Sixth Grade

Ms. Sarah McGowan
Fifth–Eighth Grade Language Arts
Years Teaching: 4 At SJB: 1
Education: B.A. Philosophy, Univ. of Illinois, M.S. Library Science, Univ. of Illinois, M.A.T. In Early Childhood Ed., National-Louis Univ.
Favorite thing about teaching: Spending time with the students, watching them discover the world around them, and sharing the journey and the laughter with them.

 
Classroom Site

Program Description

Students in Sixth Grade experience many opportunities for academic and spiritual growth as they continue to grow in middle school.

Main Themes/Skills

Religion
The focus of the religion curriculum is the Old Testament. Also included in the Sixth Grade Religion Curriculum is human sexuality and development, which is taught from a Catholic view.

Language Arts

The focus of the Sixth Grade Reading Curriculum is building an extensive vocabulary, and practicing reading comprehension on a daily basis. Other skills such as literary terms, plot, character, and cause and effect are also studied and practiced. In Sixth Grade, students read from a variety of books and classic novels such as Number the Stars, Harry Potter, Walk Two Moons and Bud, Not Buddy. There are four major areas of writing that the sixth grade studies: personal writing, essay, fiction, narrative and poetry. All papers are completed in a five-paragraph format. Grammar and spelling are also integrated into the curriculum.

Math
Sixth grade students use the Saxon Math Program. Daily the students practice facts and mental math. Some highlights of Sixth Grade are fractions, long division, measurement and algebra.

Social Studies
Sixth Grade focuses on World History. The major units are: Ancient Times, The Middle Centuries, Global Expansion and Times of Change.

Science
The science curriculum explores the variety of patterns in the natural world (earth science, physical science, and life science) and the relationship between patterns and predictions.

Art
Sixth grade students are introduced to new art techniques. Art appreciation is fostered.

Instructional Methodologies
Students learn through lecture, small group collaboration, individual work and whole class discussion.