Middle School (Grades 5-8)

Bennett Day Middle Schoolers start and end each day with Advisory as a way to set goals, establish a predictable routine, and build a framework for meaningful connections with peers and teachers. During Advisory, students work in small group settings structured around specific learning goals, assignments, and projects, and set personal SMART goals in all areas of learning: academic, social, physical, etc. For teachers, this time allows them an opportunity to observe and engage with the student, document learning within the developmental focus areas, and share observations with teaching team.

A Project-Based Learning (PBL) environment not only emphasizes subject-based skills, but also gives learners the opportunity to apply them across disciplines in a manner that mimics the skills necessary to be an effective citizen of the world. Our Project-Based STEAM & Humanities curriculum is:

• Authentic: We provide students with the opportunity to explore concepts, topics, and skills through authentic experiences
• Student-Centered: Learning is built from student questions and interests; the same teaching methods and pedagogy as our early childhood program
• Developmentally Appropriate: Students explore topics that are developmentally/social-emotionally appropriate for middle school

Math:

Our philosophy of math education is rooted in growth mindset. We believe everyone can be successful in math, and students are reminded that learning is an active process and that mistakes lead to growth. The program encourages perseverance in problem-solving, risk-taking, flexibility, and mathematical discourse.

Our math program is intended to help students master overall mathematical skills and learn on a deeper level, not simply prepare to pass a test.

Language Arts:

Our philosophy of literacy education focuses on a balanced literacy approach. The goal of the program is to build lifelong readers and writers; so prioritizing motivation and choice and including opportunities for collaboration and social aspects of literacy, such as book clubs, is very important. In addition, Genre Studies expose our students to a balanced reading diet and support our goal to build lifelong readers and writers.
Components of our Balanced Literacy Approach:

• Word Study
• Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop
• Mini-Lessons
• Book Clubs
• Independent Reading and Writing
• Interactive Read Aloud

Specials:

A wide variety of specials are offered through trimester intensives, where the subjects are more focused, in-depth and integrated.

• Art
• Tinkering and Engineering Sciences (TESLab)
• Music
• Drama

Spanish and Physical Education are offered every other day to provide more opportunities for movement and to build capacity for proficiency in a language. The small group setting is designed to differentiate to meet the needs of heritage speakers and novice learners in Spanish, as well as provide more targeted instruction in Physical Education.

The goal of the After-School programming for Middle School is to provide dynamic enrichment, extension, and introductory experiences for students that reflect an increased demand on attention and autonomy for the group. Clubs will develop based on student interest and leadership.

School directed programming may include:

• Robotics
• Model UN
• Chorus
• School of Rock/Band
• Athletics
• Mathletes
• Social Action/Service Learning
• Arts Clubs