Textbook: McDougal Littell, Course Level 1
Practice workbook: McDougal Littell
Methods: Introduction of material, practice, hands-on and spiral application of material covered. Uses standards based approach to word problems. Initial assessment determines placement into leveled instructional grouping.
Supplemental materials: teacher created materials
Contemporary’s Number Power, Fractions, Decimals and Percents by Jerry Howett
LMS students are placed into classes based on their test scores, recommendations from past teachers, and parental input. Seventh graders have a choice of Math 7, Pre-Algebra, and Algebra I. Eighth Graders have Math 8, Algebra I, and Advanced Algebra.
The New Mexico Standards and Benchmarks drive mathematics instruction. Early in the first trimester, time is given to basic skills work, particularly in the regular 7th and 8th grade Mathematics classes. Supplemental materials are used: include past tests, speed drills, problem solving templates, use of charts and manipulative. The goal is to improve the student’s basic skills and increase computation speed. This in turn facilitates the math work provided via the text. Time spent on basics does reiterate knowledge base and affects time spent on standards.
The more advanced classes of Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, and Advanced Algebra need less time on remediation. This allows students to apply mathematical concepts to Algebra. Time must be devoted to Supplemental Material to ensure that the Standards and Benchmarks for New Mexico are addressed.
LMS follows the state standards and benchmarks under the umbrella of Language Arts, which includes reading and writing as well as listening, and speaking.
READING:
Best Practices in Reading/Literacy – Study Skills Classes
Our goal at LMS is to provide instruction that improves reading achievement through the study skills classes and through explicit instruction to support reading across all content areas. As part of this process, our students are placed into a reading group that is based on student instructional reading levels. Every LMS student is placed into the Reading Tier Intervention program.
Students who enroll at LMS are given reading and math assessments to determine placement in Study Skills classes and Language Arts Block assignments. Students who fall into the Tier III category are placed in a two (2) hour language arts block in addition to a 45-minute Study Skills class on a daily basis. The Tier III students receive a daily total of 2.25 hours of language arts instruction, which includes learning comprehension skills and personal reading time.
WRITING:
The Write Source Writing state adopted textbook focuses on assisting children with the use of writing to communicate, using the strand “Writing and Speaking for Expression”, in the state standards and benchmarks. The text teaches the various genres of writing, the writing process, and focuses on the Six Traits of writing. These include: conventions, ideas, voice, organization, word choice, and sentence fluency. Teachers also use Six Traits rubrics for assessing writing growth.
6th Grade:
Textbook: Scott Foresman
Lab Workbook: Practice Workbook
Methods: Introduction of materials, practice, and hands-on application labs of material. An experiential methodology also is used in the introduction and reinforcement of material.
Supplemental materials: Teacher created materials
Prentice Hall Science Explorer Textbooks and Labs
Various web sites
7th Grade:
Seventh grade curriculum for science focuses on life.
Textbook: McDougal Littell Life Science.
Some of the topics that were covered this year were:
Scientific Method
Measuring and Using the SI units
Biomes and Different Ecosystems (Emphasis was on deserts)
Science Projects and Science Fair
Biological Classification
Natural Selection
Cells
DNA
Heredity
Unicellular and Multicellular organisms
8th Grade:
The eighth graders focus on Physical Science.
Textbook: McDougal Littell Physical Science.
Some of the topics that were discussed in physical science were:
Scientific Method
Measuring and Using the SI units
Conversions
Science Projects
Matter
Energy
Atomic Structure
Periodic Table of Elements
Electricity and Electrical Circuits
Motion
Gravity and Friction
Simple Machines
Forensic Science
Scott Foresman Social Studies
The social studies series is the “New Mexico Edition” and is from the state adopted textbook list and follows the state standards and benchmarks, including all of the social studies strands, which include: History (New Mexico, United States, and the World), Geography, Government and Civics, and Economics. The book contains many activities that are practical and hands-on and help children understand communities and their relationships to the world, celebrating the rich and diverse cultures and contributions of many people groups.
New Mexico History-UNM Press
To meet the needs and requirements of the New Mexico adopted curriculum, LMS teaches middle school students the text that is printed by the University of New Mexico. All middle schools in the state are teaching this curriculum, as it is required.
Art
Music
Band
Digital Story Telling
Family and Consumer Sciences
Computer Applications
AVID
Teen Outreach Program
ELEV8 Afterschool Extended Day Program:
Big Brother/Big Sisters
Project Venture
Cultural Classes- include culture, language, moccasin making, shawl making, traditional cooking and sewing, tribal crafts, and students physical and health activities through the School Based Health Center
