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The middle school program is carefully designed to meet the emotional, social, and academic needs of young people between the ages of 12 and 14. At this crucial period of a child's development, the middle school provides students with a warm, caring, supportive environment.
Every effort is made to provide students with a curriculum that is not only rigorous but that supports the development of creative and critical thinking skills. The program also provides extensive opportunities to participate in small-group projects where leadership skills can be developed and practiced.
The middle school program is ultimately devoted to preparing students for the high school of their choice – confident in their skills in reading, writing, math, and science, capable of thinking clearly and critically, and poised in their ability to speak strongly before a group. Above all, the middle school strives to support and encourage the potential of the individual student.
The Middle School Program at The Montessori School of San Antonio
Strong student-teacher-parent relationships: Full-time teachers and a variety of skilled specialists interact with the middle school students. In the classroom, the students are divided into Advisory Groups, or 7-10 students under the guidance of a classroom teacher. This Advisor monitors all aspects of the child's life and work in the classroom and meets individually with each student weekly. A daily journal encourages reflective communication between student and Advisor. A detailed planner is used to help students keep track of assignments, due dates, and special events. Teachers are devoted to providing a warm, close, affirming relationship with each student and his/her parents.
Fostering respect for the community: The middle school recognizes that meaningful social interaction between the students is an essential aspect of fostering healthy social development. In every academic area students are provided with constant opportunities to work together. From science lab activities, history team projects, peer editing sessions in writing class, and team sports to our annual Shakespeare production, middle school students work closely together. In weekly community meetings, students' contributions to the classroom are highlighted, and issues and concerns are addressed. The over-riding theme of the middle school is respect: respect for the environment, respect for work, and above all respect for each other.
A robust, well-balanced curriculum: A strong academic curriculum is at the core of the middle school program. Daily small-group classes in math, science, and writing stress traditional skills. History classes provide students with opportunities to carry out extensive research and to participate in a wide variety of presentation options, including a major 20-minute individual oral presentation at the end of the year.
Literature is taught using materials that teach the students to interact with texts and to think critically; speaking skills are reinforced with weekly literature seminars. The month of January is devoted to a fully-staged Shakespeare play involving everyone in the class. Thinking and speaking skills are further strengthened by weekly Socratic discussions and current events seminars.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum Outline
Curriculum Standards
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