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Hi Amanda!
I am replying as a fellow new teacher, also going into my full 2nd year (I started mid year during the 2017-2018 school year and, yes, it was also rough!)
Just like you, I did not have a really set curriculum so I kind of went with what was typically taught and brought my own ideas in. I found that it is very helpful to have a plan of what units you will cover during the year, how they might relate to one another, and how you sequence them in a way that makes sense and allows students to build knowledge from one unit to the next in a logical way.
I can relate to working in a private school, where your admin may not necessarily require the use of any particular standards like they might in a public setting. For me, I am trying out the NGSS for the first time this year. Otherwise, I find it is helpful to at least refer to standards when planning, whether they are NGSS or something else. It also helps me to have clear objectives pre-written. Looking at the standards would definitely help with what to teach at each grade level, but I would talk to other teachers at your school to see how that is determined. You could also plan it so that 6th graders have a foundation in a certain topic and by 8th grade you get more detailed/complex with the topic.
In answer to your question about focusing on one discipline, or doing an integrated curriculum: I agree with several respondents that an integrated curriculum is the best way to go. However, as a newer teacher whose background is in life science, I chose to focus on that because it was already established that way at my school and also because I decided it was better for me to master teaching before I mastered two disciplines I was not 100% confident in content-wise.
I hope that is helpful, and whatever you do, remember you are still learning and its ok if things don't go perfectly! I have to remind myself that a lot. Try your best and find a good, more experienced teacher friend at your school to give you advice when needed. It really helps!
Hope you have a great school year!
Best,
Alessandra
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