What is Teaming?
At Linden Middle School
For
sixth grade students leaving the safety and comfort of the elementary school,
teaming offers a smooth transition into the middle school. Changing teachers and classrooms each hour in
a new building may be intimidating. A
good balance is reached with teaming.
Students are learning how to move around the school and transition
between teachers, but the same group of students moves
among the same four core teachers, creating consistency.
The
team of teachers creates a smaller learning community that allows for close,
caring relationships to form between students and staff. Staff and students of a team form a team
name, set goals for academic growth and celebrate achievements. The identity formed by being part of the team
gives all students a place to belong and feel safe.
Adolescence
is a time when children want to be seen as “grown-up” while still having the
safety of being able to say, “But, I’m just a kid.” Advisory periods within teams give students
the opportunity to address questions and concerns regarding education and the
school. Within teams, the advisory
period teaches students problem-solving skills, how to build and maintain
positive relationships, and the importance of a successful learning experience.
Themes
are another way teaming increases the academic success of our students. The transition to sixth grade, with the
number of classes and demands of course work, often brings frustration. Themes allow teachers to connect content
knowledge to each of the four core classes.
Rather than gathering isolated bits of information to clutter their
world, themes allow students to see connections form one course to the next.
Finally,
teams are made for our kids in the middle.
This is a sensitive time of life for our youth. Many changes are happening and what used to
seem black and white is now gray. A
major focus of teaming is to address the needs of adolescence while striving
for academic excellence.
General Information
Progress
Cards/Report Cards:
Progress reports are mailed home each six weeks. Report cards are mailed home after the end of each semester. During scheduled Parent/Teacher conferences, report cards may be picked up. Those not picked up will be mailed home the following day.
Parent/Teacher
Conferences:
Parent/Teacher conferences are usually held twice a year school-wide. A schedule can be obtained from the main office and/or the district website. Individual team/teacher contacts may be made at anytime by calling the main office.
MEAP Testing
According to the requirements of the State of
Both middle school and high school students have the potential to earn scholarship money based on MEAP test results. Currently, middle school students earning a level 1 or 2 score on each test can earn $500. High School students earning a level 1 or 2 on each test can earn $2,500.
Career Pathways
The Career Pathway system is designed to give students a jump-start on their future by providing them with opportunities to explore a variety of careers throughout their education and be prepared to make educated career decisions.
Seventh grade students are given opportunities to explore and research careers as well as participate in a fieldtrip to learn first-hand about the career opportunities available to them.
Eighth grade students use the career knowledge gained in seventh grade and begin mapping out their four-year plan for high school. Each career pathway has a suggested course of study that students use while making high school course selections.
English
Students will:
§
develop
a positive attitude toward reading.
§
read
and understand a variety of materials such as informational text, short
stories, poetry, drama, essays and novels.
§
read
for a variety of purposes.
§
relate
literature to one’s life and surrounding world.
WRITING
Students will:
§
use the writing process (pre-writing, rough
drafting, revising, editing, publishing)
§
create
various types of writing.
§
learn
the rules of the English language while working through the writing process and
other classroom activities.
§
write
reflectively and in response to literature.
TECHNOLOGY
Students will:
§
Use technology as a tool to obtain and
present information throughout the
language arts program.
SIXTH GRADE
FOCUS
§
Research Writing, Poetry, Personal
Narrative, realistic fiction and creative writing.
Mathematics
The ensuing topics will be covered throughout the course of the year.
§ Statistics
§ Connecting Arithmetic to Algebra
§ Decimals
§ Measurement
§ Patterns and Number Theory
§ Adding and Subtracting Fractions
§ Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
§ Geometry of Polygons
§ Ratios, Proportions, and Percents
§ Probability
Science
¨ Light and Vision
¨ Sound
and Hearing
¨ Waves
and Vibrations
¨ Structure
of Matter
¨ Solutions,
Suspensions, and Colloids
¨ Acids,
Bases, and Salts
¨ Plants
¨ Animal
Behavior
¨ Characteristics
of Living Things
¨ Viruses
and Simple Organisms
¨ Ecosystems
and Ecology
¨ Motion
¨ Forces
of Nature – Floods, Erosions, and Glaciers
Social Studies
Sixth grade Social
Studies covers Western World (Europe,
Required Core Extension (RCE)
RCE provides an extension
and enrichment of the four academic classes, enabling students to receive more
in depth exposure to core subject related topics and skills. Each RCE class usually is four and one half
weeks in length, offering eight during the course of the school year. In some cases, the grade level may determine
to have just four RCE classes during the year, with each extending nine
weeks. Learning areas may include, but
are not necessarily limited to:
¨ Study
Skills
¨ Plants
¨ Science
Process Skills and Crime Scene Investigations
¨ Communication
¨ Speech
¨ Probability
and Statistics
¨ Probability
and Problem Solving
¨
Exploratories
Art:
All Students of the nine-week
rotation class will review and apply the elements of art introduced at the
elementary level. All students will
focus on the importance of art in their world, the need for effective use of
elements and principles of design, and the creation of personal art.
Computer Science:
Students will:
§ improve keyboarding skills.
§ master word processing skills such as entering, storing, editing, formatting, and revising text.
§ enhance and manipulate photography, using a variety of applications.
§ learn basic desktop publishing skills.
§ design a web page using HTML.
§ learn research and search procedures on the Internet.
Spanish:
Sixth grade Spanish students focus on:
§
Basic vocabulary such as: colors, numbers, classroom objects and the alphabet.
§
Conversational vocabulary
§
Location of Spanish-speaking countries and
cultures related to the topics.
Tech Prep:
Students will explore six different technologies at nine activity centers to include: Architectural Cad, Robotics, Land Transportation, Applied Mechanisms, Alternate Energy, and Lasers/Fiber Optics. They will learn about careers related to these technologies and practice teamwork in both small and large group settings. Large group activities include: Flight projects and Competitive bridge and tower construction.
Health
Health classes meet one week out of every three weeks until the required topics have been taught. Health classes are based on the “Michigan Model.” AIDS/HIV education is included in the Health program.
Physical Education
Physical Education classes meet daily with at least one semester for each student and two semesters for most children; this is contingent upon their elective choices. All classes begin with an exercise warm-up session. Classes emphasize the development of gross motor and locomotor skills, which are necessary for total body control as well as sports skills. A unit of basic tumbling is taught. Students learn basic game concepts and controlled games are used to reinforce the learned skills. Good sportsmanship, fair play, and respect for others are required.
Band
Sixth grade band meets daily and the students are divided into two separate classes; woodwinds or brass/percussion. These classes are team taught by two band directors to allow for weekly like instrument sectionals to address individual and small ensemble problems. Practice time sheets are required and graded for all sixth grade band students.
Vocal
Music & Drama
Students will be exposed to various types of theatrical and musical productions and the basic components of acting. Students will be required to work cooperatively with developing and participating in role-play activities, skits, songs, and other performance based assignments. Students will participate in productions at the high school auditorium.
Special Education
Special Education services are available to qualifying students who require a more individualized educational program. Departmentalized resource classes support core academics. When appropriate, Special Education students are included in general education classes with accommodations to receive support from Special Education teachers.
A class is offered for
those students who are mildly mentally impaired to foster and promote the
learning of basis of life and prevocational skills, along with academics that
are appropriate.
The Learning Assistance
Center (LAC) is available to Special Education students. It provides assistance to students in the general
education program. Students who use this
service, receive help on assignments and have tests read aloud.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Sixth grade students are prohibited
from participating in any athletic events in the Metro League. However, through
Education and the
Sixth graders are allowed to participate in Book Bowl, Yearbook, Student Council, Chess Club, and Ski Club. Instead of dances, sixth grade has
Activity
Nights. There, they
have basketball, board games, Karaoke, computers, and arts & crafts.