Middle School - Mary McDowell Friends School

MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMICS

A Team Approach

Each student is supported by a highly trained team of two homeroom teachers, occupational therapists, a school counselor, and language therapists. Literacy and math classes are very small—only three to six students—to meet the needs of each student.

Literacy

Our innovative literacy curriculum combines reading and writing to strengthen both. Using programs like Wilson Reading System, students work on decoding, reading comprehension and fluency, and vocabulary. Judy Hochman's Basic Writing Skills program is used in every subject.

Literacy groups of 3 to 6 students meet for an hour every day.
Groups read 3 to 5 books a year: novels, nonfiction, poetry, and novels-in-verse.
Voice-activated software and audiobooks help students with decoding.
Students progress from writing paragraphs to writing research papers.

Math

In daily math classes, students develop computational skills and become problem solvers using programs like Math in Focus with Singapore Math and Jump Math.

Math groups are small with a high teacher-to-student ratio.
Students are grouped according to instructional level and learning needs, with students close in age.
Skills and concepts are continuously reinforced even as new skills are introduced.
Teachers use a variety of hands-on materials, manipulatives, and online resources to meet the learning needs of every student.
Some 8th grade students study Algebra and Geometry.

History

We teach students to ask questions and be independent thinkers. Each grade focuses on a broad theme as students acquire increasingly sophisticated research skills.

The 6th grade curriculum focuses on ancient civilizations.
7th grade students explore the creation of the United States of America.
8th graders study U.S. history in the 1800s, exploring the impact on the country as a whole as well as on specific groups of people.
The 8th grade Civics class connects history, current events, and democratic structures to build engaged citizens and critical thinkers.

Science

Cultivating a love of science and curiosity about the world through dynamic, engaging experiments and scientific inquiry. Multisensory, hands-on activities allow students with learning disabilities to grasp abstract scientific concepts.

Sixth grade students take an inquiry- and engineering-based approach to Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Seventh graders explore life sciences.
Eighth graders study physical science, physics, and chemistry.
The annual Science Day: Mission Impact is a spring highlight.

Spanish

All middle school students study Spanish, culminating in a week-long language immersion trip to Costa Rica for eighth graders. It’s an experience they never forget.

Sixth grade students learn basic vocabulary, conversational skills, and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.
Seventh graders build proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
In Eighth grade, comprehension and communication are reinforced through games, music, stories, videos, and dialogue

Current Events

Breaking news! Our students learn to analyze the news through a lens of civic responsibility and social justice, and to formulate and articulate informed opinions.

Students follow headline news, gathering information and building contextual knowledge.
Skills include note taking, summarizing, identifying reliable news sources, and engaging in respectful debate.
Students draw connections between current events and other subjects such as history, science, and art.
The 8th grade current events class is News and Information Literacy.

Language and Occupational Therapies

Language Therapy (LT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) are a regular part of the school day and are designed to support learning in every classroom and every subject.

Language therapists “push in” to the classroom.
Handwriting is taught using the multisensory Orton-Gillingham Preventing Academic Failure (PAF) program and Size Matters Handwriting Program.
All but the youngest students are introduced to keyboarding. Cursive is introduced when students are ready.
Our fully equipped sensory gym provides gross motor sensory support.
Our OTs may recommend adaptive equipment such as pencil grips, ball chairs, standing desks, and movement breaks.

MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

How MMFS is different.

Our experienced and dedicated teachers and staff work closely with students to make sure they have the tools they need to be successful. Our students become independent learners, critical thinkers, and problem solvers.

Arts and Artistry

Creative expression is essential to a well-rounded education. Every student learns an instrument through our Rock Band curriculum, with opportunities for private and small-group instruction. Students can also participate in the annual musical. Our studio art program, spanning multiple mediums, culminates in an end-of-year exhibition.

Athletics

Go Lightning! Sports teams are an exciting part of middle school life. 7th and 8th graders are eligible to try out for for club or league teams, which compete in the Middle School Athletic League (MSAL). We field middle school teams in soccer, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and softball.

Making Connections

Middle school teaching is interdisciplinary so that students make connections among different subjects. Our innovative literacy curriculum combines reading and writing to strengthen learning in both. Literacy and math are taught in small groups. Spanish is taught for all three years, and eighth graders take a language immersion trip to Costa Rica.

Technology at MMFS

Every student is assigned a Chromebook.
Every classroom has an interactive digital screen and teacher voice amplification system.
Every student has access to a Learning Management Platform that includes assistive and supportive software platforms.
Focus is on assisting students in the learning process.
Students develop core competency with productivity tools as well as the safe and ethical use of the internet as a learning resource.

MIDDLESCHOOL

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