An Integrated Sixth-grade Learning Community

What is Crossroads? CULTURE! A year-long program, combining the study of: - language arts - social studies - science… around our theme, CULTURE!

How does Crossroads work? 42 incoming sixth graders selected randomly by lottery 4 of 9 class periods spent in the Crossroads room. No separate language arts, science, and social studies classes. Other five periods: math, advisory, encore classes (art, music, phys. ed., tech. ed., FaCS, and world language), lunch.

What do we learn? We learn our language arts, science, and social studies skills through the study of four levels of culture: Family Community Nation World

Family <> Community <> Nation Highlights from September - December Family organization project Full-class Novel: Tuck Everlasting, Community literature circles Writing: A family vignette Powering Up: Natural Resources group project Immigrant Perspectives: interview and essay American Experiences (immigrant group) literature circles and presentation Rock Transformations (Amplify) And much more!

WORLD: January to June Geography and Cultures of each of the following continents: The Americas Europe Africa Asia Some Associated Activities: Dynamic Earth Project European Cities Project Sonnet Study and Writing Study of Opera Poetry Weather – Group Project Biography Project Two African novellas & Project Asian culture group study and literature circle Persuasive essay Astronomy and Rocketry

173 Days NOT on Crossroads field trips! Field trips – about seven Curriculum Connections Associated writing tasks SAMPLE TRIPS: Philadelphia Mural trip Lackawanna Coal Mine and Eckley Miners’ Village Tenement Museum and Ellis Island, New York City National Constitution Center Barnes Museum Opera Philadelphia Smithsonian Museums, Wash. D.C. 173 Days NOT on Crossroads field trips!

More Unique Activities Code for Community Cooperative games and activities Many opportunities to interact with others while you learn

How do students learn in Crossroads? Students work individually and cooperatively to study a variety of science and social studies topics relating to culture Greater emphasis on individual and cooperative projects, presentations, and writing assignments Fewer tests or quizzes (but some, i.e. geography)

There are NO letter grades? Then how do we know how we’re doing? Self Assessments Approximately one/month Student generated Teachers respond Mid/End of Year Evaluations Receive twice per year 8-page document written by teachers Evening Expositions Two per year

The Self Assessment

The Crossroads Room Double-sized room Big class library 42 laptop computers 42 iPads

MYTHS about Crossroads We won’t have lockers. NOT TRUE! We won’t see non-Crossroads friends. NOT TRUE! We don’t change classes. NOT TRUE! We have less chance of getting into Watershed, Soundings, and Gateways. NOT TRUE!

Advisory (orchestra band, chorus, etc.) Period Proposed Crossroads Schedule Proposed 6th Grade Team Schedule Adv Advisory (orchestra band, chorus, etc.) 1 Tech Ed/FACS/lang 2 Crossroads Science 3  Crossroads Social Studies 4 Lunch 5 Art/Music/Phys. Ed. Art/Music/Phys. Ed 6 Language Arts 7 Math 8 Crossroads / Math "Call Back" Sci/SS/LA/Math "Call Back" SOS Pack up

Who is Crossroads Compatible? Most of the following should be true Crossroads is right for students who… Work and learn well in groups and/or want to get better at it (not those who allow others to do the work or like to control all the work) Like to explore and “dig deeper” when learning Seek some independence and choice in their learning Prefer to demonstrate learning through projects, presentations, and writing assignments Are interested in how they fit into their community and culture Are not motivated only by A-B-C-D-F grades CROSSROADS IS FOR STUDENTS OF ALL ABILITY LEVELS (with few exceptions)

Crossroads Comparison Some Similarities Same Core Curriculum and skills are taught All levels of math available Encore classes are the same Special Ed. And Gifted support Lockers Lunch Some Differences L.A., Social Studies, and Science integrated around study of culture Emphasis on projects, presentations, and writing (with fewer tests) Many cooperative and group learning projects Assessed but not graded Greater need for parent involvement

What Next? Discuss Crossroads with your parents and decide if you want to enter the lottery. All students must submit a form stating if you want Crossroads or not. This form is due on May 4th. Letters sent out about a week after that. Crossroads new student/parent meeting on Monday May 14th at 6:30pm in the Crossroads room at RMS.

An Integrated Sixth-grade Learning Community