Macci Bowers joined the Rohan Woods team in 1982. With more than 30 years of teaching experience, Macci brings an abundance of enthusiasm and personalized teaching methods to her classroom, especially in the areas of literature, language arts, and mathematics. In her spare time, Macci enjoys outdoor activities such as gardening and running as well as reading and needlework. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Maryville University as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree in Elementary Education from Webster University and an Educational Testing Certification from Washington University.

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The Reading Program in Sixth Grade is literature based and emphasizes understanding of the standard literary tools of main idea, supporting information, conclusions, inferences, comparison and contrast, plot and character development, and foreshadowing. The books are read both independently and orally as a class. Daily summaries of the readings are written and incorporate some of the Social Studies topics as well as concepts in our Ethics curriculum. Students also participate in a variety of activities and projects through which they demonstrate their understanding of the development of plot, character and themes.

The Vocabulary and Spelling Curricula use the Zaner-Bloser approach in which students take ownership of new vocabulary and increase comprehension as they:

• unlock words in meaningful context
• process words through skill-based activities,
• apply words in listening, speaking, reading, and writing
• review words frequently to reinforce their use and meaning and
• demonstrate their progress through regular assessment

The Language Arts curriculum focuses on the study of grammar and punctuation concepts and each student's ability to apply his or her understanding to given activites and writing assignments. Students learn more about a variety of writing styles and develop their writing skills through a series of lessons and assignments which progress throughout the year. Writing instruction, based on the Six-Trait Writing Curriculum, includes both short- and long-term projects on a variety of topics. Research papers are required using both library- and Internet-based research.

The Social Studies curriculum focuses on a variety of topics arising from the economic, political and military landscape of the first half of the twentieth century. As students learn the causes and effects of the World Wars and the worldwide Depression, literature is woven in to present them with narratives of the consequences of these events on the social fabric of the world. Through this lens, students are confronted with many essential social science questions surrounding good and evil, class, race, and right and wrong.

Analysis and Probability and more sophisticated problem-solving activities are introduced in Sixth Grade in order to act as a bridge toward preparation for secondary school. Algebra is taught more often through the use of the Everyday Math program, which emphasizes solving and graphing linear equations, and rates of change (simple and compound interest, population growth, etc.). Overall, there is more time spent on data collection, using statistics to make predictions, and constructing mathematical models to solve problems.

The Sixth Grade student enjoys exceptional learning experiences such as a week at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Colorado, gifted education activities, advanced Physical Education with a special day at a local ski hill, and the unique Rohan Woods Leadership Program. Sixth Graders are tasked with researching, defining, executing, and evaluating a yearlong leadership project of their choosing. The projects must have a lasting impact on some level of life at Rohan Woods.

We are dedicated to preparing our graduates for success in today’s changing world. Strong, personal relationships are fostered with each student and their family, and with area secondary schools, enabling a smooth transition to the world beyond elementary education.