Middle School

List of 4 items.

• 5th Grade – Organization and a transition to more independence

  Transitioning to new responsibilities in Middle School
  We focus on the importance of transitioning to Middle School and talk a lot about the idea that more freedom also equals more responsibility. We also focus on organization and work to help the students learn how to organize and keep track of their materials.

• 6th Grade – Organization and personal responsibility

  Personal responsibility takes on new importance
  As students enter 6th grade, we continue to focus on organization as we realize that it is an ongoing process and now add personal responsibility. We work with our students to help eliminate the excuses that hinder learning and help them focus on what they can do in each situation to grow and improve.

• 7th Grade – Personal responsibility and 'Growth Mindset'

  Introducing our students to concepts of Growth Mindset
  We continue to talk about the importance of personal responsibility and add 'Growth Mindset' from the work of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck. Growth Mindset is focused on the idea that intelligence is not fixed – the more we work the more we learn and grow.

  
  Hallmarks of the growth mindset include learning from our mistakes, embracing challenges, being willing to take in and learn from constructive feedback, and realizing that, while we may not be great at something yet, the more we work at it the better we’ll get.

• 8th Grade – 'Growth Mindset' and communication

  Preparing students for Upper School
  Growth Mindset continues to be a focus and we add communication as we work to teach our students the proper way to advocate for themselves and to take charge of their learning. As leaders of the Middle School, we're actively preparing our students for their move to the Upper School and the new challenges that they will face–academically and socially–in this new setting.