Academics/Programs
Literacy/English Language Arts (ELA)
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free” - Frederick Douglass
At North, our Literacy department strives to build students’ skills so they are ready for whatever their futures hold. We believe every student deserves to see themselves in a story, learn about the community around them, and build meaning through reading and writing. Students practice building language skills every day by talking about their texts, connecting to their own experiences, and collaborating with one another. Norths’ Literacy team is a group of highly trained educators who work hard for our students. By the time students are leaving North, we hope we have helped students foster a strong foundation of Literacy skills and that students will be empowered for success in high school.
Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, our primary Literacy curriculum will be StudySync. Parents can find out more about StudySync’s resources here. Students also take an iReady reading comprehension test three times each year. As students progress, they chart their growth and create their own goals for reading.
Culturally Linguistic Diverse Education (CLDE)
We believe that ALL students should receive equitable and appropriate instructional support. In ELD, our goal is to educate all multilingual learners and respect their cultural legacies and linguistic skills. We work on the development of students’ proficiency in the four areas of communication: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. We strive for all multilingual learners to acquire high levels of English proficiency that allow them to communicate successfully in all academic and social settings.
“History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” - David McCullough, American historian
At North Middle School, we value the study of history and civics. We start in 6th grade with a study of the Western Hemisphere. This includes Aztec, Inca, and Mayan civilizations, along with geography and Social Studies skills. 7th grade explores the Eastern Hemisphere, focusing on Egypt and the Nile River, the Silk Road, Islamic civilizations, and different forms of government. 8th grade Social Studies focuses on American history from colonization to Reconstruction. Topics include the Revolutionary War, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, Westward Expansion, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.
Students in our science classrooms are engaged in instructional routines that are designed to value every student’s voice in learning science, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment for every student.
Our science classrooms are organized for students to figure it out. Science learning revolves around figuring out an intriguing phenomenon. Students are motivated to figure out what’s in front of them, and teachers guide that process to deep science learning.
Our science classrooms are collaborative. Students work together and learn from each other as they ask questions, design investigations, and find solutions with the teacher as a facilitator. Students learn how to work together collaboratively and respectfully.