Academics

Philosophy of the Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Building on the foundation laid in the Primary School, the Middle School curriculum continues to emphasize student centered, experiential and collaborative learning. In grades 6-8, informational demands increase and students learn each subject from teachers specialized in each area. The core curriculum includes English language arts, Chinese language, mathematics, social studies, science, music, art, Computers and Technology, and Physical Education. Classrooms in the Middle and Upper School are organized by subject and students move between them during their daily schedule. As students progress through the Middle school, they encounter increasingly challenging courses to prepare them for the rigor of the high school curriculum.

While subject areas are clearly defined and studied, cross-curricular projects and learning activities are encouraged, especially those that connect the students to the environment around them. Teachers across subjects for each grade work together to develop a community that each student feels a part of. The first 10 minutes of each day starts out with a homeroom meeting in which students in each grade and their homeroom teacher exchange information and come together.

We use teaching strategies that allow students to make discoveries and the time to make these discoveries meaningful. Consequently, students take each core class for 80 minute blocks up to three times a week, allowing the teacher and students to delve more deeply and thoroughly into a subject. Since we follow a student centered philosophy of teaching, teachers may extend the time spent on a certain topic if students show interest and engagement in a particular topic.

Social Studies

In the 6th grade, students start out by learning about the world we live in and location relationships and take Geography. In 7th grade, the focus shifts to a more historical and cultural understanding of societies, and they spend one year learning Ancient World History. In the 8th Grade, students are exposed to a variety of Social Sciences and participate in a course called Survey of the Social Sciences. In this course, students gain exposure to courses that they may study in depth during their high school and university years, including Psychology, Economics, Communication Studies, Sociology, and Anthropology.

English Language Arts

English in the Middle School is designed to expose students to a variety of literary styles, genres, and authors. As they progress from 6th through 8th grade, more emphasis is placed on developing the students’ ability to be able to thoroughly and critically interpret what they read, and the ability to talk competently about what they read. Through discussion, presentations, reading, and writing, teachers focus on developing students into lifelong readers.

Chinese Language Arts

Students attend Chinese language class daily, and are placed into a level consistent with their background, whether they have spent most of their schooling in China, the US, or Canada. Depending on their level, the focus for each class is adjusted to strengthen reading, writing, listening, speaking, and literary appreciation skills.

Math

In 6th grade, students learn conceptual mathematics, with a focus on transitioning towards learning the distinct fields within Mathematics during high school. In the 7th grade, the transitional focus continues, and students are given the basis for their future studies of Algebra in Pre-Algebra. In the 8th grade, students learn Algebra I.

Science

Students begin their exposure to science in 6th grade with a broad overview of Science. They look for answers to questions such as, What is science?, What is the basis of scientific inquiry?. They are introduced to fundamental pillars of the study of science such as the Scientific Method, the Periodic Table, and how to understand scientific vocabulary. In 7th grade, students encounter Life Science, the study of living things—animals and plants—and how they relate to each other and to their environment. In 8th grade, students take Earth Science, the study of the Earth and its neighbors in space.

Art

THIS values developing a solid foundation in the ability to appreciate, analyze, and create art. Art is a required subject for Middle School students. Students start out with asking the question, “What is art?” and explore themselves and the world around them as subjects for guided project creation. Students learn the basics of different art techniques, and frequently go on field trips that serve as the inspiration for a multi-week project. Art projects frequently cross the subject boundaries, and it is common for teachers in different subjects to collaborate on helping students to have a better understanding of a topic from which to create art. For example, a recent 6th grade Art project involved both the 6th grade English and Computer classes in the completion of an illustrated book.

Music

Music is a strong component of the Middle School Curriculum. Students learn about instruments, how to read music, and how to appreciate music. To complement their studies of world geography, 6th graders learn about the music of global cultures.

Computers

Technology is inseparable from the life of today’s students. Middle School students, therefore, take Computer class as a required part of their curriculum. THIS is using the recommendations of the Computer Science Teachers Association (USA) in designing a curriculum that is practical for the students of today. In the 6th grade, students learn how to use the software and technology that will be required of them in all of their classes, Introduction to Computers for Academic Use. In the 7th and 8th grades, students are introduced to the basics of design and programming.