Middle School Curriculum Overview
By the end of 8th grade, students need to be ready for high school and life in a technological society. To be successful, they will need the ability to gather, comprehend, evaluate, synthesize, report on information and ideas, and conduct original research. Students will be expected to analyze a variety of sources of information in order to answer questions and solve problems.
The need to conduct research and to produce and consume media is embedded into every aspect of today’s curriculum. The school library media specialists integrate the Library/Media Skills curriculum across all disciplines by collaborating with teachers and working with students individually. The media center is designed to be a “learning commons”; an active space for students to learn, explore, inquire, create, and collaborate.
In addition to developing students’ research skills, two main goals of the library program are to develop lifelong learning skills and a love of reading. The pursuit of personal and aesthetic growth is thus a part of our curriculum. Educated citizens are both well informed and culturally aware, seeking information for personal development in a variety of formats and genres.
The LCJSMS/Media Skills curriculum follows the AASL (American Association of School Librarians) Standards Framework for Learners, since the New Jersey Department of Education does not have a designated set of standards for Library Media programs. The AASL Standards Framework is organized by three components: Foundations, Domains, and Competencies. The framework is anchored by six shared foundations: Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Explore and Engage.