The Sharon Academy

The middle school program is a two year cycle in which 7th and 8th graders are grouped together in multi-age classrooms.  The central themes of the two year curriculum are identity, personal responsiblity and action. Guiding questions are: "Who Am I?" "What are my responsibilities?" and "How can I make a difference?" The content is guided by the Vermont Framework of Standards.  The methods by which the content is delivered are guided by the Coalition of Essential Schools Ten Principles and TSA's mission statement.

The curriculum is integrated in two ways.  Using an interdisciplinary approach, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Art collectively explore the central questions.  In addition to integration between the disciplines, the curriculum is integrated within each discipline.  The science curriculum draws from various branches of science such as Earth Science, Physical Science and Biology, rather than treating each branch as a separate frame of reference.  Social Studies examines U.S. and world events throughout history rather than taking a linear and compartmentalized approach.  Language Arts draws on the content material from Science and Social Studies.

Reading, writing, listening and speaking skills are practiced throughout the curriculum. Students read six or more assigned books each year and three more of their own choosing.  Literature is selected for its value in terms of language, resonance, voice and relevance. Students exercise analytical skills as they read and discuss writing style and themes.  Reading of textbooks and other non-fiction is regularly assigned in science and social studies and discussed both in terms of the content and the reading skills involved. Writing is intensive throughout the curriculum. Students are continually practicing the basic rules of grammar and punctuation.  In longer pieces of writing, the emphasis is on research, the production of original work, and the mechanics and style of writing.  Discussion based classrooms give ample opportunity for listening and speaking.  Students are required to deliver numerous oral presentations throughout the two years. 

The Vital Results section of Vermont's Framework of Standards is an important guide for the curriculum. Student learning is demonstrated through writing, presentations, speeches, plays, displays, art projects, research papers, journals, debates, experiments, simulations and model construction. Projects in the middle school are designed to help students consider their work using five essential questions:  How do you know what you know?  From whose viewpoint is this being presented?  How is this event or work connected to others?  What if things were different?  Why is this important? In all components of the curriculum, we strive to create opportunities that meet the different learning styles and needs of all students.

The arts have a strong presence in our program. Students attend art class twice weekly. In addition art is well integrated into the core curriculum. For two weeks a year preparation for a circus replaces the regular routine. The circus interim under the direction of an artist in residence includes live music, circus skills, prop building, carnival games and much more. This show is a popular annual event in the community usually drawing a crowd over 300 spectators. In addition, a limited selection of “specials” is offered in the Middle School which include chorus, instruction using Photoshop software and movie making

The social-emotional curriculum is an important focus of the middle school years. Each spring the entire school spends four days at Hulbert Outdoor Center to build group interactive skills, and to strengthen community. We have an all-school meeting once a week to voice and solve community issues. “Connections” class meets for an hour a week in a small intimate group setting to foster social-emotional learning and to present the health curriculum. Students are assigned an advisor to monitor their academic success, their social/emotional well being and to keep communication open between parents, teachers and students. The school counselor meets with “at risk” individuals, and mentors the staff to competently address student behavioral and emotional issues. . The staff is committed to helping each student navigate middle school feeling safe and supported.

The middle school recognizes the need for middle level students to be active.  Lunch/recess is forty-five minutes long and students are encouraged to go outside.  In the winter, we make arrangements for students to ski or snow board at Suicide Six. Three dances and a semi-formal are held each year. Specials are offered that are centered on physical exercise. Field trips such as climbing a mountain, or spending days in the woods are integrated in the curriculum.  All students are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular sports.  The curriculum promotes exercise as a healthy life style choice.

Sustainability practices are steadily becoming part of our middle school culture.  We recycle, compost, and reuse as much as possible. Each year we look for new ways to model and practice sustainable habits.   Whenever possible we incorporate sustainability issues into the curriculum.  

Our after school sports program includes soccer, basketball and baseball. For the past two years a middle school math team has competed in the Mathcounts regional competition. This past year a science team formed and competed in the Department of Energy sponsored National Science Bowl at both the regional and national levels.

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