The Middle School Program                   

At each grade in The Middle School, anchor teachers and specialists work collaboratively to design curriculum focused on overarching questions that target key concepts and skills. In all grades, students engage in learning that is both meaningful to their own lives and connected across subject areas. Through a wide range of topics, students build academic and social skills that require critical thinking and cooperation.

Language Arts

Students learn to write in all curricular areas using the writing process. They draft, revise, rewrite, edit, and publish their writing and critique their peers’ work. Direct instruction occurs individually and in groups based on the writers’ workshop model. Teachers model a variety of writing styles, mechanics, grammar, and usage. Every student’s writing is assessed using the Middle School writing rubric.

With extensive use of children’s literature, children refine decoding skills, increase fluency, and develop a toolbox of comprehension strategies. Through class discussions, written work, and projects, students develop an appreciation and understanding of a variety of genres. Students read fiction, short stories, poetry, folk tales, nonfiction, biographies, and plays. Independent reading is an important part of the curriculum. Children are expected to read at home and in school. Class presentations, skits, and book reviews enable children to share their love of reading with classmates.

Social Studies

The Social Studies curriculum bridges the footholds made in the Lower School for geographic and historical thinking, to more abstract and flexible thinking of the Upper School.  Students are not yet ready to integrate concepts in a formal study of history; however, they can understand ideas when anchored to accessible subjects and personal narratives.  These begin in third grade using the entry point of rivers to understand regions.  Study of a region over time enables students to learn about larger concepts such as continuity and change.  In later grades, students’ study of ancient civilizations enables them to understand complexities of life long ago and far away.  These are compared to their own experience of here and now.  Throughout, children are developing the ability to understand and appreciate different perspectives, a critical life skill for all.

Mathematics

The program helps students delve into critical thinking and investigation. Both individually and in small groups, students explore problems in depth to discover multiple solutions. They collect, display, describe, and interpret real data through drawing, writing, and talking. Manipulatives are used extensively for students to develop a concrete understanding of concepts before moving on to traditional algorithms. Investigation in Number, Data and Space (TERC) is the core instructional program.

Science

The science curriculum supports students’ natural curiosity about understanding the patterns that exist in the natural world and the rules that govern them. Often working collaboratively, students learn through hands-on exploration, answering their own questions about a range of topics including:  the life cycle of salmon, electricity and magnetism, and landforms. Coupled to the inquiry-based approach is exposure to the scientific process (question, observe, hypothesize, experiment, collect and analyze data, and make conclusions).

Art

Students gain independence as they strengthen their fine motor skills and visual accuracy. They explore the elements and principles of art. Many class projects are integrated with classroom studies. Students study the work of other artists through slides, videos, and museum visits. They discuss and exhibit their own work throughout the year and participate in a school-wide art show in the spring.

Music

Children enjoy music making through singing, listening, playing, dancing, reading, and writing. At each grade level, students learn songs in one-part, two-part, and sometimes three-part arrangements, many of which they perform throughout the year.  They are introduced to beginning orchestration and original composition. Movement and listening activities are incorporated into the curriculum.

Physical Education

Children continue to develop their physical expertise and understanding as players. By fifth grade, they have learned the fundamental skills, strategies and rules of many traditional team games. The program further elaborates on movement repertoire through jumping rope, juggling and tumbling. Children create games, play new games, and expand their understanding of what makes a good game. An outdoor education thread runs through the program with environmental games, orienteering, tracking and survival/camping skills. From baseball diamond to debris shelter, effort and improvement are emphasized.

Open Circle

Picking up from the Lower School program, every Middle School child develops a “toolbox” of interpersonal skills and strategies framed by the Open Circle Curriculum.  This research-based program highlights three areas:  Creating an operative classroom environment, solving interpersonal problems and building positive relationships.  Children learn ways to interact positively with peers and to take responsibility for resolving social issues.

Library Program