Wooster School
Strength to Strength 2023-24 The Early Middle School Program We are excited to announce the next iteration in our ongoing efforts to create the best possible Middle School at Wooster with the evolution of our 5th and 6th Grades into the Early Middle School Program. As we continue to better incorporate the teaming model, and sharpen our focus on meeting students where they are in terms of skills and dispositions development, we see an opportunity during the first two years of our Middle School program to create a learning and development experience like no other. Understanding the underlying purposes of the program requires stepping away from grade level identification (5th Grade, 6th Grade, etc.) and instead creating a program designed for the learning and development needs of all 10-12 year olds. The program is designed to deliver skill-building and knowledge acquisition that is individualized to the jagged learning profiles of students, and delivered in level-alike small groups and larger, whole class experiences. For instance, students who may be struggling in an area like reading, can also have the opportunity to move forward and accelerate in math if they are ready, and vice versa. By building from an understanding of what students need, and utilizing content, projects, and experiences as the context for learning, our Early Middle School Program is designed to ensure that all students are ready to transition into the final two years of Middle School with the skills, dispositions, knowledge, and confidence they need to be excited and confident about learning, school, and their unique abilities as they begin the rest of their Middle School journey. While built to align with expectations of more traditional grade levels, the Early Middle School Program is different in that it starts with the fact that young people at this age should be expected to be jagged, meaning that they’ll already be strong in some areas and weaker in others. This should not be the cause for alarm that it is in so many schools but rather a natural expectation given what we know about childhood and adolescent development. We also know that young people need to be engaged in order to learn, and building confidence through the successful navigation of challenging experiences. We see the Early Middle School Program at Wooster School as a great opportunity to meet student learning needs while also fostering a love of learning, strong relationships, and a fun community in which all students are known, challenged, and supported.