Curriculum Highlights
To view a particular subject area, please click below:
Language Arts | Mathematics | Science | Social Studies |
Computer Technology | Fine Arts | Foreign Language | Library | Religious Knowledge | Physical Education |
Language Arts
Language is fundamental to thinking, learning, and communicating in all cultures. The skilled use of language is associated with many opportunities in life, including further education, work, and social interaction. As students come to understand and use language more fully, they are able to enjoy the benefits and pleasures of language in all its forms, from reading and writing, to literature, theater, public speaking, film, and other media.
The Language Arts curriculum provides students with the opportunity to learn and practice effective communication skills, read and respond to a variety of forms of both fiction and prose, study a wide range of literature, and, ultimately, to experience the power of language. The curriculum in each grade specifically and intentionally addresses Grammar and Language Mechanics, Reading and Literature, Composition (Writing), Vocabulary, and Speaking. As students progress through the grades, they will work more independently and acquire more sophisticated and complex language skills.
Mathematics
Mathematics is increasingly important in our technological society. Students today require the ability to reason and communicate, to solve problems, to understand and use mathematics, and to use the tools that support our study of mathematics. Students need to develop the ability to conjecture, reason logically, employ quantitative and spatial information, and apply a variety of mathematical methods to solve problems and make decisions confidently and independently.
The mathematics curriculum:
- emphasizes the development of the knowledge,skills, and attitudes relevant to the development of numeracy (application of mathematical understanding);
- promotes the development of positive attitudes, problem solving, communication, reasoning, and the use of technology;
- supports the exploration of the connections between math and practical applications.
Science
The Science program puts increased emphasis on the applications of science to everyday living and the stewardship of the natural environment. To prepare students for the rigor of high school science, the early years of The Melrose School science curriculum engages students in the investigation of scientific questions and the development of plausible solutions. Science education develops and build on students’ sense of wonder about the world around them and encourages a feeling of responsibility to sustain it. Science education fosters students’ desire to meet a challenge, to take risks, and to learn from mistakes. It prompts a curiosity about the changing world and helps students understand that the skills and knowledge they are learning will be refined and expanded to reflect advances in scientific knowledge and technology.
In this program, students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for scientific literacy through four major processes:
- Working Scientifically: The curriculum promotes an activity-based approach where students learn scientific knowledge and processes in a hands-on and “minds-on” way. Students will have opportunities to hypothesize, design experiments, control variables, formulate models, interpret data, solve problems, and explain.
- Communicate Scientifically: The curriculum uses instructional and assessment activities that prompt students to extend, reinforce, and consolidate science learning by communicating their ideas and findings to others. Students will have opportunities to work collaboratively, to share insights and understanding, to raise questions, debate, keep logs of events and observations, and to record and report ideas using various media.
- Using Science: Students build an understanding of science and technological applications by using science to make connections, explain and apply ideas, and solve problems. Students use and learn about technology as a way to extend human abilities and as means to solve problems.
- Acting Responsibly: It is important for students to begin to understand their role in influencing change. By acting responsibly, students come to appreciate science as an activity that is embedded within a diverse society and culture.
Social Studies
Social Studies is a multidisciplinary subject that draws from the social sciences and humanities to study human interaction and natural and social environments.
The overarching goal of social studies is to develop thoughtful, responsible, active citizens who are able to acquire the requisite information to consider multiple perspectives and to make reasoned judgments. The Social Studies curriculum provides students with opportunities as future citizens to critically reflect upon events and issues in order to examine the present, make connections with the past, and consider the future.
Students are encouraged to:
- understand and prepare to exercise their roles, rights, and responsibilities within the family, the community, the nation, and the world;
- develop an appreciation of democracy and what it means to be an American;
- demonstrate respect for human equality and cultural diversity;
- think critically, evaluate information, and practice effective communication.
Computer Technology
Students at all grade levels attend classes in a fully-equipped computer lab, featuring IBM PC’s. The emphasis is on using the computer as a learning tool integrated with the core curriculum. To that end, the school also has a portable laptop center for use by faculty in the classroom.
The scope and sequence covers fourteen technology concepts, introduced at appropriate grade levels:
- technological awareness;
- keyboarding;
- paint, draw, and graphics;
- word processing;
- information systems/CD-ROM; network awareness;
- internet/telecommunications;
- multimedia;
- video;
- electronic presentations;
- databases;
- spreadsheets;
- desktop publishing; and
- programming.
By eighth grade, students are proficient in a variety of applications including word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, information retrieval and database skills, desktop publishing, and multi-media presentation software. The upper grades enhance their desktop publishing skills by creating the school yearbook and literary magazine.
Each classroom has PC’s and printers, further integrating technology into the curriculum.
Fine Arts
Our challenging core curriculum is enhanced by integrated instruction in art and music. The fine arts are taught in all grades, PK through 8, and Art History is taught in grades 4 to 8.
In the visual arts, our students learn a wide variety of techniques such as painting, printmaking, sculpture, collage, and graphics. Student art work is displayed prominently throughout Melrose.
The music curriculum instills a basic understanding of concepts through singing, movement activities, and listening. Middle School students will analyze a variety of musical styles and even try their hand at composing their own harmony lines to existing songs. Formal instruction on the soprano recorder begins in the third grade, with students practicing weekly; Grade 8 students play the handbells. Playing these instruments further strengthens the students’ abilities to read music, keep time, and perform in a non-verbal ensemble. Among other special features of the Melrose School, several holiday choral concerts give all students the opportunity to participate in either the Children’s Chorus or the Youth Chorus.
Foreign Language
French:
The French curriculum endorses what is commonly referred to as the communicative-experiential approach. The focus of instruction is the purposeful use of the language to perform real-life tasks, share dieas, acquire information, and get things done. Grammar instruction plays a supportive role in grades 7 and 8 to provide useful strategies to facilitate communication and comprehension. A few of the guidelines that guide the communicative-experiential approach are:
As much as possible, language learning should emulate authentic language use.
The goal of language learning is performance with language rather than knowledge about the language.
Language proficiency involves both comprehension and production. Comprehension abilities tend to precede and exceed productive abilities.
Language is inextricably bound to culture. Language use requires an understanding of the cultural context within which communication takes place.
The ability to perform with language is facilitated when students actively engage in meaningful, authentic, and purposeful language-learning tasks.
French is taught from Kindergarten through Grade 8. It is introduced to grades K and 1 using a combination of stories, songs, and finger plays. In grades 2-5, the learning process is enhanced with a combination of speaking, listening, and writing activities in conjunction with a French-Canadian program entitled Aventures. Students in grades 6 and 7 Discovering French; grade 8 uses Allez Viens to organize their learning process. The magazines Allons Y and Bon Jour are also an integral part of the middle school program. Throughout the school year, various cultural and traditional celebrations add fun and excitement to our program.
Latin:
Latin is taught in Grades 7 and 8, introducing students to vocabulary, syntax, translation and grammar. The study of Latin develops an increased English vocabulary through the study of Latin roots and English derivates and reinforces English grammar. These language studies are combined with studies of Mythology and Roman History. Students will have a greater awareness of the cultural contribution of the Roman Empire as well as learning about Roman life, government, and architecture.
First Year Latin, by Charles Jenney is the core text.
Library
At the heart of the Melrose school stands our library, where children love to gather to read and explore our thousands of volumes. The Librarian meets with each class weekly, teaching research skills at an age appropriate level. Students receive guidance and support in selecting books both for pleasure and for research. Our facility also includes a periodicals area, a reference area, a collection of videos, and computers that are fully on-line.
The once weekly Lunch in the Library program, when children meet to critique their favorite books is very popular.
Religious Knowledge
Religious knowledge is incorporated into the curriculum at all grades. Brief morning chapel services are drawn from Judeo-Christian principles and promote respect and understanding of all faiths. Chapel discussions, led by teachers and students, cover such topics as honesty, integrity and sensitivity to others. The course strives to create an understanding of our greater purpose and the value of every person.
Physical Education
“The results of good physical education are not limited to the body alone, but they extend even to the soul itself.”
-Aristotle, 350 B.C.
Physical education is an integral part of the total educational process and is of value throughout everyone’s lifetime. Physical education today is recognized as essential to good health and should begin in early childhood. It is an important component in a person’s lifestyle, with increasing evidence to support the beneficial effects of activity on an individual’s entire well being.
Our physical education program stresses fitness and uses physical activities as a means of teaching respect and good sportsmanship. Students in all grades, PK – 8, have physical education twice a week, with both outside and inside activities. The focus is that physical exercise is fun and not a chore. Students are encouraged to assist, and not discourage, their fellow students in all activities.
