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) to 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.
SEVENTH GRADE
FOCUS
§
Poetry, Narrative Writing, Letter Writing,
Creative Writing,
Response Writing to Listening Skills and Editorial Writing.
Mathematics
¨
Graphing Data – Making and
Interpreting Graphs
¨
Beginning Algebra – Solving one and two step
equations using formulas
¨
Geometry – Exploring
polygons, angles, circles and their areas
¨
Creating Proportions
¨
Converting between
fractions, percents and decimals
¨
Integers – graphing,
add/subtract/multiply/divide
¨
Probability
Students will:
§
communicate
with data and examine trends.
§
write
and solve algebraic equations, and use formulas to problem solve.
§
solve
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with fractions and
decimals.
§
use
ratios and proportions to solve problems.
§
compute,
solve, and graph equations involving integers.
§
solve
problems involving percents.
§
use
geometric formulas to study polygons.
Science
¨ Nervous System
¨
Circulatory System
¨
Respiratory System
¨
Skeletal/Muscles System
¨
Elements and the Periodic
Table
¨
Minerals and Rocks
¨
¨
Energy Forms
¨
Simple Machines
Social Studies
·
Seventh grade Social Studies covers Eastern world
(Africa, Asia,
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:
·
·
Plant and Animal Cell Study
·
Earth’s Atmosphere
·
Speech
·
Novels
·
Literature
·
Geometry
·
Probability
·
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:
§ continue to improve keyboarding and word processing skills.
§ design a newspaper using desktop publishing skills.
§ enhance and manipulate photography, using a variety of applications.
§ complete a Power Point project.
§ learn basic spreadsheet skills.
§ learn basic data base skills.
§ design a web page using HTML.
§ learn research and search procedures on the Internet.
Spanish:
Seventh grade Spanish students focus on:
§
Basic vocabulary including numbers, colors
and classes.
§
Telling time and pertinent vocabulary.
§
Food vocabulary.
§
Famous Hispanics and culture related 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 students. All classes begin with an exercise warm-up session. Classes incorporate whole game activities, taught with strong emphasis on skills development. Units include football, softball, volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, soccer, various types of races, ping-pong, tug-o-war, archery, track and field skills; rhythmic activities, including simple dances, are also included. Tumbling is offered, but not required. Physical training for health and athletics is taught as a unit in both Physical Education and Health.
Band
Seventh grade band meets daily and the students are divided into two separate classes; woodwinds or brass/percussion. The entire seventh grade band will perform in four evening band concerts held throughout
the year. They are also required to participate in MSBOA District III Band and Orchestra Festival.
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
students are included in general education classes with accommodations to receive support from Special Education teachers.
Extra-Curricular Activities
LMS is a member of the Flint Metro League conference. We offer*:
Basketball Cheerleading
Cross Country Football
Track Volleyball
Wrestling
* A physical is required before a student can participate in any Metro League sport.
Through Linden Community
Education and the
offered can be obtained through Community Education or the main office.
Seventh graders are
allowed to participate in Book Bowl, Yearbook, Student Council, Chess Club, and
Ski Club. Throughout the year, 7th/8th
grade dances are held from