 The
middle school design is an integration of the current
research in human development, the trends and issues in
education, and the Montessori philosophy. The mission of
the program is to provide opportunities for adolescents
to be self-confident and gain self-knowledge, to belong
to a community, to learn to be adaptable, to be
academically competent and challenged, and to create a
vision for their personal future; thus, to empower early
adolescents.
The
school structure offers:
| a
learner-centered environment |
| a
developmentally-responsive curriculum |
a
teaching team of Montessori teachers
with additional adults as resources |
| parents-teachers-student
partnerships |
| multi-aged
grouping of 12-14 year olds |
| large
blocks of learning time |
| peer
and cross-age teaching |
The
early adolescent is:
| an
active, self directed learner |
| a
vital member of the class, school, city,
global community |
| a
vital member of the teacher-student-parent
team |
| responsible
for keeping commitments, being honest and
respectful |
The
curriculum and instruction includes:
| transdisciplinary
themes |
| learning
how to learn strategies |
| personal
learning plans |
| mastery,
coaching and exploratory activities |
| long
term cooperative learning projects |
| sense
of community and social interaction with
peers |
| meaningful
and challenging work |
| activities
for self-expression, self knowledge, and
self-assessment |
| activities
that value all seven intelligence’s |
| activities
to foster interdependence |
| school
and community service projects |
| activities
that allow work on and with the land |
The
teachers are:
| facilitators
for learning |
| consultants
for the students |
| creators
of a positive climate for learning |
| communicators
with parents and community role
models |
|
