7th Grade

7th grade is a pivotal year where students bring a solid foundation of academics and social skills. Students and teachers collaborate on academic, interpersonal and executive functioning skills. Throughout the year, they are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones with the benefit of teacher support, learn and grow from the choices they make, and to become effective self-advocates.

7th Grade Curriculum

ELA

The curriculum for literature is designed around narrative and novelization. We will investigate the merits of reading fiction and the role storytelling plays in how we understand our world. Students will read a variety of novels in 7th grade, such as The Outsiders to understand classism, Shakespeare’s The Tempest to investigate early modern English storytelling traditions of storytelling, as well as a modern novel in Fahrenheit 451. Students will also read a variety of canonical and modern poetry.

English language mechanics will be taught throughout the course to state standards. We begin our year with a “boot camp” reviewing parts of speech and sentence structure to effectively describe more complex errors and effective writing models. Students will explore argumentative writing, including the Claim-Support-Explain method of paragraphing in order to maintain formal tone, sound evidence, and adequate explanation. Students are tested using the MAP assessment twice a year to track growth.

Math

7th grade math will focus on four areas: (1) developing understanding of and applying proportional relationships; (2) developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expressions and linear equations; (3) solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two-and-three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume; and (4) drawing inferences about populations based on samples. (From Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 7, p. 46)

**Read our Overview of Middle School Mathematics below.

Science

7th grade science is a focus on Earth science. It is divided into three major themes – Earth History (rocks, rock cycle, fossils, earth processes such as plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes); Weather & Water (how weather is formed, climates, how water shapes and impacts the land); Space (Earths place in space, study of the Sun & Moon and how they influence Earth, seasons, and the solar system). An appreciation of Earth and the sky will be gained through hands-on interactions and experiments that will strengthen scientific techniques needed for the 8th grade.

Social Studies

7th grade social studies focuses on medieval Europe, ancient Greek and Roman societies, the founding and growth of African, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Latin American states through the medieval period. In the latter part of the year, we will transition to looking at Washington State history and the history of the American West, including civics, economics, geography, and history.

Religion

In 7th religion the focus is on the life and teachings of Jesus. The Scripture that serves as a theme statement is Jesus’ question to his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Students learn about the historical Jesus and the Christ of their faith. The Gospel of Luke is the primary source because of its focus on inclusion and social justice. The culmination of this study is a dramatization of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday for the whole school community. Students also study The Acts of the Apostles to learn about how early Christians lived out their faith and spread the Good News. The importance of studying Scripture with both mind and heart is emphasized throughout the year.

**Read our Middle School Missionary Discipleship Overview below.

Spanish

The rigor increases in 7th grade Spanish as students are assessed on a higher level of detail. Students continue learning more advanced sentence structures and build on the grammar concepts and vocabulary. Verb conjugation is a main grammar concept in 7th grade, and we employ many activities to aid in mastering this topic. In 7th grade, they read and translate the novel, Esperanza, about a family emigrating from Guatemala.

The cultural focus for 7th grade Spanish is Central American countries and their histories, ways of life, economics, and governments. Throughout the year, we will also discuss immigration and connect it to Catholic Social Teachings and our faith. 7th graders have an opportunity to serve at a food bank in the Skagit Valley, where they interact with and serve people who pick our food every day. It is a fun and great opportunity to meet others and practice real-world Spanish.

Art

Middle-school students have one trimester of art as part of the fine arts curriculum. In their art classes, students develop their creative skills and their techniques in a positive atmosphere. Drawing is the foundation of the program. Students use basic and advanced art materials, develop their skills and techniques for creating quality work, learn central principals and elements of art, and develop their own aesthetic awareness and appreciation.

Drama

7th grade students focus on understanding the theatrical process of taking an idea, character and/or story, and bringing it to life on stage using a variety of techniques and methods. We continually build on our performance skills working on various activities and projects throughout the trimester. Students discover the world of William Shakespeare by studying his life, colorful characters and masterful plays.

Music

Looking at the history of the two most authentic forms of American music is the focus in 7th grade music: jazz and the roots of rock music. The emphasis is on understanding and appreciating the musical, cultural, and historical importance of these forms of American music. Connections are made to the evolution of the civil rights movement as well as connections to the elements of music within each genre.

Physical Education

The goal of the middle school physical education program is to reinforce concepts and skills will translate into healthy life habits for students. We accomplish this by exposing students to many individual, dual, and team experiences throughout the year. These experiences will be creative, small group activities, and modified games. ASB PE aims to recognize that everyone is unique in their abilities. Students are assessed on their effort toward personal growth and excellence. Students should focus on positive participation, sportsmanship and class daily learning targets.

Overview of Middle School Mathematics

ASB School uses the Common Core State Standards in all mathematics classes. All teachers use a varied approach to instruction and assessment to ensure that all students are challenged at an appropriate level and learning the key concepts appropriate to their age and development. In addition to student outcomes, the School-wide Learning Expectations (SLEs) are integrated into the mathematics curriculum in the following ways:

Students will communicate effectively by solving problems using words, numbers, and pictures. This will be done individually and in groups with an emphasis on articulating the thought processes involved in reaching an answer.
Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills by investigating and analyzing possible strategies to solve problems. They will draw conclusions, verify results and check for reasonableness of solutions.
Students will demonstrate that they are lifelong learners by showing curiosity and enthusiasm for applying mathematical concepts in daily life, and to other academic areas.
Students strive for excellence by assessing their own areas of strength and for growth in the area of mathematics. They set personal standards of quality for their own performance.
Students live as people of integrity within their community by working through problems in large and small groups and by showing a willingness to help classmates who struggle.

Following are the norms we have established in all middle school math classes:

- Everyone can learn math to the highest levels
- Mistakes are valuable
- Questions are really important
- Math is about creativity and making sense
- Math class is about learning not performing
- Math is about connections and communicating
- Depth is more important than speed

Grading Policies: Tests, quizzes and checkpoint assessments are used to determine student’s overall grade for mathematics. Completion of daily assignments provides practice and quick feedback on their progress toward understanding standards.

8th Grade Math Placement

During 7th grade students are tested to determine their 8th grade math placement. ASB offers three math classes for eighth graders to prepare each student for long-term success in high school math and beyond. A major stage of brain development in young adolescents contributes to their ability to engage in the increasingly abstract thinking that is needed for success when working with higher level algebraic concepts. When placing students into a math class we take into consideration many criteria:

readiness for abstract reasoning
the amount of time, effort and support that the student needs for success in math
performance on a basic skills test
performance on a standardized algebra placement test

The feedback that we receive from high school math departments is that the priority for middle schools should be to make sure that each student enters high school strong in mathematical thinking, concepts, and problem-solving. That is our aim in placing students for next year.

Students will be assessed on their progress toward mastering the mathematical concepts laid out in the 7th grade common core state standards for mathematics. Demonstrating understanding of these concepts does not always mean a student is ready for 9th grade algebra, but it certainly does not mean that student is below grade level.

Performance assessments alone do not necessarily indicate a student’s readiness for algebra. In the spring students will take an algebra placement test that is a 9th grade algebra placement test, not an assessment on 7th grade concepts. Over 18 years, has been a reliable indicator of algebra readiness. The three 8th-grade math classes next year are:

Pre-Algebra

This course is based on the 8th grade common core curriculum: linear functions and equations; properties of geometric figures; summary and analysis of data sets; identifying rational and irrational numbers, applying order of operations and working with exponents; and applying problem solving strategies throughout all units. A high level of success in this course prepares a student to test into Algebra 1 or Intermediate Algebra 1.

Algebra

This course is based on the 8th-grade common core algebra concepts: numbers, expressions, and operations; characteristics and behaviors of functions; linear functions, equations, and inequalities; quadratic functions and equations and applying problem solving strategies throughout all units. A high level of success in this course prepares a student to test into Intermediate Algebra 1 or Geometry.

Advanced Algebra

This course is based on the high school common core algebra concepts and covers all topics at a faster pace with more demands for independent work, proficient basic math skills, and strong organizational skills. A high level of success in this course prepares a student to test into Honors Geometry or Honors Advanced Algebra.

Middle School Missionary Discipleship

Missionary Discipleship differs from community service or volunteer work because the education of the student is at the core. Missionary Discipleship is a method in which classroom learning is applied through action that addresses an authentic community need and provides structured time for reflection on the service experience and demonstration of acquired skills and knowledge. Because the education of the student is at the core of student learning, student participation in the process is essential. Students will identify a need, plan and prepare for the missionary discipleship, carry out the plan of action and reflect upon the experience.

The ASB Middle School Missionary Discipleship experience will begin in 6th grade and continue through 8th grade. Beginning in 6th grade, students will build a portfolio of assignments, writing, and reflections of their missionary discipleship service. Students will add to the portfolio in 7th grade and 8th grade. Using the materials completed and collected, 8th graders will complete a final reflection of their missionary discipleship service through middle school. Through the final reflection, students will demonstrate their ability to connect the cognitive, social and emotional aspects of the experience to the larger context of self, the community and the world. In addition, the students make
explicit what and how they have learned and what they have accomplished. The final reflection project provides students with the opportunity to celebrate and share their accomplishments with the community. Eighth graders will have the opportunity to share their projects with their ASB Family at the end of the school year. Additionally, the final reflections will be shared with the Protz family with regard to the Melissa Ann Protz “Go Make a Difference” Award.

Grade 7:

Students complete 5 missionary discipleship hours in the summer between 6th and 7th grade and reflect on their missionary discipleship experience during the summer.
Guidelines and directions are reviewed with the parents and students explaining the process for the next two years. Students plan and prepare for their missionary discipleship outside of school.
Students complete 5 missionary discipleship hours per trimester (15 hours between Oct-June).

Students participate in pre-planned school-wide missionary discipleship activities (free-dress food drive, cereal drive, Whale of a Bake Sale, sandwich making and delivery, etc.)
Students participate in guided reflection of their participation in school-wide missionary discipleship and the missionary discipleship of their choice.
Students begin to build a portfolio of all work, reflections, activities related to missionary discipleship.

Events

Retreats

During the fall trimester, teachers lead students on a two-day retreat focused on the theme of balance. The retreat is a self-affirming experience, where students solidify their bonds of acceptance and friendship, and also reflect on their gifts of grace. Boys and girls attend separately to provide an experience free from some of the distractions that they have to juggle every day.

Service Learning

Each Friday morning before school 7th graders make sandwiches for Francis House. Each student participates in this service three-four times a year. Additionally, 7th graders track their Service Hours as part of the focus on outreach. The 7th graders traditionally lead the school in the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. Students spend time interpreting the stations and making the experience meaningful for all students, kindergarten through grade eight. 7th graders plan and lead field day at the end of the year. This provides a strong transition from 7th grade to being the leaders of the school.

Field Trips

To close and celebrate our year, we also take a culminating boat trip on Lake Union to further explore some of the features of our beautiful state and the rich history of this region. To support our studies of Washington State History, the class will go to the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma.

Leadership

There are a variety of ways our 7th graders serve as leaders within the school community. They have an opportunity to participate in Student Leadership Team, to lead campus tours as Student Ambassadors, and to help host graduation celebrations for our 8th graders.