Middle School Curriculum.July 2018.final

Middle School Curriculum.July 2018.final

ANN AND NATE LEVINE ACADEMY LEVINE ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 5-8 CURRICULUM GUIDE

Ann and Nate Levine Academy offers an innovative curriculum combining the best of both general and Jewish studies. Our curriculum is based on recognized models of excellence and is continuously reviewed and reformed by extensive research. Based practice instruction, state-of-the-art technology, fully equipped science labs, and individualized attention ensure our students’ success academically, emotionally and spiritually. Students cultivate their study skills, critical thinking, and creativity every day: at the computer, in Social Studies and Math classes, during reading, Language Arts and library, and in the study of Torah and Jewish tradition. Levine Academy is committed to creating a welcoming atmosphere of diversity. Teachers and students reflect different traditions of Jewish observance and share a variety of skills and interests. Teaching is tailored to each child’s needs and strengths, not to a class average. This allows children to move ahead in areas of strength and to receive additional attention in areas of need. Our approach fosters self-confidence and promotes success. CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS At Ann and Nate Levine Academy, development of the whole child is essential. We encourage our students to explore and achieve expertise in a wide variety of enrichment activities both during the school day and after school. Our curriculum includes studio art, art appreciation, music appreciation, Hebrew music, band instruction and choir. Every year there is a unique line-up of special interest topics to explore in the Middle School elective program. The P.E. classes from K through 8 emphasize the acquisition and expansion of basic athletic skills, responsible play and competition, while teaching students healthy choices and preparing them for interscholastic and intramural sports. In the Middle School, Levine Academy teams competewith other independent schools. Students in theMiddle School also have several leadership opportunities, including serving as School Ambassador, participating in Community Service, and serving on the Levine Academy Student Congress. Congress members meet with a faculty advisor to plan school activities, community projects and fundraisers. HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT Ann and Nate Levine Academy has an extensive counseling and informational program for high school placement, serving both the students and their parents. The process begins in the fall of the Eighth Grade with a parent meeting designed to furnish families with all the information regarding the application process and to advise families on how to select a high school for their student that “fits” him or her in terms of intellectual, emotional, and social growth. Students work closely with administrators and staff to complete a resume, write their high school application essay, and develop interview skills. The Head of School and School Counselor make visits to all the schools our students are applying to, and they advocate for our students, highlighting student strengths and talents. Ann and Nate Levine Academy’s high school placement program is founded on the principles of selecting the best school “fit” for your student and then advocating for that student.

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LEVINE ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL GENERAL OVERVIEW Middle School at Levine Academy offers a rigorous academic program designed to foster academic excellence and meet individual needs, nurturing each student’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder. Students in Fifth through Eighth Grade are encouraged to think creatively and challenge themselves and their peers to reach new levels of achievement. The Middle School experience emphasizes individual development, self-responsibility, being a positive member of the school community and the community at large, as well as being an active participant in one’s own learning. Our outstanding teachers emphasize higher-order thinking skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Outside the classroom, students have many opportunities to nurture their individual interests and unique abilities. Students may choose to develop leadership skills by participating in Student Congress, Student Ambassador program, National Junior Honor Society, or Va’ad Tefillah (a group that coordinates religious services). There are also many opportunities for participation in state, national, and worldwide competitions in the areas of Language Arts, current events, Social Studies, Hebrew language, writing, and math. Middle School students also have outstanding opportunities to experience their world through travel throughout Texas, to Washington, D.C., New York, and Israel. Levine Academy Middle School students study Hebrew and Jewish studies including selections from the Tanach (Bible) with classical and modern commentators. The study of history progresses from ancient through the rabbinic, medieval, and modern periods. All Middle School students participate in a program of Jewish ethics and values, which centers on respect, relationships, and personal growth. Jewish holidays and special commemorative days are learned through educational units and programming. With so many opportunities to learn and achieve both inside and outside the classroom, students leave Levine Academy well prepared to excel in the challenging high school years and beyond. MIDDLE SCHOOL HEBREW Bishvil Ha-Ivrit is a cutting edge Hebrew language program, bringing Hebrew alive with print and digital media and face-to-face and virtual training for Hebrew teachers. Hebrew language learning The program cultivates all aspects of Hebrew language learning - grammar and content, conversations and literature, poetry and factual information, drills and exercises and topics for

3 MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 5 - 8 | CURRICULUM GUIDE

lively discussion, songs and moral dilemmas, writing assignments and independent reading, current events and Biblical texts. TECHNOLOGY Technology enhances and supports learningwith audio recordings, interactive technology, documentary films, and more. As students speak, read, write, and listen to spoken Hebrew, they encounter new viewpoints on daily life in Israel, Jewish tradition and history, and general world knowledge. CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS Theprogramoffersmaterials for all Hebrew levels, frombeginners to advanced. Thematerials encourage an ongoing and dynamic interaction between content, linguistics, and skill development. They offer a wide variety of genres - prose and poetry, conversations, interviews, articles, notes, questionnaires and more; opportunities to master the 4 communicative skills -reading, writing, listening and speaking; and a sequential progression of grammar and linguistics. The curriculum is made up of: • Mechina (fully online module)

• Beginners (Bishvil Ha-Ivrit 1 and 2) • Intermediate (Bishvil Ha-Ivrit 3 and 4) • Advanced (Bishvil Ha-Ivrit 5, online module on Freedom and NETA Books 22-25)

FIFTH GRADE OVERVIEW LANGUAGE ARTS

The Fifth Grade Language Arts curriculum focuses on developing a reading and writing community in the classroom. Through writer’s workshop, we delve into the craft of writing from spelling to grammar, and into many other characteristics of the writing process. Writing, sharing, and focusing on individual areas of growth for each student helps develop students’ writing proficiency. . In reading, we continue to foster a reading community through class studies of novels as well as free choice selections. In our book studies, we build a common background to evolve our frame of reference and discussions for future reading endeavors. Also, we delve into the structural components of reading as well as explore the literary devices within the novels. Independently, students choose books to read and share through book talks thereby encouraging others to join our reading community. Our Language Arts curriculum embraces the use of technology to further expand our reading knowledge through nonfiction pieces, vocabulary development, and other technology that fosters a love and culture of reading and writing. SOCIAL STUDIES The Fifth Grade Social Studies curriculum is “World Cultures.” The curriculum begins with the study of basic geographic concepts and map skills. Then the students use a variety of resources to learn

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about the various continents on our globe, looking at specific countries in each one. Focus is on the geography, history, and culture of these countries, bringing a broader global awareness to the world around us. In addition to group discussions, students work individually, with partners, and in small group settings to solidify and enhance their learning.  Supplementing this curriculum are ongoing current events lessons, using a variety of resources. MATHEMATICS Math in the Fifth GradeMiddle School program continues to use the familiarity of EverydayMathematics but also adds to the level of rigor by introducing more advanced concepts and techniques further develops application and enhances students explanatory ability. Differentiation is built into the curriculum by incorporating reteaching, review and enrichment activities. Khan Academy is used to further advance practice and Mentoring Minds and Challenge Math are used to further challenge students. Weekly/Biweekly math labs will also be introduced to the math curriculum to show the importance of math in the real world. SCIENCE In the Fifth Grade, students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12

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