Middle School

Middle School Program

10 – 14 years, 5th – 8th Grades
Monday – Friday
8:15am – 3:00pm

At the middle school level our students continue to progress at their own pace, explore their interests and develop social bonds. As they have since infancy, they find what they need in the prepared learning environment and regularly go to the outside world to confirm what they have learned. This class makes regular Friday field trips to complement lessons in class. Field trips could be hiking in the mountains to collect rocks to complement their geology studies or visiting a factory to support their entrepreneurial pursuits. This class sets their own goals and develops ways to meet them. They typically identify a need, such as to visit a part of the world they are interested in, determine the costs involved and prepare a project to raise the funds. Dr. Montessori saw that after a career in Montessori, by the middle school level students are often academically far ahead of peers in traditional schools. She developed a theory of “Erdkinder” the children of the Earth, understanding that at this age students don’t need to spend long hours sitting inside, but they need to get out into the world and find ways to support each other, the community and themselves. Erdkinder programs offer ample time for students to work on advanced academic subjects and on their own ideas outside of the classroom, such as raising chickens or building a business. They continue their academic studies but also do what adolescents need to do – learn about life.