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Curriculum Overview for Middle School (Sixth through Eighth Grade)
The sixth through eighth grade curriculum follows California State Standards and utilizes state approved textbooks. The departmentalized program is presented in seven periods per day, with classes separated by grade level.
The Phoenix Ranch Middle School implements the Prentice Hall program in literature, writing, and grammar. Literature is presented in an anthology of short stories, plays, and poetry, employing literary analysis, reading strategies, and vocabulary development. In addition, the literature program expands into trade books and a Shakespeare production (6th – Julius Cesar, 7th – Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, 8th – Romeo and Juliet). The students write daily and expanded writing assignments are given throughout the year in specific genre.
The math teacher presents sixth grade math using the Singapore Math system Singapore Math is based on the concrete, pictorial, abstract approach founded on the work of renowned cognitive American psychologist Jerome Bruner. The sixth grade math program is also supported by the Addison Wesley Math 6 textbook. Seventh grade students are involved in pre-algebra supported by the Prentice Hall California Edition Pre-Algebra textbook and workbook. Eighth grade math is supported by the Prentice Hall California Edition Algebra I textbook.
The sciences are covered in depth and have specific focus at grade level: sixth grade – earth science, seventh grade – biology, and eighth grade – physical science. Science concepts are taught using many hands-on experiments, DVD’s, computer integration, and other technologies. The middle school science textbooks are published by Glencoe/McGraw Hill.
The history teachers present a complete program with a specific focus at grade level: Sixth grade – world history “Ancient Civilizations”, seventh grade world history “Medieval and Early Modern Times”, and eighth graders explore U.S. history. History textbooks are published by McDougal Littell and approved for the state of California.
All middle school students have Spanish for one semester of each school year. Courses offered are Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, and Spanish IV (elective 8th grade conversational Spanish).
All middle school students have physical education or sports practice (see Inter-Mural Sports Program) one semester of each school year.
A selection of electives are available each semester including: health (a health course for seventh grade students), band (instrument study; students provide an instrument and learn to play, read music, have ensemble practice, and performances), art (encompasses a variety of media and project applications). |
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| MIDDLE SCHOOL SAMPLE DAY |
| 8:30 A.M. |
Homeroom |
| 8:35-9:30 |
English |
| 9:35-10:30 |
Math |
| 10:30-10:45 |
Nutrition Break |
| 10:45-11:40 |
History |
| 11:35-12:40 |
Science |
| 12:40-1:15 |
Lunch |
| 1:20-2:05 |
Spanish, Band, Other Elective |
| 2:10-3:15 |
Sports, Physical Education, Band |
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