Sixth grade a time to test and explore

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Sixth-grade students at Woodland Middle School start their day in a homeroom class watching a 15-minute segment on Channel One, an educational news program for schools. On Wednesday, the news focused on the Taliban's flight from Afghanistan's capital and U.S. efforts to send aid to the nation in the midst of war.

After Channel One and a short discussion about whether the United States should stay as a peacekeeping force in the country, the students in Margaret Schlief's class were off to music where they were learning the songs of each military branch. The class also talked briefly about composer Irving Berlin, who wrote "God Bless America."

Returning to their homeroom, the students began a busy day of lessons. Tests were returned in two of their block classes, assignments turned in and writing lessons revised and illustrated. In science and social studies, the students began new units.

Sixth grade is divided into block sections for reading, social studies, math and science at Woodland School. Students spend 50 minutes in each of those classes, changing rooms each time.

Students seem to like the opportunity to switch classes, and it gives them better experience for seventh grade when they switch for every course, Schlief said.

"It's a good transition for them to get used to different teachers' personalities," she said.

The work can be a challenge, most of the students will admit. But in some ways, that is a challenge they're ready to take on.

Social studies teacher Missy Finley can use words like contemplate or annihilate in her conversation with the students and they don't flinch. Sixth grade is a time to test knowledge and explore possibilities.

And most of the students in Schlief's class are doing well in their exploration. About three-fourths of the 21 students received 100 percent -- or better with the bonus questions -- on a science test.

Every student who earns a perfect score on a test or assignment can visit principal Ty Mungle, who signs the paper and then rewards the students with a piece of candy. Students also are allowed to sign the "Cardinals All-Star" board in his office.

After signing the papers, Mungle sent the students back to Schlief's classroom for a math review lesson on division.

Groups of three and four students worked problems on the board while classmates worked at their desks.

Standing at the chalkboard, Stephen Haggard was a little perplexed by his problem: 627 divided by 65 with the remainder written as a whole number.

He started by multiplying 65 by five and then quickly jumped to 7 and eventually 9 as he saw other classmates finishing their work.

He wrote the remainder as 49, not 42, though his computation was correct.

"If it's right in one place then it's counted right," Schlief said, emphasizing the importance of showing the computations for each problem.

Schlief said students usually complete 25 problems a day in math but seldom have assigned homework. She spends 15 or 20 minutes introducing the assignment and working a few problems with the class before turning them loose for independent work.

"They always have time to work on it here, and if they do have work I try to send less than an hour's worth each night," she said.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126