We recognize that knowledge is useless without context and this alone is the crux of identity. “Who am I” is a question that grows from the inside and extends outward.
Where Values Shape Learning
Culture, ethics, belief, spirituality. These are not simple additions to our curriculum – they are our curriculum. We have created a double helix that spirals through our school that ultimately produces a truly fully formed ethical, informed, intelligent and well-rounded individual. Robert M. Beren Academy gives a deliberate and meaningful Jewish context so your child will intelligently explore and challenge who they are and who they can be.
Scheduling
| Subject Area | Class Frequency | Class Duration | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 3 times per week | 2 block of 80 minutes + 1 block of 40 minutes | Encourages collaborative peer-based learning, allows individualized teaching, and provides in-depth mastery of each component. |
| Hebrew/Judaic Studies | 5 times per week | 40 minutes per class | Offers flexibility in topics and reinforces learning consistently. |
Dual Curriculum (General Studies and Judaic)
Our Middle School dual curriculum uniquely prepares our students for Higher Education. Both empirical and research data demonstrate that students engrossed in dual curriculum, show higher level critical thinking skills, greater language integration and overall mastery of all subjects.
Robert M. Beren Academy's educational program balances disciplined-based learning with child-centered inquiry while emphasizing student growth in the core academic content areas of ELA, social studies, math, and science. Academics are enhanced by other student opportunities: electives, athletic programs, and community service.
Students are placed in on level or advanced classes based on the following criteria: grades from the previous school year, teacher recommendation, placement test results, and standardized testing results. Though a student may be placed in an on level class one year, he/she has the opportunity to move to an advanced class the following year due to academic achievement, work ethic, and perseverance.
| 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | On level or advanced 6th grade ELA following a specific theme for the year | On level or advanced 7th grade ELA following a specific theme for the year | On level or advanced 8th grade ELA following a specific theme for the year |
| Social Studies | On level or advanced 6th grade World Cultures | On level or advanced 7th grade Texas History | On level or advanced 8th grade US History |
| Math | On level or advanced 6th grade math | 7th grade math or Pre-Algebra | Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1 |
| Science | On level or advanced Life Science | On level or advanced Earth Science | On level or advanced Physical Science |
| 6th | 7th | 8th | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 6th-English | 7th-English | 8th-English |
| Math | 6th-Math | 7th-Math | Pre-AP Algebra 1 |
| Science | Life Science | Earth Science | Physical Science |
| Social Studies | World Cultures | World Geography | US History |
The focus in middle school is on building textual skills. In Chumash and Navi, students build their fluency and confidence in reading and translating pesukim (verses) and in analyzing the text using mefarshim (commentaries). In Torah She'Beal Peh (Oral Law) students develop their Mishna skills in 6th grade and then begin Gemara in 7th grade. By the time they enter High School our students understand the importance of Torah She'Beal Peh (Oral Law) and how it works, and have begun developing the tools to learn it on their own. Throughout middle school our students continue developing their language skills in Ivrit (Hebrew).
| 6th | 7th | 8th | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chumash | Shemot | Bamidbar | Devarim |
| Navi | Shmuel I | Shmuel I & Shmuel II | Shmuel II |
| Torah She’beal Peh (Oral Law) | Mishnayot (Seder Moed) Hilchot Yom Tov | Intro Gemara (Masechot Brachot) Hilchot Yom Tov | Gemara (Eliu Metziot) Hilchot Shabbat |
| Hebrew | Conversational Hebrew Reading and Writing Dikduk | Conversational Hebrew Reading and Writing Dikduk | Conversational Hebrew Reading and Writing Dikduk |
| 6th | 7th | 8th | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chumash | Shemot Bamidbar | Bamidbar Devarim | Shemot Mishkan Unit Karbanot Unit Vayikra |
| Navi | Shmuel I | Shmuel II | Melachim I - II |
| Torah She'beal Peh (Oral Law) | Mishnayot (Seder Moed) Hilchot Yom Tov | Intro Gemara (Masechot Brachot) Hilchot Yom Tov | Gemara (Eliu Metziot) Hilchot Shabbat |
| Hebrew | Conversational Hebrew Reading and Writing Dikduk | Conversational Hebrew Reading and Writing Dikduk | Conversational Hebrew Reading and Writing Dikduk |
