Middle School

List of 6 items.

• History

  Our history curriculum fosters global awareness and strengthens interconnectedness through a balance of historical inquiry, innovative projects, and field trips. Students study ancient cultures and world civilizations, the early modern era, and United States history. Students learn to examine the past to inform the present and make predictions for the future; utilize multiple sources to build contextualization and corroboration to evaluate validity; and, engage in textual analysis to identify an author’s argument and bias.

• Language Arts

  Woven throughout the language arts curriculum, students learn to, connect themes across contexts and time, explore multiple viewpoints to engender empathy and deepen understanding, and hone verbal and written communication skills to target specific audiences. In Middle School English classes, students are compelled to participate in analytical and subjective discussions about contemporary issues; read critically; support written and spoken ideas with evidence from history, literature, and experience; and develop greater understanding and respect for others’ perspectives. Literary works are chosen for their thematic concerns, namely themes that invite the reader to consider his or her own experience or society and historical context. Opportunities abound to further develop creative expression through poetry and prose and to deepen understanding of the writing process.  

• Math

  Infused with technology, multi-modality learning, and taking the early Lower School math foundations developed with Singapore Math, Middle School students continue to develop students’ conceptual foundations and procedural competencies in Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Geometry. Designed to meet the varied skills and aptitudes of middle school students, students learn to problem-solve through multiple modalities; read, decode, and translate math language; collaborate and communicate mathematical thinking with peers, and analyze complex problems by connecting previous knowledge. Ultimately, they gain critical thinking skills to explain math reasoning logically.

• Sciences & the Center for Creative Design and Engineering

  As students enter 6th grade, the curriculum continues to emphasize experiential learning and problem-solving that develop a creative innovator mindset where every student feels empowered to reach a goal or solve a problem with the confidence utilizing engineering design and design thinking processes. Beyond the science curriculum, students enhance and develop skills such as adaptability, collaboration, creativity, and innovation. 
   

  Opened in 2016, the CDEC is a space where students delve deeper into hands-on learning projects in the areas of design thinking, engineering, and science. Students use innovative tools such as laser cutters and 3D printers to transform their ideas into physical prototypes. Design thinking teaches students empathy and requires effective communication and constructive collaboration between peers. The flexibility of the open space allows teachers and students to be creative and collaborative.

• Service Learning, Ethics, and Comparative Religion Studies

  Unique to our middle school course work in service-learning, ethics and the study of comparative religions. Beginning in 6th grade, we emphasize the importance of connecting with our community to build understanding, empathy, and awareness. These courses are designed to deepen students’ knowledge of self to better understand their impact on family, peers, and the world at large while fostering notions of moral and ethical responsibility.

• Spanish

  We offer Spanish instruction from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Spanish instruction blends conversational, multimedia, and project-based learning to ignite student fluency and understanding of cultural traditions from Spain and Latin America.  Students develop language proficiency in real-world situations; utilize global partnerships to build global awareness; foster cultural curiosity, and engender a love of language learning. Middle school students often matriculate to High School Spanish 2 or Spanish 3 levels upon graduating from The Riviera Ridge School.