MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle School (Grades 5-8 and Forms I & II) students at The Albany Academies are part of a global community where they gradually take on more responsibility and develop into confident young men and women. By learning in a challenging single-gender environment, boys and girls are able to develop a true sense of self-worth and self-confidence. They are encouraged to take academic and learning risks in terms of leadership within a supportive learning environment. Middle School students at the Academies learn in a comfortable place, have the chance to make mistakes, and learn and grow personally and academically.
Varied instruction allows opportunities for different types of learners to be successful in the classroom. Students take part in a collaborative, team approach where they are asked to create, design and figure out projects, concepts and ideas – allowing them to take on critical teaching andlearning roles while demonstrating proficiency in a variety of subjects. Teachers serve as guides, leaders and coaches in their classrooms depending on the type of lesson and project the students are working on. Reading, writing, listening, speaking and critical thinking skills are at the core of our instructional process.
At the Academies, interdisciplinary curriculum meets the developmental needs of an early adolescent. Mixing content with process helps students understand and learn material in an authentic way. Making connections and exploring concepts across a range of disciplines allows students multiple opportunities to learn. Our teachers collaborate in grade level teams to align skills and concepts as well as content topics.
Our administration, faculty and parents work together in the best interests of our students. Instruction takes place in a student-centered continuum where students can enter at any grade without feeling lost. Using an informed instruction approach, teachers thoroughly analyze all student work and then provide specific opportunities for growth and improvement.
We offer transition programs on both ends of our Middle School program that are critical for students both entering and exiting the program. The fifth grade year is designed as a bridge program between our Lower and Middle Schools. Fifth graders are ready to take on new challenges that a Middle School program provides but also need specific support and structures that reflect their developmental needs. Concurrently, our eighth graders participate in transition programs to our Upper School. Classroom visits, information panels and special events with Upper School students make this an exciting time.
