Articles

Middle School

Visit us during our Open House dates on:

January 28, 2012 from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Learn more about Spectrum Progressive High School by joining us for a special presentation at noon on 1/28/12.

February 16, 2012 from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Teachers-Renee Corcoran, Shannon Fitzgerald and Kathy Hopkins

Click here for the 2011-2012 Middle School Supply List 

Students usually enter the Middle School program around 12 years of age.  Spectrum Middle School provides a small, caring community for learning.  Projects, community involvement and community service are included in the basic structure of the program. 

Middle School students are expected to take responsibility for their learning.  They are becoming more self-directed and independent.  Teachers and mentors use students’ curiosity as a key to teaching basic skills.   The students’ motivation to learn also provides a chance for them to develop sophisticated problem solving strategies.  Through interdisciplinary units, students are exposed to an in-depth study of individual areas of interest.  Students are also given more choice in what is studied, as well as the manner in which their projects are created and assessed.  Students are exposed to a variety of ways of presenting what they have learned, including research papers, PowerPoint presentations, speeches, video projects and other learning tools involving the multiple intelligences and technology.  Once students reach Middle School, they already have the basic skills necessary for math and reading.  Now they are learning to apply those skills in order to construct new insight and knowledge.

In Middle School, the students are also beginning to prepare for high school and beyond.  Each year the students are involved in and volunteer for several community outreach programs.  They have worked with MELD, the Food Pantry, Noah’s Ark, and many other community service programs throughout the Rockford area.    They have also been involved in many community related experiential activities, including grant writing through In Youth We Trust and technology programs through Rock Valley College.  In addition, each year the Middle School students participate in an outdoor leadership program at Aurora University (OWLS), where they learn the skills necessary for working cooperatively to reach a common goal.  These opportunities, as well as many others, give Spectrum Middle School students an authentic education.  

Spectrum Middle School provides an alternative to a traditional program.  Students have more autonomy and may exercise choice in their educational pursuits.  Because of this, they take responsibility for their own learning and they are enthusiastic, curious, and passionate about school.