MIDDLE SCHOOL (6TH GRADE – 8TH GRADE) Curriculum

Students work weekly in a variety of media from painting to sculpture and ceramics using hand-building techniques and our new pottery wheel.  At the middle school level, they are also introduced to different types of artists, art history, and development discussions on art appreciation.

• Sixth Grade- There is a focus on vocabulary, art terms and materials.  A favorite project is calligraphy.
• Seventh Grade – There is more emphasis on drawing: advanced concepts like shading, proportion, and perspective.  A favorite project is drawing in the hallways in 1 point perspective.
• Eighth Grade – The last project the students complete is painting one of the art stools in the room to leave their legacy behind.  Another favorite project is painting a giant portrait of a person.

The goal of the program is to enable students to gain mastery of essential written and oral communications skills through the use of authentic texts. Students will hone critical thinking and reasoning skills while developing the writing ability necessary for high school and college.

Both English and Reading classes are planned in units which are based on textbooks and other reading books provided by the school. Topics to be covered in English include, but are not limited to: grammar and punctuation, sentence structure and development, vocabulary development, informative, descriptive, and persuasive writing, oral communication, research, advertising, and media studies. Topics to be covered in Reading include, but are not limited to: poetry, short stories, the oral traditions of ancient Asia, Africa, and Europe, The European Vampire tradition, comic books and graphic literature, and plays. Texts that are included are The Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, Maus I & II, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Crucible, and Romeo & Juliet in addition to novels and other texts of the students’ choice.

6th Grade English and Reading: The emphasis of 6th grade English and Reading is engaging students in as many types of texts and writing styles as possible to build confidence and a love of literature, as well as to set the groundwork necessary for 7th and 8th grade Language Arts. Students are encouraged to begin sharpening their writing skills with numerous creative and expository writing projects. An emphasis on grammar in English class, specifically parts of speech and constructing sentences and paragraphs correctly, is woven into the curriculum through mini-lessons designed to enhance students’ expertise in writing and composition.

7th Grade English and Reading: Particular emphasis is placed upon learning the process of constructing an argument and defending it based on information presented in written or film-based texts and applying this process to essay writing.  While the focus of English classes will be the mechanical elements of writing, Reading classes will focus on utilizing texts to make and defend arguments based on the stories and other source materials which will be read throughout the year.

8th Grade English and Reading: Emphasis in 8th grade shifts from learning the process of constructing an argument in written form to the application of skills and the critical thinking process. Students will be expected to work independently and collaboratively to solve problems, to analyze written and film-based sources, and to construct thoughtful, well-developed written pieces which utilize the skills they have learned in previous years. Particular emphasis is placed on critical thinking. English classes will focus primarily on mechanics, individual styles of writing and oral presentation, while in Reading students will focus on understanding and interpreting literary devices and polishing the essay-writing process for high school.

Reading is one of the most important skills children will ever learn. The child who reads well and loves to read-will excel in school and achieve personal growth. The most important goal regarding Accelerated Reader (AR) is to encourage a love for reading by developing confidence through practice. Research demonstrates that reading practice is the most important factor in a student’s literacy development. Literature-based reading practice allows students to perfect the reading skills they learn so that they can move beyond the struggle of decoding text and begin reading for learning and pleasure.

Accelerated Reader is an individualized reading program for students. It is only one part of the total reading program at St. Bede. It allows teachers to set goals, track growth and monitor comprehension.

We have 10,000 Accelerated Reader quizzes available at St. Bede and over 15,000 books. The book levels range from 0.2 to 12.0, so we have a wide variety of books for students to select. We encourage students to choose books within their reading level that are of interest to them. Accelerated Reader is a wonderful tool for allowing this love of reading to happen.

Accelerated Reader has three main objectives:
1) Dramatically improve student reading performance
2) Additionally improve student’s critical-thinking skills
3) Instill in students a lifelong love of reading

The Science Program is hands-on with plenty of opportunities for exploration and experimentation.  Lessons engage student in science inquiry, STREAM activities, and problem-based learning.  Students take part in labs in addition to participating in an annual Science Fair and quarterly quantitative experiments and self-driven research projects.

Through instruction provided by a teacher with certification in mathematics we strive to create an educational partnership with teachers and students that will foster determination and passion for math. Our math classes are structured in a small group setting with a maximum teacher to student ratio of 1:17.  The program instills a “practice makes progress” philosophy; therefore, hands-on classroom experiences will be integral reinforcement to help students to be successful.

In Pre-Algebra and Algebra, students will:

• Master basic computations and use of numbers
• Become familiar with the language and use of higher mathematics
• Recognize and learn to use algebraic tools

St. Bede students are involved in activities which enable them to strengthen their faith and enrich their relationships with families, neighborhoods, and the communities. Worship and service include:

• Daily Morning Prayer
• Daily Morning Gospel Readings
• Monthly Eucharistic Adoration
• Regular Opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• Weekly Mass
• Sacrament Preparation
• Children’s Choir
• Lectors
• Altar Servers
• Community Service

The St. Bede Religion curriculum allows students to go from knowing the Faith to living the Faith.  It leads them into an ever-deepening prayer life.  Students encounter Scripture in a meaningful age-appropriate way.  Students use Bibles, developing in them the habits of engaging daily with God’s Word. They are given the opportunity to discuss sacred art and to dive into vivid stories of the saints.  The instruction is differentiated which enables students at various skill levels, backgrounds, and familiarity with the Catholic Faith to be reached.

Students in eighth grade prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation.

Students focus on cultures and geographic regions around the world. They learn about historical events and how to analyze the effect of the past on the present.  Students also focus on current events and compete in a weekly classroom challenge.

St. Bede School is proud to provide students with a World Language curriculum. We offer Spanish in grades K-8.  We strive to help the students understand that “learning a language is learning a new civilization.” Coupled with this concept, students work toward proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing of their selected World Language.

After graduation from St. Bede, students are typically ready to enroll in level 2 or 3 in high school.

Students have a number of different performance opportunities throughout the school year including a Christmas Program, Spring Show, and a Variety Talent Show.  They also study different music forms and styles from both a composition and appreciation perspective.

The Physical Education curriculum strives to establish healthy, active students so that each child can develop to his or her full potential.  Students learn to be physically active, respect the rights of others, to be part of a team, and the positive effects of teamwork..  The skills, habits, and attitudes developed within the program provide opportunities for greater success in the students’ lives.

All middle school students are encouraged to mentor the younger students in this tight-knit learning community, and all of them participate in a service to the community- based classroom “Buddy Program” in order to develop relationships with the younger children.