Middle schoolers don’t always appreciate learning history. Although they tend to be very curious, they are also at an age where they are more socially motivated than academically. They want to engage with their community and prove their worth to other people. In this context, learning historical facts and figures can feel obsolete. However, once […]
Technology is a complicated issue for many teachers. Educational apps, documentaries, and podcasts, provide valuable and fun learning experiences. However, the frequent use of technology often leads to less interaction between students and may causes a reliance on computers. Just ask any middle school math teacher. The calculator, the most basic form of technology, causes […]
“Is it pertinent?” Lillian asks her classmate who is frantically waving his arm in air to get her attention. The boy sheepishly shakes his head and lowers his hand. Lillian scans the circle and sees another student trying to silently get her attention. She is usually pretty soft spoken, but in a clear authoritative voice, […]
Its a beautiful spring day and several young teenagers are helping me deconstruct a garden bed. Carmella, an eighth grader, is shoveling mulch into a wheelbarrow that her classmate, Silas, then carries to a new plot. On a nearby hillside, a seventh grader and eighth grader are transplanting bushes from one side of a garden […]
Arthur Morgan School has always valued its simplicity. We warm our boarding houses and academic buildings by burning wood that we chop ourselves. We grow vegetables in our garden and raise livestock for eggs. When our roads are in disrepair, we haul wheelbarrows full of gravel to fix them. It could be simpler to buy […]
There is no question that field trips offer wonderful educational opportunities. Being able to interact with professionals doing actual work allows students to see the real world applications of what they learn in the classroom. They become inspired and see actual evidence of what they can achieve if they work hard and apply themselves. A lot […]
For young people reading is especially important and powerful. In Family Education’s article The Benefits of Reading as a Teen, reading is shown to have a direct impact on a young person’s success. In addition to boosting vocabulary and clear educational benefits, reading expands horizons. It is particularly crucial for adolescents to see mirrors and windows […]
At The Arthur Morgan School, we understand students will try their hands at rebellion, and because of this, we have structures to ensure these forays into defiance are safe. This is where our traditions of Sneak Outs and Raids come in.
This year one of Arthur Morgan School’s 18 day field trips is teaching LGBTQ+ history. The trip plans to travel up the the east coast, visiting lawmakers, activist groups, and schools involved in the LGBTQ+ movement. They will also visit the Stonewall National Monument and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Through these experiences, students […]
Up until middle school, students understand how math is relevant. Combining numbers, multiplying fractions or calculating the area of a shape are skills that students understand will help them make sense of the real world. But walk into most middle school algebra classes, and you will invariably hear the question, “When am I ever going to […]