Core Curriculum 6/7/8 Classroom

Even in a small school setting, transition to middle school curriculum and learning standards can be a challenging experience for many students. When students enter the middle school, they are expected to become more independent and responsible learners. 

Language Arts
Middle school students broaden their skills in reading, writing and speaking through a variety of resources. The language arts curriculum includes

Study Sync by McGraw Hill (2019), Grades 6-8

• Writing Pathways by Lucy Calkins (2014) Heinemann, Grades K-8
• Select Literature and novel studies mapped to Common Core Standards, Grades 6-8

Grades 6/7/8 Novels/Literature (three-year rotation):

Examples include:

Year 1- Hatchet, The Lightening Thief, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Year 2- The Giver, Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad, The Outsiders.

Year 3- Lord of the Flies, My Brother Sam is Dead, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Never Caught: The Story of Ona Judge.

 All students also utliize the Accelerated Reader program to increase fluency and comprehesion through independent reading.

Math
Glencoe California Math Courses 1, 2 and 3 (2015) Mc-Graw Hill, Grades 6-8

History-Social Science
Using TCI's History Alive!, students in grades 6, 7 and 8 learn together primarily through a variety of interactive, in-class, hands-on activities. History curriculum traditionally is identified as belonging to a particular grade level (The Ancient World - Grade 6, The Medieval World and Beyond - Grade 7, The United States, Grade 8). Rather than teaching each grade level separately, history at Nicasio School is taught to all middle schoolers in a 3-year cycle. By the end of 8th grade, each student will have completed the 3-year course of study.

In addition to TCI's History Alive!, United States history curriculum (grade 8) will be supplemented by Howard Zinn's A Young History of the United States.

Science
Hands-on science provides Nicasio's middle schoolers with authentic, engaging learning experiences. CPO Science is taught in a 3-year cycle, similar to history, with all students exploring Earth Science, Life Science, and Physical Science by the end of their 8th grade year.

Physical Education
Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 participate in physical education classes together at least three days a week. Students meet with a P.E. specialist, funded through Nicasio School Foundation, twice a week in addition to having additional PE with a core teacher at least once per week. Most activities and sports take place outside, but Nicasio School's multi-purpose room provides an excellent indoor space when needed. In the spring, students in 6th grade are joined by 5th graders for a one-week puberty education program while the 7th and 8th graders participate in sexuality education.