Mini-Courses

List of 3 items.

• 6th Grade Study Skills

  In addition to swimming, PE/yoga, health lessons, art/theatre, team building, reading comprehension, test taking strategies, writing, and foundational technology, the study skills course in sixth grade focuses primarily on basic organizational skills such as time management, record keeping, filing systems, effective use of textbooks, note-taking, expansion of reading ability, and the use of non-fiction reading strategies such as SQRRR. Two of the weekly lessons are spent reviewing basic grammar concepts, proper usage, and the conventions of written English. 

• 7th Grade Study Skills

  Seventh Grade Study Skills expands on the base knowledge from sixth grade with more emphasis on how one studies for “ownership” of information. Students review the basic skills and practice using them with the goal of embedding good study practices and increasing their engagement with the learning process.

• 8th Grade Study Skills

  The study skills course in eighth grade reviews and practices the skills from sixth and seventh grades, but the emphasis is on understanding the process of learning, how the brain works, and how one studies and learns more independently. 

  
  In all three grades, students explore some learning theory related to learning styles and multiple intelligences and role play to gain a firmer grasp of how they can maximize their personal strengths to empower and maximize learning. All skills that are introduced or practiced in study skills are also taught through daily classroom instruction. Teachers in all courses expand on students’ ability to study effectively by expecting students to implement good study practices. Throughout the school year classroom teachers also introduce subject-specific study skills as they introduce material. 

  
  All Middle Years teachers keep abreast of current research about learning and are aware of their students’ particular learning styles. Teachers often present material in ways that they know will enable students to develop effective study skill strategies and will embed a solid base of good practices that can be used throughout their academic careers.