Middle School

Curriculum

Middle School is a critical and wonderful time. Students of this age present a terrific combination of attitudes and skills that can be the springboard for incredible outcomes. Because they have enormous energy and a fair degree of developed skills, there is literally nothing that they cannot achieve, as long as they have the proper facilitation. No other age level is of more enduring importance because the determinants of adult behavior, self-concept, learning interests, skills, and values are largely formed in this period of life. We offer a comprehensive, academic core curriculum that provides our students with knowledge, skills, and values: Creating Foundations for Life.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Middle School provides students with a curriculum that makes them think their way through each day, analyzing problems, proposing solutions, communicating, working collaboratively, and managing resources such as time and materials. We encourage topical integration between and among subjects, and make use of project based learning as a springboard for creativity and motivation. Whenever possible, abstract concepts will be integrated with real world applications.
Credentialed faculty members in the Middle School will teach the core curriculum of English, history, mathematics, and science. Subject specialists will teach drama, art, art history, religion, band, environmental studies, technology, outdoor education, Spanish, and physical education.

Classes

English (5 days/week)
The English curriculum will use a systematic literature program, which will serve as the basis for intensive reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking. Students will read novels, including works that parallel the students’ history curriculum and works that encourage students’ knowledge of and respect for diverse people and their cultures.

The focus of the Middle School English curriculum is to refine previously learned skills. A priority is to continue to strengthen listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Special emphasis is given in reading to decoding, comprehension, genre recognition, and research, while the writing curriculum focuses on grammar, spelling, proofreading, and writing for a specific purpose and style.

Mathematics (5 days/week)
Students build on previous concepts by making deeper connections between mathematical concepts, solving more complex word problems and building their knowledge of algorithms. They are placed in 6th Grade Math, Pre-Algebra or Algebra based on their achievement, maturity, and ability.

History (5 days/week)
Students learn about historical events that shape our own and the world community, with the objective of creating a sense of respect of self and others. Depending on their grade level, students enroll in Ancient History (6th Grade), World History (7th Grade), and US History (8th Grade).

The Social Studies program will provide our students with the skills and tools they need to become responsible national and world citizens and leaders, stressing problem solving and critical thinking. Our students will learn about the role of history in the human experience, and how to become active participants in the democratic process.

Science & Environmental Studies (5 days/week)
The science offerings include earth sciences, health and sex education in 6th Grade. Students study life sciences in 7th grade, and physical sciences in 8th grade. Students develop abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry by participating in lab and classroom activities, hikes, and field trips. Through observation and exploration around Novato and the Bay Area, students learn about our eco-system and the fragility and resilience of nature. The interdisciplinary nature of this program comes into full play, combining geography, problem-solving skills, ecology, creativity, and the art of working together.

Outdoor Education
Each year, students will spend some time off campus for an Outdoor Education Week. This age appropriate program will offer students the opportunity to learn environmental science in the outdoors, both individually and through guided discoveries. The science teachers will integrate the environmental science component of the week into their curriculum, including class instruction prior to and following the camp experience.

Spanish (3 days/week)
Through dialogues, stories, role-plays, audio tapes, videos, research, and the internet, students develop listening and speaking skills so that they can communicate with one another, as well as understand the important role that the Hispanic culture has played in our history and society. Spanish classes will provide a foundation in daily vocabulary, simple conversation, reading and writing basic Spanish phrases. The overall goal of the Spanish program will be to develop competency in written and verbal communication. It will be possible for students to enter Spanish 2 as freshmen in high school.

Health/Physical Education (4 days/week)
Students are introduced to a variety of activities emphasizing social and physical development, and to health issues appropriate and relevant to middle school students. They are encouraged to have fun, try their best, play fair, and play by the rules, as well as relate well with other classmates, cooperate, and learn to play safely. Activities will be dependent upon availability of facilities.

Drama (2 days/week)
Good Shepherd Lutheran Middle School students enjoy a rich and vibrant drama program that provides a range of creative and performance opportunities. Our process-oriented program helps build students’ self-esteem, confidence, leadership skills and teamwork skills through the study of theatre and performance techniques.

Religion (1 day/week)
We believe that our school is a community of grace; we are all encircled by the unconditional love and grace of God in Jesus Christ. Prayer, Bible study, chapel attendance and participation in service projects will all be integral parts of our program. Students will engage in Scripture study, and receive instruction in Lutheran doctrine. Through classroom discussion, school wide liturgies, and encouragement to participate in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Youth Program, we will encourage our students to become moral thinkers as well as academic achievers.

Technology (Integrated into the daily curriculum)
Success in the 21st century will depend upon an understanding of and the capability to use current and emerging media and technology. GSLS technology standards list behaviors, which show that students know how to operate and use these technologies. Students meeting these performance standards will be better prepared to continue to learn and utilize these skills to access, analyze, construct, and present knowledge.

Technology has become the hub of all academic project work and focuses on teaching students to maximize all of the digital production tools available in the computer lab. Students will learn:

Information and file management on a school wide network
Hardware management
Use of multimedia software
Appropriate and effective use of digital and traditional media
Group collaboration
Project design and management
Integration of core academic subject matter and the arts
Public speaking/presentation skills
Assessment/self-assessment tools and techniques

Band (4 days/week)
The Good Shepherd Middle School Band program is dedicated to giving students the opportunity to grow musically, socially, and academically. Through musical performance, students learn how to perform and appreciate music of a variety of styles and levels of difficulty. Through group involvement, students learn how to work together to achieve common goals and develop group discipline and respect for fellow students. Students learn to focus on goals and achievements that are more than personal and develop self-discipline. Through the study of harmony, scales, rhythms, etc, students develop skills that will allow them to truly understand and appreciate the foundation of music as well as the aesthetics. Emphasis is placed on the development of fundamental skills related to posture, breathing, embouchure, fingerings, counting, music reading, and overall tone production. Regular practice is a must and private instruction is strongly encouraged.

Art/Art History (1 days/week)
Art in middle school follows a sequential body of content knowledge and skills that broadens learners' understanding of visual expression. Adolescents explore, organize, understand, and evaluate their abilities in art. As they observe and discuss visual environments, they extend and deepen the basis of their knowledge of art. They learn to value curiosity and to appreciate flexibility in their thinking and decision-making. Middle school courses lay the foundation for work at the high school level by providing students with opportunities to:

Express ideas, thoughts, and feelings
Explore a wide variety of media
Collaborate on group projects
Relate art to social, environmental, and political issues.

Art as a means of self-expression is of primary importance in middle school. Students grow more independent in the process of producing artworks that are meaningful to them. They mature in their abilities to observe, experience, and express themselves in effective and innovative ways. Teachers encourage exploration and experimentation and consciously individualize instruction to meet the varied needs of their students. Students engage in complex problem solving and creative thinking as they examine ideas relevant to the study of art.

Students learn the use of tools, such as perspective, and learn to elaborate and manipulate images and ideas to suit specific purposes. The investigation of two- and three-dimensional media may include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, fiber art, photography, filmmaking, and electronic media.

Students' appreciation of art deepens in middle school. Teachers provide many opportunities for students to experience contemporary art, works from the past, and artwork from other cultures. Learners develop a deeper understanding of other cultures through their exposure to many different cultural notions of art.