The core of Graystone Academy’s Middle School curriculum is rooted in the fundamentals of learning. We balance these vital areas of education with unique elective courses designed to challenge each student to reach their full potential – mind, body and spirit. We emphasize academic rigor, high achievement, and a creative environment to connect students to their community and the world. In addition, small class sizes allow us to focus on the individual needs of each child.

The Curriculum

Mathematics (Grades 6-8)
We use the Connected Mathematics Program (CMP) to help students develop an understanding of important mathematical concepts, skills, procedures, and reasoning in geometry, measurement, algebra, probability, and statistics. This program builds math skills sequentially, focusing on uncovering underlying concepts, skills, and procedures of key mathematical ideas. Classroom instruction focuses on inquiry and investigation of these concepts within problem-solving situations. Lessons show students how to effectively reason, while follow-up tasks enhance classroom instruction and help students further develop their mathematical skills. In addition, students learn the processing capabilities of calculators and computers and the fundamental changes these tools are making in the way people apply their knowledge of problem-solving tasks.

Science (Grades 7-8)*
SciencePlus, an active, hands-on program, engages students in the process of science by allowing each to build their own understanding through the following process:

• Invitation – stimulates curiosity and allows students to pose questions and define problems;
• Exploration – involves students in the search for solutions or explanations;
• Conclusion – allows students to propose explanations and solutions to the Invitation; and
• Taking Action – students make decisions about a course of action based on their explanations and solutions.

Social Studies (Grades 6-8)
We employ a series of instructional practices to allow students of all abilities to experience key social studies concepts through The Teacher Curriculum Institute: History Alive curriculum. This curriculum is characterized by eight features:

• Understanding by Design – After determining the main concepts students should learn, teachers identify methods to reach those goals and assess the effectiveness of teaching
• Nonlinguistic Representation – Teachers utilize nonlinguistic activities such as graphic organizers, mental images, and movement to improve students’ understanding of content
• Multiple Intelligences – Because each student learns in a different way, this curriculum focuses on the best activities to reach each student
• Cooperative Interaction – Cooperative group work is a key focus because this environment is a known method to increase content retention and raise student achievement. Students are trained in cooperative behaviors, placed in mixed-ability groups, and assigned roles to complete during a multiple-ability task.
• Spiral Curriculum – Students learn increasingly more difficult concepts through a process of step-by-step discovery
• Standards-Based Content – By integrating hands-on active learning within instruction, students master state and national social studies standards
• Preview Assignment – A short, engaging assignment at the start of each lesson helps preview key concepts and tap students’ prior knowledge and personal experience

Reading/Language Arts (Grades 7-8)*
Through the Elements of Literature program, we provide a thoughtfully selected, diverse mix of familiar classics and contemporary voices. Collections of poems, short stories, and non-fiction encourage students to enter into a meaningful dialogue with the ideas and themes of literature.

A Sampling of Electives

Mind

• Debate Club – the ability to communicate thought, insight and expertise on issues of importance
• Chess Club – sharpens strategic and logical thinking skills

Body

• Gymnastics – develops kinesthetic awareness, flexibility and strength

Spirit

• Music – express musical aptitude in a relaxed setting
• Photo Editing – learn how to crop and touch up photos

*see Elementary School Program for sixth grade curriculum in this subject.