6th grade Humanities
Ms. Beauchaine
Teacher Bio: I have taught at Denny Middle School since January of 2001. I have a B.S. degree in Sociology from Portland State University, and a master’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Dowling College in New York. Before becoming a teacher, I held various social services and administrative positions and taught vocational training, life skills and did job placement of adolescents and adults. I enjoy the creative and interactive process of teaching and seeing young students grow academically as well as personally. , gardening, traveling and reading poetry are some of my hobbies. Two of my favorite authors are Jane Smiley & Richard Russo.
Essential Learning Requirements & Standards Taught in Class
Reading : Students will understand and use various skills and strategies in order to understand the meaning of what they read. They will read different materials for a variety of purposes, and set goals to evaluate their progress to improve their reading.
Writing : Students will use the Writer’s Workshop process to write clearly and effectively by understanding and using the steps of the writing process. Students will write in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes. They will be able to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of their written work, and to independently analyze the quality of their writing.
Communication : Students will use listening and observation skills to gain understanding. They will expand their communication strategies and will work effectively with others to accomplish learning tasks.
Social Studies : Students will understand major ideas, themes, developments, turning points, chronology, cultural customs and the relationships of people in Eastern Hemisphere countries. Students will also understand how ideas and technological developments have influenced people, culture and the environment over time.
Course Description
The focus of our 6 th grade Humanities class is to study the human condition through history, literature, writing and the arts. By participating in this class, students will increase their ability to understand what they read, express themselves in writing, communicate clearly and understand selected developments in the history of our world.
Language Arts activities include journal writing, expository, narrative & persuasive writing using the Writer’s Workshop & the Six Trait writing process, vocabulary development, analysis of literature, poetry study, using key reading strategies and thinking maps to increase reading comprehension and test scores, as well as public speaking.
Eastern HemisphereTopics include World Geography, Archaeology, Egypt, China, India, Greece, Rome, Medieval Times, Africa, Europe and Current Events. Learning Activities includereading historical, fictional and biographical texts, examining cultural artifacts and art, using timelines, and learning to interpret maps, graphs, and charts.
Assessment: Students will earn points for selected in-class assignments, homework, projects, use of the Denny Planner, and class participation. Computerized Progress Reports will be sent home each Friday (or can be accessed via The Source) and need to be signed by parents/guardians. Official Interim Progress Reports will be sent home with students during 1 st and 3 rd quarters, and FINAL GRADE REPORTS are mailed home at the end of each quarter. Students will receive three grades per class: one for academics, one for effort, and one for citizenship. Please feel free to contact me at any time throughout the school year to discuss your student’s progress .
Materials used: “History Alive: The Ancient World” by TCI. “ A Place in the Sun” by Jill Rubalcaba, “Homeless Bird” by Gloria Whelan, “Chu Ju’s House by Gloria Whelan, educational videos, & books on tape.