FAQs

What language choices are offered to students in the sixth grade?
All students in the sixth grade take a quarter of Chinese, German, Latin, and Spanish.  This allows them to experience four very different cultures and languages before deciding which language they would like to pursue in the seventh grade. Baylor students are required to take two years of a language in the seventh and eighth grade, and two years in grades 9-12, although most students exceed the minimum requirement. 

What is the role of an adviser in the sixth grade?
Each student at Baylor (grades 6-12) is assigned an adviser, who serves many important roles. Advisers are an advocate for their advisees, helping students cope with academic and social challenges that may arise. Advisers help to monitor a child’s progress while guiding the child in establishing relevant goals. An adviser is also the primary communication link between the school and the home. Parents and advisers touch base frequently via phone, email and in person.

What opportunities exist for parent involvement in the sixth grade?
Parents of sixth grade students have a wide variety of opportunities to become involved with Baylor School. Interested parents can volunteer to chaperone sixth grade events, participate in community gatherings like tailgates or book clubs, organize snacks, or attend parent networking meetings. Opportunities to volunteer with the Parent Alliance also exist. Parents can sit on a wide range of committees focused on important topics like admissions and communications.

Do sixth grade students attend classes in other buildings besides Academic Hall?
The majority of a sixth grade students' day is spent in Academic Hall. Advisery, humanities, math, science, Latin, literacy strategies and computer classes all take place in the building. Students do, however, have numerous opportunities to experience the entire Baylor campus. Performing arts classes, visual arts classes, physical education, lunch, chapel and afternoon athletics and enrichment activities not only provide students with chances to travel to various parts of campus but also create circumstances in which they can interact with the broader Baylor community.

Do sixth grade students take any trips over the course of the year?
Students in the sixth grade experience numerous trips off campus during the course of the year. Our first trip to Wesley Woods (just south of Knoxville) takes place in October. The three-day, two-night trip serves as an important venue for children to create relationships with their peers and teachers in a non-academic setting. The class takes a second, educationally based trip in the spring to either Atlanta or Nashville. In addition, adviser groups take multiple trips off campus for a wide range of activities ranging from community service to lunch trips out.

Are sixth grade students grouped by academic ability?
Because of the nature of sixth grade children and the makeup of a new class of students, the sixth grade is not grouped by ability. Instead, the heterogeneous groupings are intended to afford each child an opportunity to carve out a niche for her/himself at Baylor while developing the skills necessary for academic success in the sixth grade and beyond.

What types of after-school athletics and enrichment activities are offered to sixth grade students?
Baylor offers a wide variety of athletic and enrichment offerings that are second to none. Children interested in sports can participate on competitive teams that include tennis, golf, swimming, diving, soccer, softball, football, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, fencing and baseball. In addition, students can choose from a wide range of enrichment offerings that includes community service, theater, film making, dance, yoga, robotics, studio art and outdoor education.

What types of support services are offered to sixth grade students?
Sixth grade teachers pride themselves on working tirelessly to ensure all students reach their full potential. Because of the small class sizes and numerous opportunities for extra-help during the week, students are able to receive individual instruction when needed. Should a student require support beyond what is available from an adviser or teacher, Baylor does have a system in place to meet special needs. Individualized support plans can be created that may utilize a variety of campus resourses including peer tutors, the Writing Center, or our learning specialist and middle school counselor.

How is technology used to support the curriculum in the sixth grade?
Sixth grade students utilize technology in a variety of ways. Each student is required to take a computer course that meets one period per week for the entire year. This course teaches the basics of the Baylor network and email systems, reinforces the fundamental aspects of Microsoft Word, and serves as an introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint, among other things. These skills are also reinforced within the context of the students’ classes, where they use technology for activities ranging from typing a poem to creating a PowerPoint presentation to mapping the world’s earthquake zones.

How much homework is a sixth grade student expected to complete?
Sixth grade teachers at Baylor assign homework that is designed to enrich the curriculum taught in the class. On average, students are expected to complete between 20 – 30 minutes of homework per subject, per night. The typical sixth grade student will spend between 90 and 120 minutes on homework per night.

What is the difference between Humanities through Literature and Humanities through History?
Teaching reading and writing are crucial components to the sixth grade curriculum. Research indicates that the integration of learning in each discipline with the whole curriculum makes learning more meaningful to children. Therefore, reading and writing are taught in the two courses within the context of literature and history, respectively. In Humanities through Literature, students spend a significant portion of the class focusing on books of their choice to read and write about. In Humanities through History, students study reading and writing within the context of ancient history.

How many students are in each class?
The average sixth grade class consists of approximately 105 students from between 25 – 30 different schools. The class is broken into eight learning groups with between 12 – 14 students per section.