suggested+7th+curriculum

The idea behind the curriculum is that along the way there will be themes to incorporate/weave in somewhere in that time frame. This will ensure that from 6th-8th grade, each theme gets incorporated but not repeated, each theme is broached at an age/grade appropriate time, that at any given time of year all the Advisors in a given grade level are generally on the same page, but that Advisors still have a lot of freedom to figure out what makes sense to do in any given week, and exactly when and how they wish to manage a given theme.

When you see a theme, the idea is for you either to select lessons/activities from the accompanying link on this wiki, or do your own lesson/activity. If you do your own lesson/activity, please add it to the wiki! Note that there is plenty of space throughout this curriculum for many Advisories where you can do whatever you see fit -- including, if you like, any of the games and various miscellaneous lessons/activities that are provided on this wiki.

Brainstorm/Share strategies and tools for managing binder, planner, homework, long-term projects, locker, extra-curricular activities, etc., with more different classes and different teachers and a step up in academic expectations. Note: This is a great chance to discuss "not over-scheduling yourself," before it's too late, as students are planning their fall activities.

** September 12th - "Academic & Personal Goal Setting" **
There are two components to this lesson. One is understanding what good goal-setting looks like, and the other is a chance to set goals and then follow-up in a month to check in on how they're doing. Students should set goals during this Advisory with the understanding that they will come back to them in Advisory in about 4-5 weeks. //(Note of advice: In between, remind students a couple times about the goals -- to take a moment and remember the goals they made and ask themselves how they're doing -- because this will not only help students take the goals seriously, it will also increase the likelihood of success.)// For one possible "goal-setting" sheet you can use, along with a primer on the principles of "effective goal-setting," see the Goal Setting page.

October 3rd - Games, Activities, Discussions around Ethics/Values
As part of the "Looking Inward" overarching theme, over the coming weeks students should begin exploring questions around ethics and values. Some activities designed to allow students this reflection can be found on the Ethics/Values page.

October 10th - "Goal-Setting" Follow Up
4 weeks after students have made their goals, devote Advisory to following up, as promised, to have a check-in, and discussion, around how each student is doing with their goals and why they are or aren't reaching them.

October 17th - Prep For Community Service Day
This will be the last Advisory before Community Service day on Wednesday, October 23rd, so this Advisory is dedicated to all necessary last-minute details and prep.

October 24th - Community Service Day Debrief/Share Out
This Advisory can be dedicated to debriefing in the groups as they traveled for Community Service Day and can also end, if we want, by coming together as one "Town Hall" to share out. (We might want to reverse the usual order on this day, starting in smaller groups and then ending with Town Hall.)

As part of the "Looking Inward" overarching theme, this month students can continue exploring questions around ethics and values drawing, if you like, on some on the activities found on the Ethics/Values page.

** December 5th, December 12th, December 19th - Friends, Enemies, and Frenemies! **
Before Winter Break, find time to check in around students' social lives, social groups, cliques, friendships, changing friendships, teasing/bullying, etc. Some possible areas to explore include:


 * When you are the target of teasing, meanness, exclusion, etc., when should you ignore/let it go, when do you need to talk directly to the peer, when do you need to go to a teacher/parent?


 * What are the qualities you most value and need in a friend, and how well do you provide these qualities to others? What are two ways you think you are a really good friend and what two ways you would like to be a better friend?


 * Are you interested in getting out of your "comfort zone" and making a new friend or two? Who might it be interesting to get to know better?

> How does it impact a friendship? Does this ever apply to you? What causes people to have this quality?
 * (For this one, you could put each word on a card and hand the cards out randomly, one to each student.) Jealous...Controlling...Flaky...Needy...Untrustworthy...Bossy...Moody...Insecure...Passive-aggressive...Dishonest...Inconsiderate...

