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Middle School Curriculum (revised on 17 Jun 07) To: Middle School Students and Parents: As students begin their Middle school education, the selection of the most appropriate and relevant courses are fundamental to the realization of their individual academic and personal goals. This guide will provide you an understanding of the school program that meets your educational goals, interests, and needs. It describes the courses, which will be offered during the in the current school year. We hope to give the Balboa Academy community greater ownership in the educational program by describing the courses we can offer and allowing students and parents the opportunity to tell us their interest in them. At the start of the school year, students will receive copies of their schedules. If any errors are found or changes are required, the student must consult with the MS counselor to make corrections immediately. This Middle School Guide is designed to assist students and their parents in better understanding the Balboa Academy Middle School Educational Program. We would appreciate your suggestions to improve the effectiveness of this program. We wish you success in the new academic year.
Ms Rita
Sosa Jean Lamb
The Middle School consists of approximately 200 students in grades 5 to 8 with 12 core teachers, and 4 special teachers for non-core subjects. One of the biggest changes students face upon leaving the elementary school is having several teachers each day. To make this transition easier, the teachers in the 5th and 6th grades are organized into grade level teams. Each team consists of three learning community teachers. Each learning community teacher specializes in two subject areas and teaches all students at that grade level each day. The 7th and 8th grades have three learning communities (Home Rooms) in each grade. Each of the six 7th and 8th grade core teachers is responsible for one learning Community. Each teacher specializes in one core subject and will teach each 7th and 8th grade student each day. The grade level teams meet weekly to discuss individual student progress, work on the curriculum modules, improve teaching strategies, etc. The special teachers attend team meetings as the curriculum requires. Learning Communities The Middle School is a time of transition. To facilitate the change from the single-classroom, one-teacher experience in the elementary school, students are organized into Learning Communities. Each student in the Middle School will be assigned to a group of approximately 20 students. This will be the student's "learning community" (Home Room), meeting in the first period classroom. Each community will have a learning community teacher whose job it is to monitor the overall progress of each student in the community and to ensure the child feels a strong connection with an adult in the school. The objectives of the learning community program are:
The Learning Community Meetings
The teacher will meet individually with each student during scheduled student conferences through out the school year. Participation in and attitude towards the learning community activities may be reported in comments on the quarterly report cards. The Middle School is organized to:
Learning Community Plus When appropriate, the Middle School will meet together (5th through 8th grades). This time is a forum for many different types of activities including:
What will be learned in the Middle School? All Middle School learning experiences, whether subject-specific or cross-disciplinary are designed to encourage students to become:
The curriculum is composed of the following subjects, in which all Middle School students will be enrolled: Core Subjects:
Non-core Subject:
* Information Technology (Computing) is integrated as a tool in all other subject areas. While each subject area has a separate teacher and educational objectives, teachers frequently work together on common themes or units with particular outcomes. As the Middle School develops, the goal is to integrate the curriculum to an even greater degree to enhance learning. Mathematics Student outcomes for the program are:
The math program is divided into 6 sequential courses: Students are placed in the appropriate mathematics course based upon ability as observer by the teacher in prior class work and testing. Students will complete a range of activities including exercises, projects, examinations and problem solving tasks.
* Students with exceptional ability have access to Honors classes which provide a range of enrichment materials. Students who require supplemental Math support are provided supplemental classes. All Middle school math students should have a TI-83 or 84 graphing calculator. A variety of text and other materials are used. English In grades 5, 6, 7, and 8, the expected student outcomes for the English program are:
Students will sharpen language-usage skills, in their writing, and be introduced to the concepts and skills of literary analysis through a broad range of classic and contemporary literature selected from the following lists of short stories, novels, poetry, drama and non-fiction. * Students with exceptional ability have access to Honors classes which provide a range of enrichment materials. Students who require supplemental English support are provided supplemental classes. Grade Five literature Texts Grade Six literature Texts Grade Seven Literature Texts A Year of Impossible Goodbyes, Sounder, The Pigman, The Call of the Wild, The Friends, A Christmas Carol, Johnny Tremain, The Old Man and the Sea, Romeo and Juliet, The Hiding Place, Nellie Bishop, White Fang, Calico Capture, Shadow of a Bull, The Secret of the Andes, poetry selections. English Texts: Introducing Literature (7th), Macmillan and Writer's Choice, Glencoe. Grade Eight Literature Texts I Heard the Owl Call My Name, A Wizard of Earthsea, The Diary of Anne Frank, Z for Zachariah, To Kill a Mockingbird, Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman, Macbeth, The Crucible, Animal Farm, Night Rumble Fish, The Kay, The Great Fire, A Nation Torn, Poetry Anthology, Short Stories. English Text: Developmental Literary Elements and Writer's Choice, Glencoe Social Studies Grade Five US History Grade Six World History to 1900 Grade Seven: World Geography Students focus on the study of space and place, so that the learner can:
Materials: a variety of texts, individual reading materials will be provided in addition to the primary text. Text: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, World Geography. Grade 8: U.S. History to 1870 Students focus on the development of the United States and Panama from the time of colonization through the U.S. Civil War reconstruction period. They will explore the cultural, geographic, economic and political factors which have effected the development of the nation. Students will also examine the role of both significant individuals and ideologies. Among the student outcomes are:
Text: History of the United States, Houghton-Mifflin series Science Science Five Science Six The course is designed as a general science course with a built in system of curriculum integration of all three sciences. A strong emphasis is placed on working with the scientific method and designed experiments. Grade Seven The course is designed as a Life Science course with a built in system of curriculum integration of all three sciences. A strong emphasis is placed on working with the scientific method and designed experiments, ecology and the environment, and science in the personal and social perspectives. All science classes are taught in a laboratory. All 7th grade science students should have a TI-83 or 84 graphing calculator to use the Vernier sensors for data collection in science lab experiments Texts: Glencoe Science Series Grade Eight Science in grades 8 is an integrated course with the following student outcomes:
The course is designed as an earth science course with a built in system of curriculum integration of all three sciences. The students are guided towards the application of the concepts taught in class and the impact that it has on their daily lives and the future. Natural resources and issues pertaining to the environment such as pollution and saving of the rainforests are incorporated to the reality of Panama. Biology and Physical Science is also offered to eighth grade students who have shown the ability to excel in more advanced science courses. All science classes are taught in a laboratory. All 8th grade science students should have a TI-83 or 84 graphing calculator to use the Vernier sensors for data collection in science lab experiments Texts: Glencoe Science Series Spanish All students, upon entering the 5th grade will be placed in the appropriate Spanish course. Students new to Balboa Academy will be given a level placement test. Spanish courses offered at the Middle School are three levels of Spanish for non-native speakers (beginning, intermediate and advanced) and Spanish 5, 6, 7, and 8 for native speakers. The focus of Spanish courses in the Middle School is on effective communication. These courses will build a solid basis in verbal and written expression and will introduce students to elements of Hispanic and Panamanian culture, including music and poetry. In the native Spanish classes, literature, history and writing become the focus of the curriculum with continued development of all language skills. Spanish classes meet daily all year. Art, Music, Information Technology, Writing and Math Enrichment The 5th and 6th grade students will have art, music, information technology and library for one period each week. Students in 7th and 8th grade will be enrolled in a “Wheel” where they will receive one quarter of art, music, information technology, and writing or math. Students who need special or enriched classes in English or math may receive semester classes during the “Wheel”. Art
Each unit focuses on a particular project, working in media such as: clay, plaster, or printing. The 8th grade course involves a certain amount of academic drawing in the form of life or still life. Information Technology All students in grades 5,6, 7, & 8 will learn to use technology as a tool for learning and producing. Students learn how to use PC's, Microsoft Applications and explore the Internet. Content for all applications is drawn from and taught through the core course program. Outcomes include:
Music The Middle School music program is a basic music theory course designed to teach the music rudiments. Students are taught music notations; time, rhythm and all other elements of music by means of 8-12 measure compositions. Homework is designed in the form of musical games and puzzles in an effort to capture the interest and attention of the Middle school student. The main goal of the students' compositions is not to create a perfect musical composition, but rather to assess whether the students have a complete understanding and application of the basic musical elements. Students also have the opportunity to tryout for the Middle School Orchestra and vocal music groups. Writing enriched: Students will receive instruction in creative writing and poetry and will develop a portfolio of there writing. Math enriched: Students will receive instruction in statistics and probability. Physical Education and Health. Physical Education and Health play an important role in the life of a Middle School student. It can be the source of great accomplishment or great disappointment, depending on the underlying goals and teaching methodologies. The objectives of the middle school physical education and Health programs are:
Physical Education will be held on a daily basis with students participating in approximately 7 P.E. activities throughout the year. P. E. activities include:
Who Will Be Working with the Students Each Day? Learning Community Teachers One of the most important adults in your child's life in the Middle school is his or her learning community teacher. This is the person who will closely monitor your child's progress and provide day-to-day support. Dress Code: All Middle School students are required to wear a complete school uniform everyday, in accordance with the uniform section listed on the Balboa Academy webpage. All items with the exception of pants are available in the school uniform store. Grooming Code Uniform: The school uniform (shirt, pants, shoes, and socks,) must be clean, without holes or frayed areas, and must not be faded. Pants will be hemmed to the proper length. Undershirts: Students may wear properly sized, white T shirts under the uniform polo shirt; the undershirt must not extend outside of the uniform shirt. Hair: Hair must be clean, brushed and well kept. Unnaturally colored hair, i.e. blue, green, red, purple is not allowed. Hats or Bandannas will not be worn on the school grounds. Jewelry: For safety sake, students should wear a minimum amount of jewelry. One or two pierced earrings are allowed but no more. Any other pierced body part will not be permitted (pierced nose, tongue, eyebrow, etc.) Although we provide lockers and try to keep a close watch, the school cannot assume responsibility for stolen articles. Please leave expensive items at home. (The school is not responsible for the loss of personal items).
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