Middle School

Teams of sixth graders recently competed against each other for points by learning about Greek city states and completing as many tasks as possible. They painted shields bearing the emblems of Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Argos, engraved clay coins, decorated sashes that they wore each day, and wrote (and loudly performed) chants that permeated the walls of Hurd House. They became experts on their topic, writing a set of running notes to present to their class.

Continue reading “Sixth graders inhabit Greek city states”

Middle school is the most important time in a child’s life for emotional and academic development—a pivotal few years when children gain a sense of identity and independence, develop their voices in the community of the classroom, and become ethical citizens who think deeply about diverse subjects.

Continue reading “Four ways to create middle school English enthusiasts”

The beautiful and highly adaptive adolescent brain is a marvel to behold. Technological advances have provided a clearer window into the workings of a brain that was once dismissed as a stage of development to simply “get through.” Current science debunks this perception and shows us that adolescence is perhaps the most crucial period in human cognitive and emotional development.

Learn more in an interesting article from Edutopia, “Decoding the Teenage Brain (in 3 Charts).”