RIO GRANDE, An independent school serving students pre-K through sixth grade in Santa Fe, NM

Sixth Grade

Sixth grade is a year in which our students prepare for the transition to middle school. The goal is to provide them with the confidence and skills to excel both academically and socially. To meet the academic component of this objective, we emphasize organizational skills, time management, and test preparation. Critical thinking, problem-solving, student-generated inquiry, and leadership skills are also cultivated. To address the affective needs of preadolescence, discussions and activities focus on relationships, physical and emotional changes, peer pressure, conflict resolution, and goal setting.

Our Language Arts program emphasizes reading and writing for authentic purposes. Students analyze and infer literary information for historical content. Many of the novels center on themes of personal survival and coming of age. Students also read nonfiction materials as part of the research and report writing processes. Students apply grammar, spelling, and organizational skills in their essays, outlines, journals, creative writing, and research papers.

Science and Social Studies are taught using a thematic approach. Major topics include war and peace, Rube Goldberg designs, time, energy, and cultural studies. Students also discuss current events and analyze media sources.

The Math program is designed to present real-life applications of math concepts to enhance critical thinking and teach students various ways to arrive at a solution, as well as to strengthen basic skills.

The sixth grade Art program increases student understanding of technique and the elements and principles of design while encouraging individual creative spirit.

In Drama, students enhance their communication abilities, working with scripted material and utilizing their critical and creative thinking skills among other dramatic processes.

In Multimedia, sixth graders become independent and confident users of multimedia productivity tools. The library program gives students multiple opportunities to hone their research skills and to explore challenging fiction and nonfiction materials.

In Music, sixth graders develop individual musical skills, recognize various historical styles, and cooperate in large group performances.

In Physical Education, sixth graders combine movement skills and concepts to fit the context of game-like, dynamic situations.

In Spanish, students create "autobiographies" of themselves as Spanish-speaking people, creating crafts and cooking typical dishes. They write in present and past tense and read in Spanish.

The sixth grade Service Project is connected to our theme of conflict. The members of the sixth grade class mentor younger students, facilitating the learning of meaningful, practical conflict resolution skills.