The Middle School Program
Grades 6-8, Ages 12 -15
Our Middle School program continues the work begun back in the 3-6 classroom that has been present through their Montessori career. The goals throughout the Heartwood classrooms are our goals as well. We want them to grow in their sense of independence as this builds confidence and a feeling of being capable. We want their imaginations and minds to be ignited with a passion for learning. We want them to become peaceful, responsible citizens of the world who are good stewards of the environment and are living the Maria Montessori idea that, “The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”
At this level, we continue to focus on the whole child, which is especially important during this dynamic time of development. We also provide a rigorous academic environment that is typically research and project based. We do not use grades, nor do we test frequently, rather we check in regularly with the children over the course of their work to see their progress.
We do not assign homework; we expect the children to be participating in the world around them once they leave the classroom. We foster a strong sense of community in the classroom and beyond. We recognize that the children we work with now will need to be prepared to do things and solve problems that we cannot conceive of. Therefore, we challenge the students to think beyond what they can see and to stretch their perceptions of their capabilities.