tajweed
Students in all upper school grades will take Islamic Studies and Tajweed classes. The Religious Studies curriculum is broken into 5 categories: faith, Quran and hadeeth, early Islamic history, worship, and manners. Students in Tajweed class will improve their pronunciation, reading and memorization skills. They will learn the rules of tafkheem and tarqeeq, rules of noon, meem, and mudood.
Arabic as a Second Language
Students in all upper school grades will take Arabic as a Second Language. The main components of each course are grammar, reading, and comprehension. Some of the topics covered are the feminine and masculine, demonstrative nouns, the definite article, moon and sun letters, possessive and object pronouns, question articles, subject pronouns, singular and plural, noun sentences, verbs, verb sentences, verb negation, adverbs, noun-adjective sentences, past tense, roots and patterns, numbers, ordinal numbers, and time.
SAT Preparation
Students in all upper school grades will take classes to help them prepare for all sections of the SAT exam. Starting in grade 9, students review their middle school Math and English skills and practice with real SAT questions to learn the various tricks. Although all students in the class will be reviewing the same concepts together, individualized plans will be created for each student to help them succeed at their own pace.
Capstone Project
The Capstone Project is a year long, integrative course designed for high school juniors & seniors. In it students research a topic that will aid in preparing them for further education and propose a senior design that may influence the status quo. Projects have ranged from innovative business models, to improving international relations, to advancements in current research methods. The Capstone Project is a requirement for high school graduation in Connecticut. In addition, Madina Academy instructs students to relate their projects back into Islam and explain how their project could potentially help the Muslim Ummah.
Health Education
Health education class covers topics such as human development, relationships, decision-making, nutrition, nicotine, drugs, abstinence and disease prevention. The overall goal of this course is to provide young adults with the knowledge and skills to aid them in making healthy and proper choices. Some of the topics covered in class include: health promotion and disease prevention, practicing basic health-enhancing behaviors to avoid and reduce health risks, the ability to use decision making skills to enhance health, comprehending concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention, demonstrating the ability to access valid health information, products and services, using goal setting skills to enhance health, learning about constructive skills to improve overall quality of life, exploring growth and development, learning about disease prevention, substance abuse education, in depth study of nutrition, and evaluating and learning ways to improve health, nutrition and overall well-being. Topics will also be discussed from an Islamic perspective.
Physical Education
Students in all grades participate in Physical Education. Students learn, acquire and practice healthy behaviors and perform various physical activities. The intensity, complexity and the duration of the activities are adjusted according to grade level. Students will master the strategies of the games and the physical abilities to play them. This course focuses on the following: health-related fitness, skill development for lifetime activities, learning to coordinate their movement with others around them through a variety of games and activities, demonstrate competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities, demonstrate an understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities, incorporate fitness and wellness concepts to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness and exhibit responsible personal and social behaviors that respect self and others in physical activity settings.
Fine Arts
Students in upper school will take Art classes . They will create, imagine, experiment, plan, make, evaluate, refine and present artworks that express concepts, ideas and feelings. They will understand the importance of the arts in expressing and illuminating human experiences, beliefs and values.