The Middle School is designed to build and emphasize academic skills in a highly structured environment, where our students can more easily make the transition from the self-contained classroom-based Elementary School to having several teachers for different academic subjects. Executive Functioning is supported in each class as students engage in the process of organizing materials using visual flow charts. Study skills are also explicitly taught to our Middle School students, including effective, interactive note taking, highlighting text and research-based fluency and automaticity work.

Through small classes and highly individualized attention, our students gain a sense of belonging to a learning community. As they recognize and appreciate their own abilities and special talents, they also learn more about their own learning differences and the specific strategies that will support their academic success. Our students learn to take ownership and responsibility for their schoolwork, to manage the transitions from class to class, and to develop the skills necessary for working in groups. Students are expected to know or learn appropriate school behavior, supported by our four main school rules: Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful and Be Part of Our Team, with regards to their work in a classroom, in regard to the opposite sex, and with older and younger members of the community.

A brief description of each Middle School academic class follows:

Reading: middle school reading classes are programmed individually for each student beginning with his/her level of mastery-a diagnostic-prescriptive approach. The implementation of research-based reading programs utilized in the lower school is continued throughout the middle and upper school years to address decoding and encoding skills. These programs include, but are not limited to: Wilson JUST WORDS®, Wilson Reading Systems®, Lindamood-Bell® and Read Naturally®. Novels, short stories, plays and poems are all used to help students improve their reading comprehension.

Math: math classes are designed for our students beginning with his/her level of mastery, using manipulative materials and practical applications of math. An introduction to pre-algebra and geometry is provided as students become ready to learn these new skills.

Writing: by becoming fully immersed in the writing process, students focus on refining their skills, with the goal of becoming effective, skillful writers. Students use multiple graphic organizers to brainstorm and organize their ideas before writing a rough draft, and then revise and edit for a final draft. Students engage in peer edits and direct teacher support in order to further enhance the process of writing.

Science: students engage in the scientific method and hands-on experiences to increase their understanding of scientific concepts. At the Academy In Manayunk, our students go beyond the memorization of facts to create models and experiments that truly allow them to Live It, Learn It. For example, our sixth grade students actually build steps to represent the "steps of the scientific method." As students explore concepts surrounding Life Science, they will engage in interactive experiments including actual and "virtual" dissections. Two science labs are set up in the middle school where students utilize technology and traditional scientific instruments to deepen their scientific understanding.

Throughout their studies, students also develop an appreciation of the interdependence of all living things, which includes time to explore environmental science. In Earth Science, students investigate the Earth's formation, weather patterns, the atmosphere, the oceans and space.  In Physical Science, students investigate matter, electricity, light, and the basic laws of physics. Middle School Science students regularly engage in creating their own inventions and creations that help to make these scientific concepts more concrete and attainable.  A Health Unit on sex and drug education, aligned with PA State Standards is included in 6-8th grade science.

Democracy: social studies class focuses on the roots of democracy, how the democratic ideals and ideas became reality in the U.S. Constitution, and how these principles have been tried and tested throughout United States history. Students further develop their study skills by improving their note taking, report writing, test taking and general academic organization. Additionally, students follow weekly current events and relate news items to their study of American history and government. Role-playing exercises, simulation games, creative multimedia projects and field trips enhance the curriculum.

Leadership: upper school students in grades 6 through 10 participate in a weekly Leadership class taught by a member of the Psychological Services department. Students are empowered to strive for excellence while setting academic, personal, interpersonal and career goals. The students tackle a variety of topics including knowing oneself as a learner, interpersonal problem solving and conflict resolution, decision-making and emotional wellness. Students discuss how they help create and maintain a learning community where all students feel safe to take risks and express themselves as individuals. Special topics, such as Cyber Safety are an important component of Leadership.

Advisory: each of our Middle School students is assigned to an advisor who serves as the liaison between our faculty and staff as well as our parents. Advisors meet with their students every morning to support Executive Function skills. Our students learn, through their advisors' guidance, how to file and store their work, both in their Organizational Totes as well as on their Mac Laptops. (Grades 7-10)

Not only do our advisors help to support our students with their organizational needs, but they are also the core of the communication that exists on behalf of their advisees. Advisors are in contact with parents and teachers regularly to address specific social and academic needs that present themselves. Frequent communication between advisors, parents and teachers helps to ensure that our students reach academic, social and emotional success.

Enrichment Experiences
Cooking: one time every month, our students have an opportunity to prepare a nutritious, hot lunch with our Head of Upper School, Carrie Shankweiler. Mrs. Shankweiler’s extensive cooking experience with students, both in her kitchen and on Comcast On Demand, help to bring math, science and wellness-learning to life.

Team Building: our Middle School students begin the school year spending a full day at the beautiful Paradise Farm, engaging in intensive team and community building activities. This day of trust-building serves as an integral component of the creation of our successful learning community.