Middle School

School District 197 uses Go!Math curriculum for students in grades 5-8, which has a proven instructional design that is grounded in research to help every student learn the math instructional design. Go!Math is a comprehensive differentiated instruction with the online lesson tutorials where the author illustrates every lesson. This is great tool for parents and students, and allows teachers to use teaching strategies to reach all types of learners. There is also a plethora of materials that help students succeed with high stakes tests, such as daily test prep, multi-step test prep, standardized test prep, countdown to testing, and test tackler strategies. 

GRADES 2-7
GO Math!
GO Math! Combines 21st century educational technology with modern content, dynamic interactives and a variety of instructional videos to engage today’s digital natives. Students are supported through the universal access features of the program as they learn to think critically and apply their math knowledge.

ALGEBRA 1 | GEOMETRY | ALGEBRA 2
Big Ideas Math
Big Ideas Math provides students with real life applications and explorations in each lesson to connect classroom lessons to realistic scenarios. Lessons provide students opportunities to develop procedural fluency and to use clear, precise mathematical language. Big Ideas offers flexible learning, class discussions and varied delivery of content.

Grades 5 and 6
District 197 language arts classes use the Reading Street curriculum, which is designed to help teachers build readers through motivating and engaging literature, scientifically research-based instruction, and a wealth of reliable teaching tools. Reading Streets weaves reading, word work, oral language and language arts together to meet the needs of all children. The literature in Reading Street is organized around unit themes and each selection connects and expands the concept to build deeper understanding. The literature is balanced and geared to introduce more and more nonfiction as students move up in grade levels.

Grades 7 and 8
Language Arts teachers in District 197 use the Prentice Hall Literature curriculum. Prentice Hall Literature combines fresh, contemporary selections with classic favorites. The curriculum delivers explicit instruction within a student-friendly design to create the new standard for today's literature classroom. The study of Language Arts prepares students to share ideas, feelings and information in various ways. Effective communication techniques taught in Language Arts courses teach students to send and receive information in a clear, thoughtful manner and to use related knowledge and contexts to synthesize information into meaningful messages.

The Minnesota Academic Standards in the Arts focus on student achievement in six distinct arts areas: dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts. Students in arts education often integrate other subject areas with the arts to creatively express themselves and demonstrate their learning through projects or performance.

Grade 7 and 8
In Communications, students in grades 7 and 8 will enhance their listening and speaking skills as a part of a whole class, small groups and one on one communication in a variety of modalities. As a productive member of this communication exchange students will contribute accurate, relevant information; respond to and develop what others have said; make comparisons and contrasts; and analyze and synthesize a multitude of ideas in various domains. Students will develop skills for presenting accurate and relevant information using digital tools that allow for collaboration, continually updated content and dynamically changing words, graphics, images, hyperlinks and embedded video and audio.

The middle school science program channels and focuses the energy and enthusiasm of students through inquiry and hands-on learning.  Students apply science concepts and methods of scientific investigations as they consider personal decisions about real world issues. Students also access technology for research, problem-solving and communication. Science topics are presented following the Minnesota State standards with a focus on Physical Science in grade 6, Life Science in grade 7 and Earth Science in grade 8. School District 197 uses the Pearson Interactive Science curriculum in grades 6, 7 and 8.  Students have online access to all student materials. The grade 5 science curriculum incorporates standards from all three of these areas: Physical, Life and Earth Science through FOSS kits.

The 2011 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies set the statewide expectations for K-12 student achievement in the disciplines of citizenship and government, economics, geography and history (United States and world). The instructional organization of the program allows students to draw upon their expanding knowledge base to better understand issues, concepts, problems, and perspectives. Social Studies courses begin in 5th Grade with United States History up to the year 1800; 6th Grade Minnesota Studies; 7th Grade United States History 1800-Present; 8th Grade Global Studies.

Physical Education

Middle School students participate in Physical Education every other day in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8.  

Health

Instruction in health is part of a students experience in grades 7 and 8 and is taught by one of the PE/Health teachers at each school.  The Holt Middle School Health program promotes active exploration of health concepts, character building, and life skills by requiring students to apply what they learn within the context of the real world. It offers the most current health guidelines and statistics including updated information about the USDA MyPlate nutrition guidelines. The program also integrates technology to reinforce learning and assure student interaction. 

The mission of the District's music department is to provide a sequentially based, authentically oriented program aimed at providing a comprehensive music education to its learners. Instruction at the middle schools is designed to align with the elementary and high schools. Students have a choice of participating in band, choir, or orchestra and music classes meet every other day, all year long. 

Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum empowers students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world. These 21st-century skills are essential for students to harness the full potential of technology for learning. Topics covered include: 

• Privacy & Security
• Digital Footprint & Reputation
• Self-Image & Identity
• Creative Credit & Copyright
• Relationships & Communication
• Information Literacy
• Cyberbullying
• Internet Safety
• Keyboarding

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) comprehensive curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and real-world problem solving. The hands-on, project-based program engages students on multiple levels, exposes them to subjects that they typically would not pursue, provides them with a strong foundation for achieving their academic goals in any chosen field of study and, if pursued, establishes a proven path to college and career success in STEM related industries. Units of the PLTW program cover design and modeling, automation and robotics, and energy and the environment.

Grade 5 and 6
Students participate in writing with a focus on the writing standards in the English Language Arts State Standards. The types of writing included in grades 5 and 6 are argumentative, narrative and explanatory. The goal is for students to follow a writing process to produce clear and coherent writing to convey their opinions and ideas.