Middle School Curriculum

The middle school curriculum is aligned to the Michigan Curriculum Framework and the Grade Level Content Expectations. There are curriculum guides for each of the 4 core content areas that outline the key concepts that students are required to know and be able to do in order to go on to the next grade level.

Language Arts

The writing instructional program is a “trait based” writing program. The languages arts
teachers have been trained in 6-traits and are now working with the other departments to use
the 6-Traits language and rubrics consistently with all student writing across the curriculum.

Reading seminars are offered in the 7th and 8th grade for students reading two or more grade levels below their current grade level or who have failed their ELA class the previous year. These seminars are an encore elective and are “double blocked” with their regular ELA class–thus they have the same teacher for 2 hours of literacy each day.

Reading Strategies was added as a required class for all 6th grade students during the 2005-2006 school year. Early data indicates that this class has helped improve students’ reading level at the MS. As a result of this data this course was a required course for every MS student beginning with the 2005-2006 school year. Thus, every 6th grade student has two hours of language arts – 1 hour of which is devoted to reading strategies across the curriculum. 

Mathematics

Mathematics curriculum materials were reviewed during the 06-07 school year. Based upon the recommendations of the curriculum review team, new mathematics books were purchased summer 2007 and teachers were provided Professional Development on these new materials with implementation during the 2007/08 school year.

Mathematics textbooks are also up for adoption in 2007-2008 and were purchased during the
summer of 2007. Teachers received PD on the new books and the associated technology
tools in June of 2007 with full implementation during the 2007-2008 school year.

Mathematics seminars are offered in the 7th and 8th grade for students that have not yet
master basic mathematical fluency (as identified on a mathematics fluency assessment) or
who have failed their math class the previous year. These seminars are an encore elective
and are “double blocked” with their regular math class–thus they have the same teacher for 2
hours of mathematics each day.

Student Testing and Evaluation

MEAP, district assessments, common writing prompts, and classroom assessments, are
administered regularly, where available, and analyzed in grade level group meetings.
Departments are working on developing high quality common assessments aligned to their
key concepts.

Standards and Grade Level Expectations

Staff and department meetings are held each month to communicate and analyze content
standards and grade level expectations.

The building administrators work closely with the teachers to ensure implementation of the
grade level curriculum.

Teacher Evaluation

Teachers are evaluated on their implementation of the curriculum and their use of the
instructional strategies outlined in the Michigan Curriculum Framework.

Curriculum Evaluation and Alignment 

The district curriculum council reviews and updates the curriculum study timeline each year.

The Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services annually reviews the curriculum study
timeline and works with various committees to assess the effectiveness of the curriculum.

Using reports from the Achieve Data Director tool we annually assess curriculum alignment
in light of student achievement data. During the second half of the year Achieve Data
Director was purchased and the data entry and “scrubbing” process began.