A place to belong

above: sixth grader’s photo essays are now on display in the Commons, based on their reading of the novel Shooting Kabul. The lesson was explained in more detail in this blog post from last fall.

A new study confirms that Gordon’s nursery to eighth grade structure has enormous benefits for sixth, seventh and eighth graders.

NPR’s coverage states: 

A large body of research suggests that students who go to middle school or junior high do worse academically, socially and emotionally, compared to the young teenagers who get to be the oldest students at schools with grades K-8.

A new paper in the Journal of Early Adolescence reinforces this message.

If this sounds familiar, it should. A similar study made headlines this time last year. Read about that study, and the substantial opportunities that Gordon’s Middle School offers students, in this blog post from last year.

 

Elise Cappella, lead author on the study, told NPR that the challenges of middle school can be best addressed at a school that:
Employ teachers who understand early adolescent development
Provide a balance of autonomy and support
Activate peers as a positive influence
Offer challenging and engaging instruction
Provide opportunities for students to build competence and productive relationships.

All of these features are echoed in Gordon's Middle School, which has as its annual theme - for three years running - the phrase 'a place to belong'