There is a thrill of uncertainty and emotion that comes with planning a civil discourse curriculum for our middle school students. Adding this new element to our ELA classes has certainly kept me up at night. I feel the urge to engage their minds with issues and conversations that have a direct impact on their lives. I’m also attune to the tumultuous hearts and brains of middle schoolers. Can I trust them to handle hot button issues? I definitely felt my own hands clam up when we approached topics of who’s responsible for the environment, men’s roles in women’s rights, and how to navigate election reporting.
My own bundle of nerves made the resulting conversations taste even sweeter – these kids crushed it. I watched them hear each other’s opinions clearly, disagree in ways that sought to understand, and come to a closer picture of the truth. It made me wish I had a middle school heart and mind. As I placed different pieces of media in front of them, waiting for their response, I was so relieved to see them focus on things that the news often leaves behind or ignores completely. Depoliticized, humanized. They saw everything from a compassionate Cooper School lens, a lens that could admit to being unsure of the answer and commit to learning more, a lens that just wanted to slow down, understand, and help. They bravely requested further discussions on topics most adults would not touch (at least not without the online security of a brazen social media comment on a stranger’s post!).
I urge myself and this whole community to applaud these kids loudly. Ask them about the conversations they are having at school and help them unpack anything that might seem heavy. Let them impress you and teach you and give you the hope you’ve probably been looking for.
-MK
Math:
This week, we reviewed for and took our Unit 1 Test over the volume of rectangular prisms and compound figures. Next week, we will begin our unit on understanding the relationship between fractions and division using models, pictures, diagrams, and real-life scenarios.
ELA:
This week in ELA, 5th grade readers got closer to the end of Hello, Universe. Using our writing about reading to guide us, we began to engage in book club discussions to practice our active listening and text-based conversation skills as we developed deep thinking about the story. In civil discourse, 5th graders had productive conversations about who’s responsible for the environment and our future ancestors.
Next week, readers will finish their novel, then practice and “perform” thoughtful book club conversations in front of the class as their final grade. We will have our final civil discourse conversations based on student interest and requests.
Social Studies:
Fifth grade had fun creating and presenting their dream world projects. This was a great way to show their comprehension of maps and use the skills they learned first hand. We are moving on to human geography and how humans and the environment interact with each other. This will lead us into our next project in which students will independently research an aspect of humanity and its impact on the planet.
Science:
Fifth graders explored soil this week! They experimented with different types of soil to observe their texture, particle size, color, and ability to absorb water. They contemplated where each type of soil could be found in specific ecosystems. They looked at the continents and learned how they fit together at one time as the supercontinent Pangea. The fifth graders also continued to research the influential scientist they want to learn about. Next week, they will look closely at how soil is formed from chemical and mechanical weathering. They will also observe how slope impacts our landscapes.
Important Dates:
September 7th – Family Fun Night @ The Charleston Battery
September 13th- Parent Coffee (8:15-9:00)
