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Lower School | |
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Middle School | |
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Upper School | |
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Summer School | |
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The Middle School program, serving students in seventh and eighth grade, is made up
of four academic courses that run seventy minutes in length. During the first fifty minutes of class, the teacher
reviews content, presents new concepts, facilitates multi-sensory activities that reinforce comprehension of
material presented, and engages all students in the learning process. The final twenty minutes of class is
designed by each teacher based on the needs of his/her students. Time may be set aside for students to begin
their homework assignment so they can benefit from immediate teacher feedback. Teachers may also use this
time to teach studying techniques, organizational skills, and provide students with the remediation needed to
succeed academically. Middle School students are expected to work on a monthly take-home packet of enrichment
activities for a minimum of thirty minutes every night until all work in the packet is complete. A "Friday Binder"
goes home at the end of every week detailing assignments completed that week and an updated grade in each subject.
The teachers work hard throughout the year to teach students the strategies needed to succeed as independent
learners. Middle School students spend nine weeks each in music, art, research/keyboarding, and physical
education. Course Descriptions Language Arts The Middle School language curriculum includes the incorporation of Oral Reading techniques which continuously enhance reading fluency and reading comprehension. Students who are decoding at grade level are introduced to novels where guided reading and Visualization and Verbalization techniques help each student develop independent reading skills. Those students who need to master the decoding process participate in the Wilson Reading Program. Our students still benefit from a guided writing process, so a multi-disciplinary, sequential approach to writing is in place to successfully move students from writing a simple paragraph to developing a multi-paragraph response. Mathematics The Middle School math curriculum consists of three general groupings: remedial, grade level, and advanced. Students, through exposure to the Passport math series, are taught to better understand and interpret the processes which need to be mastered to become successful mathematicians. Teachers incorporate individualized instruction, cooperative and project-based learning into the classroom so students learn to solve problems using different approaches and have the opportunity to "experience" math hands-on. Science The Middle School science curriculum is based on the philosophy that students learn through experimentation, exploration, discussion and hands-on application. Seventh graders study Life Science while the eighth graders study Earth Science. Students complete many projects throughout the year, which are guided by the teacher so student progress can be closely monitored. Social Studies Middle School students at Lawrence School are challenged to make informed and reasoned decisions based on studying the past and understanding how the actions of the past may impact current events. The goal is that every student will become an active and responsible participant in his/her civic and social system. Seventh graders are exposed to World Geography, hosting a cultural festival in the middle of the year for their peers and parents to enjoy. The eighth graders study World History, completing many projects throughout the year. Within the context of the concepts being taught students develop note-taking skills, organizational skills, and study skills. Electives Middle School students participate in several electives so they are exposed to a diverse, enriched curriculum. Students take nine weeks of music where they study different aspects of music, are exposed to different types of instruments, and learn to understand the many ways music can be appreciated by others. Special emphasis is placed on multicultural music experience. In Art, students are exposed to discipline based art. They study the work of certain artists and art movements and then begin to create their own work based on the essence of the art being studied; there is a heavy emphasis on exploration of the art of diverse cultures. Research Skills incorporates keyboarding skills, research skills, and the process of moving from research to written response. Physical Education affords each student the opportunity to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle while teaching cooperation, work-ethic, and the importance of perseverance. |
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