Middle School

The goal of the Middle School program is to produce a confident and responsible learner. Students are challenged by a high school preparatory curriculum, combined with opportunities that address a variety of learning styles. Middle School students travel through a nine-period day, attending classes with heterogeneous or homogenous academic groupings, depending upon subject. Class size is typically between twelve and eighteen, with a total enrollment of about sixty students per grade.

There are many changes that take place in a young person during the middle school years. Middle school students grow and develop physically, mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually. These changes do not all occur at the same time, and no two students are on the same timetable. The middle school teachers at Indian Creek are true middle school educators. They take nothing for granted. They know that students must have many different experiences, a variety of teaching styles, and opportunities to learn skills that they may not have mastered in the past.

Both content and critical academic skills are taught. Teachers focus on learning tools and strategies that include outlining, note and test taking, writing, and public speaking. Participation in extra-curricular programs is encouraged and nurtured. Vocal and instrumental music, theater, student government, and athletics are but a few of the many options. The cost of the after school program is included in school tuition and that time period is an engaging, rewarding part of the day. The program is open to any student who wished to stay.

The academic subjects taught are English, literature, math, science, social studies and Spanish. Music, studio art, physical education, computer technology and human development are also important parts of the week. Time is also built into the schedule for chorus, band, and other musical activities.

English/Literature: English and literature are taught as separate subjects. We believe that middle school students continue to benefit from two periods of language arts instruction. English focuses on the correct use of grammar and punctuation in writing and speech.  Speech is an integral part of the language arts program.  Students receive the opportunity to prepare different types of speeches, to have them recorded, and to have them critiqued by peers and teachers. In the diversity-based literature program, students use a variety of media to explore multiple genres. Units are designed to enhance vocabulary and explore multiple themes. Literary devices are also used to explain and improve comprehension. Both English and literature classes pay a great deal of attention to nurturing the writing skills of the students.

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Social Studies/History: The Middle School social studies curriculum is designed to reinforce skills and content of both History and Humanities.  Topics are introduced in the Lower School and through the school wide use of the Cor Knowledge curriculum are expanded in the Middle School. Developmentally appropriate skills continue to be reinforced to prepare the students to move toward mastery of these skills in the Upper School. Sixth Grade Social Studies classes study such diverse topics as:  world geography, world religions, philosophy, political and industrial revolutions, and immigration.  Seventh grade is challenged through studying global conflicts, the American Revolution, the World Wars, economics and the Depression, U.S. government, and the Constitution.  Eighth grade studies history by tracking the recurrence of specific themes and topics throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century.  These  include:  civil and equal rights, wars and revolutions, capitalism, communism and the Cold War, art history, and social and cultural change.

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Science: The middle school science curriculum is designed to give students the opportunity to acquire the basic skills necessary to succeed in high school science courses. Students learn to use scientific processes such as gathering and interpreting data, conducting tests, and formulating conclusions. The classroom environment promotes hands-on, constructivist, authentic methods of learning which include all learning styles. The National Science Education Standards are used as benchmarks throughout the curriculum. Students will use the skills and processes of science to investigate the following topics:

• 6th Grade- Life Science
• 7th Grade- Earth Science including Chesapeake Bay Science
• 8th Grade- Physical Science including a mini-term on Genetics and Forensics.

We recognize how important it is for students to understand the science behind current issues in the news. They need to understand the science involved in many issues in order to make good decisions about their own health and to understand the role science plays in the political life of our society. We hope to encourage students to leave middle school with the confidence to pursue in-depth science education in high school and college.

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Math: The middle school math program reflects our commitment to the current NCTM Standards for Curriculum and Assessment, NCTM Curriculum Focal Points, as well as current research in the field. We emphasize problem-solving and concept development at appropriate developmental stages, with accommodations for various learning styles and for the different paces at which students develop. Math classes meet every day. Typically, there are two groupings available at each grade level.

Varied and engaging teaching strategies are utilized to make math a relevant, powerful tool for problem solving. NCTM Curriculum Focal Points provides the framework for the curriculum, and computer and graphics technology are used regularly to support the curriculum and add interest to lessons. All middle school math teachers use LCD projectors and Smart Boards. Although math is a content-based course, organizational skills and study skills/strategies are taught throughout our math curriculum.

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Spanish: The Spanish program has been developed to provide students with some understanding of the Hispanic world, both culturally and orally. The courses emphasize receptive and productive language skills using reading, writing, listening and speaking activities. The courses include, but are not limited to the following topics of study: salutations, friends, family, school, home, community, travel, leisure activities, clothing, stores, time, weather, celebrations, restaurants, food, geography, health and environment. Students practice speaking in Spanish about their school environment, their likes and dislikes and what they did yesterday (last week, etc). They will also be able to respond to various situations such as in a restaurant or shopping.

Middle school students have Spanish class five days a week. By 7th grade, there is some grouping of students based on their demonstrated ability in using the language and by 8th grade, there is an Honors program for students who are unusually accomplished in the language.

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Other Coursework: In addition to the acedemic courses, students have classes in music, studio art, human development, computers and physical education. There is a separate section of the web site that discusses our technology and our computer program.

A basic understanding of music and art are important for any student. Knowledge of the various historical trends in music and art enrich student understanding of their literature, social studies and history courses. Many middle school students discover an affinity for musical performance or studio art that they did not know they had, and enjoyment of the arts is encouraged and nurtured. The fact that there is a correlation between participation in musical and theater activities and high SAT scores is a tangential but encouraging factor that helps authenticate the importance of such study.

Physical education for grades six, seven and eight meets four times per week. The program is designed to practice and reinforce skills through modified games and circuits. Graduated individual challenges are provided through teaching circuit modules. A PE LAB meets during one of the periods where health and fitness concepts are identified through discussion and hands on activities in addition to Red Cross certification in First Aid and CPR. The opportunity for team sports and competition is provided through after school sports. See team sports opportunities.

Human development is a program that works to help students understand the way they are growing and changing. It is an important part of our middle school prevention program. In Human Development students learn important, accurate information about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other substances often available illegally to adolescents. Opportunities are provided for discussion of newspaper articles, magazine articles and other materials so that students will have thought through many of the issues before they have to make spur of the moment decisions. Many other issues are covered in Human Development including middle school gender relationships, body image, and developing character strengths. The primary purpose of the course is to reduce unhealthy risk taking and encourage healthy risk taking.

The Middle School staff strives to promote in every adolescent a strong sense of self and true respect for others. The environment is emotionally and physically safe for all students. Positive language and communication is emphasized and name calling or rudeness to others brings on immediate intervention. Bullying is absolutely not tolerated. At a critical time in their lives, middle school students are enveloped in an interesting and challenging program in a safe and positive environment.

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