Bridge is an organizational, study skills class with a strong focus on developing essential reading and note-taking skills, as well as developing cooperative and collaborative skills needed for the future. Reflecting the Cupertino Union School District’s commitment to foster the whole child, this class is designed to support and develop positive study habits and social emotional skills for middle school and beyond. In this class students will directly learn essential life skills as we focus on teaching and practicing empathy; students will learn important skills and strategies via Project Cornerstone, and engage in a global read-aloud and other character-instructive texts that will help build connections and commonalities, present multiple perspectives, and honor diversity and a wide range of human experiences. Students will engage in self-directed learning (Genius Hour), collaborative activities and projects, whole class read-alouds and independent reading, while they build essential comprehension skills that will improve content reading across all subject areas. Additionally, students will develop essential skills around: