1. + Montessori Middle School Parent Education Night October 19, 2011

2. + Middle School Program The middle school program design is an integration of the current research in human development, the trends and issues in education, and the Montessori philosophy. The mission of the program is to provide opportunities for adolescents to be self-confident and gain self-knowledge, to belong to a community, to learn to be adaptable, to be academically competent and challenged, and to create a vision for their personal future; thus, to empower early adolescents.

3. + Philosophy Montessori Magnet Wilson Montessori Middle School is a Magnet Program that attracts students from all over HISD. The vision of the Middle School Program is to empower adolescents to find their place in the and learn all that they need to in order to make a lasting contribution to the world. Message to Students All adolescents have value and contributions to make to the community, now and in the future. Your time in this class is essential for you to discover and develop your talents and skills so that you can make an impact on the world.

4. + Environment Classroom expectations Be Prompt Be Productive Be Polite Be Positive Be Prepared Be Peaceful

5. + Environment Daily schedule 8:00-8:45Physical Education/Health Education 8:45-9:00Breakfast and Changing 9:00-9:15Community Meeting 9:15-9:30Literature Discussion 9:30-10:20Mathematics/Algebra 10:20-11:05Electives 11:05-11:45Lunch 11:45-12:15Personal Reflection 12:15-1:30Group Work 1:30-1:45Break 1:45-2:40 Individual Work 2:40-2:50Restore Classroom 2:50-3:00Dismissal

6. + Curriculum The Wilson Middle School courses of study reflect an integration of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the newest research on the developmental needs of early adolescents, the Montessori philosophy, the state of the art in current learning theory, and the predictions of the skills needed for a productive life in the twenty-first century. The curriculum and instruction is designed as a two-year program in which students take a variety of courses in which they earn grades. The science, social studies, health education and math are studied by topics or concepts. The language arts, physical education and fine arts are courses of continuous progress.

7. + Curriculum Two Year Curriculum Year A:Life Science (Cells, animals, plants, ecology) Native American Study (U.S. and Texas) Geography (U.S. and Texas) Human Rights Economics (U.S. and Texas) Peace Education Memoirs Poetry 7 th and 8 th grade Mathematics Algebra I Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens

8. + Curriculum Two Year Curriculum Year B:Physical Science (Atoms, Forces, Simple Machines) American and Texas Revolutions U.S. and Texas Constitution Civil War Industrial Revolution Peace Education 7 th and 8 th grade Mathematics Algebra I Heroic Journey: Rites of Passage

9. + Curriculum Hands on Curriculum

10. + Curriculum Grading and report cards

11. + Unique Experiences (Practical Life) Field trips ROPES Course Civil War Reenactment Blackwood Land Institute Fund raisers School Store Snack Shack Community Garage Sale Experiential Learning Classroom Internships (7 th grade) Business Internships (8 th grade)