Curriculum for Middle School

 

According to Maria Montessori, the children in the 12-15 class have moved into a new plane of development: they are preparing themselves for adulthood. Consequently, they need more and more experience with the kind of independent work and practical responsibility of an adult.

The 12-15 children receive instruction in all the normal academic curriculum areas, including, algebra, literature and history, as well as opportunities to learn practical business skills through company projects and fundraising programs which they run to responsibly acquire money for their camping trips. Large research projects are central to their academic curriculum.

Most students find the small class sizes liberating because of the individualized attention which they receive from the teacher. Group cooperation and principles of appropriate social behavior are explicitly discussed in the class, and issues addressed.

In our experience, and those of many other Montessori elementary schools, our children become particularly skilled at critical thinking, problem solving and research, at practical life skills and at motivating themselves. Regardless of the type of high school (public, private or religious), they are most often successful because of the self-motivation, organizational skills and self-confidence which they have developed through the Montessori Method.

Our own graduates have attended a number of high schools, including, among others, St. Ignatius, Morgan Park Academy, Brother Rice, Leo Catholic, Luther South, Marist, Mother McAuley, Morgan Park High School, Whitney Young, Evergreen Park, Marion Catholic, and Queen of Peace.