Goals of the Sixth Grade Full Curriculum:
Parents report that the Day-by-Day is an especially valuable friend in sixth grade. After all, children of this age are moving into the dialectic (logic) stage of the Trivium; they are now able to challenge the things they learn. You’ll notice that our Test Sets contain more essays at this level, and writing is of increased importance. Students are asked not only to define in their own words, but to give pros and cons; to discuss behavior or express opinion. These things cannot be taught or assessed through multiple choice, self-graded, or computer-graded tests. Our goal is to produce thinkers. Having acquired the tools with which to learn (K-5th) we are ready to focus on the learning process. If a student is taught how to learn in a few subjects, he will be equipped to learn any subject! In Vocabulary, for example, students learn the etymology of the word, enabling them to have knowledge of many derivatives and related words. In history they read a passage and then summarize orally or in a notebook. Continual feedback and interaction of ideas not only insures proper understanding but provides an opportunity for expression and growth. It builds confidence.
The Writing Skills workbook sets forth some basics of topic sentences and paragraphs. Once again, the reading material is largely integrated with the study of The Middle Ages, culminating with God Made Them Great, with stories of many different missionaries; Earthquakes, volcanoes, and space are some of the topics covered in Science, while the main focus in Math is on division of decimals, geometry, and percents.