MR. TUBACH'S SEVENTH GRADE DRIVING QUESTION:
HOW CAN WE DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, COURAGE, WISDOM AND EMPATHY TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION?

Students will begin each class with a grammar mini-lesson, or by copying a quote into their notebook. The quotes are often associated with Mr. Tubach's precepts or the CSMH Student Outcomes. Mr. Tubach also has precepts tattooed on his left wrist.

#COMEASYOUARE

#FORGEGOODDEEDS

#NOCOLDFRIES

#JUDGENOT

#CARPEDIEM

#LIGHTUPTHEDARKNESS

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
​― William Butler Yeats (Irish Poet) ​

"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow."

–Abraham Lincoln (16th President of the United States)

HUMANities class is where you learn about things that make you uniquely HUMAN. Reading, writing, literature studies, critical thinking, drama, design, social studies, art, history, human geography, politics, economics, religion, ethics, and more. We will emphasize DEEP LEARNING through Project-based learning (PBL). In this class, you will learn about the dynamic perspectives of humans from different times, places, and cultures. You will also learn a lot about yourself and the world you live in. Above all else, this is a thinking class, because all that we do is predicated on our ability to think. Humanities is often contrasted with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). For the sake of argument, let's assume that artificial intelligence is capable of achieving STEM goals, but only humans can purposefully study humanities. This is summed up nicely in Mr. Tubach's favorite movie, Dead Poets Society:

There are THREE large-scale collaborative projects planned for this FALL: Project 13 which focuses on self-discovery and unique teenage experiences, Project ROADS, which is a thematic history project based on the idea of Silk Roads, and Project CAROL, a script-to-stage project that includes service learning goals. We also have THREE projects planned for this SPRING. Project PRISONS, which asks several core questions about incarceration and is based on critical thinking, Project DPS with poetry and creative writing at its core, and Project HOPE which focuses on immigration and diversity in the United States. Each project has a PBL page with more information for students, families, educators, and community members. They also have associated field trips, and optional family trips on weekends.

August/September: Project 13 
September/October: Project ROADS
November/December: Project CAROL
January/February: Project PRISONS
March/April: Project DPS
April/May: Project HOPE

​Students will also complete several unique writing projects, including: song analysis essays, flash fiction, script writing, film reviews, argumentative essays, illustrated nonfiction narratives, and poetry books containing 10+ original poems.

Our 7th grade world history curriculum will focus on thematic history, through a project called 'Silk Roads." Students will learn about The Catholic Church in Medical Europe, the history and teachings of Islam, Chinese innovations and inventions, Mayan history, and more. All of our world history curriculum focuses on culture and connections to the modern world. ​

There is a WEEKLY assignments that will run throughout most of the school year. It is the dedication to reading and the composition of a WEEKLY READING LOG. Logs will be submitted to Mr. Tubach on Fridays by 5PM. When reading logs are "on", students are expected to read 2+ hours per week. I will spend a great deal of time on recommendations and book talks, but at the end of the day, voice and choice will prevail in 7th grade. When reading logs are "off", it usually means that students are expected to work on a project at home. Parents are encouraged to communicate any concerns via students, or directly to Mr. Tubach ttubach@csmh.org

As an enrichment activity, students will be given the opportunity to participate in an optional book club focusing on BATMAN. Students will have discussion meetings with Mr. Tubach outside of regular class hours  (days and times TBD) that will include light snacks and refreshments. Participants will work on a 1,000+ word essay after reading several Batman stories. More information can be found on the BATMAN webpage. 

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ONGOING FAMILY ASSIGNMENT: PLEASE READ OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

YO! Welcome to 7th grade Humanities. This welcome page covers our large-scale projects, ongoing weekly assignments, several notes for families, Mr. Tubach's precepts, and more. Let's start with our thematic driving question:

sevies [sev-eez] noun. nickname for seventh grade students. (usually) a term of endearment.

A note on mature topics: as our students enter their teen years, it is important that they maintain the same sense of moral responsibility that formed earlier in life. They will inevitably encounter more sophisticated and mature content as they grow, and some of that will take place in 7th grade. In Humanities class, this mostly pertains to literature, including "choice books" such as Dear Martin, We Are Not From Here, and The 57 Bus. We will watch Dead Poet's Society, which has a PG rating, but includes mature content and if it were rated now would likely constitute a PG-13 rating. Students may also encounter edgy poetry, such as Two Women, which was recorded by a missionary in Chile in the 1970's. If you are ever curious about the content of something that your child is reading or watching, please contact me directly, or visit the website Commonsense Media (HERE), which publishes conservative reviews and family guides for discussion. As an educator and father, I take this topic seriously. I'm happy to discuss any of this over a cup of coffee ttubach@csmh.org

A note on digital citizenship: it is important that students use good judgement when participating in online activities, from sending an email to virtual collaboration. In 7th grade, students will be using their CSMH Google accounts in various ways, but mostly for word processing and email. They will often work collaboratively and it is important that they only use these accounts for school purposes. Students will also be using Adobe Spark and CANVA to create reading logs and other creative projects. For the purpose of research, students will have education subscriptions to LOS ANGELES TIMES. Our students must be safe and courteous digital citizens at all times. Everything they do online is a reflection of our community, our school, me, their families, and most importantly, themselves. Please contact me right away with questions or concerns ttubach@csmh.org

A note on family enrichment opportunities: Students will have the opportunity to participate in, and write about, learning experiences outside of school. Each opportunity corresponds to a 7th grade project. During the first semester, students can visit the Dickens Fair at the Cow Palace in San Fransisco, the A.C.T. Carol musical, Christmas with Dickens in Santa Cruz, the Northside Theater production of Carol, or other events related to A Christmas Carol (ask for approval or suggestions). During the second semester, students can act as photojournalists and create an Adobe Spark page showing off, and explaining, an experience related to spring projects, Details will be given in class. I encourage families to do this because it enriches learning, not because of "points," or "extra credit."

THIS CLASSROOM RUNS ON TRUST