Virtual Middle School

One of the perks of working at home with a virtual school is that you can adjust your school schedule to meet the needs of your family. To keep up with the assigned coursework, students should expect to spend about 1 hour per course per day, five days per week. Many students do best with a consistent schedule, so we encourage the Learning Coach and student to work together to create and follow a weekly school schedule.

Remember to leave time for off-screen breaks between core coursework. It is important to give learning brains time to refresh! These breaks could include:
PE activities such as walking, running, playing basketball, jumping on a trampoline, bike riding, etc. 
Art activities
Snack / Lunch
Independent reading
Journal writing

Example Daily Schedule
Please note that this schedule is only a suggestion to support daily structure. 
Your advisor may provide more specific daily schedule recommendations. At least one day a week will include a meeting with your advisor.

• 8-8:30 am: Prepare for the day. Review your schedule and arrange materials.
• 8:30-9 am: Math
• 9:15-9:45 am: Language Arts
• 10-10:30 am: PE (activities such as hiking, walking, running, playing soccer or basketball)
• 12 - 12:30 pm: Lunch
• 12:30 pm - 1 pm: Social Studies
• 1:15-1:45 pm: Science
• 2 - 3 pm: Independent work time (work on assignments, read, etc.)

• Personal Device or CK Chromebook
• Pencil and sharpener
• Composition Book, spiral notebook or paper to: take notes, record ideas, write drafts, practice math, etc
• Printer for Pearson math practice sheets, graphic organizers, etc.
• OPTIONAL: student planner [you can pick one up at Barker Creek or purchase one]

Language Arts 6A/6B

This course eases students’ transition to middle school with engaging, age-appropriate literary and informational reading selections. Students learn to read critically, analyze texts, and cite evidence to support ideas as they read an array of literary and informational texts. Students sharpen their vocabulary, grammar, and listening skills through explicit modeling and ample practice. Students also engage in routine, responsive writing based on texts they have read. In comprehensive, process-based writing lessons, students write topical essays in narrative, informative, analytical, and argumentative formats. In this full-year course, students develop a mastery of reading, writing, and language arts skills.

Mathematics 6A/6B

This year-long course builds foundational mathematical understanding through the study of ratios, rates, fractions, decimals, and percentages. Students develop fluency with multi-digit operations and extend their understanding of rational numbers to include negative numbers. Instruction emphasizes writing, evaluating, and solving expressions and equations while connecting algebraic reasoning to real-world situations. Learners explore area, surface area, and volume, and they analyze data using statistical measures such as mean and median. Throughout the course, students strengthen problem-solving skills and mathematical reasoning through hands-on practice and real-world applications.

Middle School World Cultures and Geography

Designed to introduce students to the study of geography, this course helps students master important concepts in physical and human geography. Comprehensive and organized by region, this twosemester middle school course helps students understand the Earth’s physical and human diversity. Students analyze population and settlement patterns and evaluate the ways that human activities modify the physical environment. While studying humans around the world, students compare development, standards of living, systems of government, and economic factors across the globe. In addition, students gain a rich understanding of global cultures and the historical factors that have shaped the world around them. All units in the course are parallel and include studies in physical and human geography, ancient cultures, regional studies, and modern issues.

Earth Science

This full-year course introduces students to the study of Earth and its place in the universe. The course leads students toward a clearer understanding of geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. As students refine and expand their understanding of Earth science, they will apply their knowledge in investigations that require them to ask questions and explore the world around them. Throughout the course, students will also solve problems, reason abstractly, and learn to think critically.

Language Arts 7A/7B

Students grow as readers, writers, and thinkers in this middle school course. With engaging literary and informational texts, students learn to think critically, analyze an author’s language, and cite evidence to support ideas. Students complete an in-depth novel study and read excerpts from stories, poetry, and nonfiction. Explicit modeling and ample opportunities for practice help students sharpen their vocabulary, grammar, and listening skills. Students also respond routinely to texts they have read. In extensive, process-based writing lessons, students write topical essays in narrative, informative, analytical, and argumentative formats. In this full-year course, students develop a mastery of reading, writing, and language arts skills.

Mathematics 7A/7B

This year-long course deepens students’ understanding of proportional relationships and extends their work with rational numbers. Students solve multi-step equations and inequalities while applying algebraic reasoning to real-world problems involving percentages, scale drawings, and probability. Instruction includes operations with rational numbers and the exploration of linear relationships. Learners investigate geometry concepts such as angle relationships, circles, area, and volume. Statistical reasoning is strengthened through sampling and data comparison, preparing students for more advanced algebraic thinking.

Grade 7 Washington State History

This full-year course traces the geographic, cultural, political, and economic development of Washington State from its Indigenous roots through modern times. Students examine regional geography and climate, Indigenous cultures, and early exploration and colonization of the Pacific Northwest. They analyze major events including treaty-making, statehood, industrialization, labor movements, and the impact of both World Wars. The course also explores postwar developments, contemporary environmental and economic issues, and the structure and function of local, state, and tribal governments. Throughout, students engage in writing workshops and multimedia projects to develop research and communication skills. Two cumulative exams assess their understanding of Washington’s dynamic history and civic framework.

Life Science

This full-year middle school course focuses on introducing students to the diversity of life found on our planet. The course includes an overview of scientific principles and procedures, and leads students toward a clearer understanding of cells and heredity, the five kingdoms, human body systems, and ecology. As students refine and expand their understanding of life science, they will apply their knowledge in investigations that require them to ask questions and explore the world around them. Throughout the course, students will also solve problems, reason abstractly, and learn to think critically.

Language Arts 8A/8B

In this course, students build on their knowledge and blossom as thoughtful readers and clear, effective writers. A balance of literary and informational texts engages students throughout the course in reading critically, analyzing texts, and citing evidence to support claims. Students sharpen their vocabulary, grammar, and listening skills through lessons designed to provide explicit modeling and ample opportunities to practice. Students also routinely write responses to texts they have read, and use more extensive, process-based lessons to produce full-length essays in narrative, informative, analytical, and argumentative formats. In this full-year course, students develop a mastery of reading, writing, and language arts skills.

Mathematics 8A/8B

This year-long course prepares students for high school mathematics by formalizing algebraic and geometric reasoning. Students analyze and represent linear relationships using equations, tables, and graphs, and they solve systems of linear equations. Instruction introduces functions and examines their properties in multiple representations. Learners explore the Pythagorean Theorem, transformations, and congruence to deepen geometric understanding. The course also includes work with real numbers and scientific notation, strengthening students’ readiness for advanced algebra.

US History

The Survey of US History course presents a cohesive and comprehensive overview of the history of the United States. This year-long course surveys the major events and turning points of US history as it moves from the era of exploration through modern times. As students examine each era of history, they will analyze primary sources and carefully research events to gain a clearer understanding of the factors that have shaped US history. In early units, students will explore the geography of the nation and world, as well as assess the foundations of US democracy while examining crucial documents. In later units, students will examine the effects of territorial expansion, the Civil War, and the rise of industrialization as they assess the outcomes of economic trends and the connections between culture and government. As the course draws to a close, students will focus their studies on the causes of cultural and political change in the modern age. Throughout the course, students will learn the importance of cultural diversity while examining history from different perspectives. Rigorous reading and writing activities carefully address Common Core literacy standards and guide students toward the development of critical thinking and communication skills.

Physical Science

This full-year course focuses on traditional concepts in chemistry and physics, and encourages exploration of new discoveries in this field of science. The course includes an overview of scientific principles and procedures, and leads students toward a clearer understanding of matter, energy, and the physical universe. As students refine and expand their understanding of physical science, they will apply their knowledge in experiments that require them to ask questions and create hypotheses. Throughout the course, students solve problems, reason abstractly, and learn to think critically.