Most people think of Middle School as a time when confidence is crushed by intense social pressure to conform, and when students no longer find the close connections with their teachers that they experienced in younger grades. Often, Middle School students disengage from learning because the challenges aren’t there, staff support is lacking, and there is a social risk to standing out from the crowd.

At Chronos, our Middle Schoolers emerge with their self-esteem and love of learning intact — ready for the next step.

With an 8:1 student to teacher ratio, our students are recognized and supported for their unique learning characteristics, their strengths and interests, and areas where they may need more focused attention. This individualized attention and support scaffolds our students during a time where they are developmentally vulnerable, helping to preserve their self confidence. By embracing each student’s unique qualities, we help them appreciate themselves as learners and community members.

Middle School is a time when students begin deeper academic explorations and where they truly start to discover who they are as learners. In our mixed-grade middle-school classrooms, our students expand on the knowledge they’ve gained in their younger grades and learn to apply new skills like critical thinking, complex writing, and research. Through the the Middle School years, they are developing the skills that let them chase their passions and strengths in High School and beyond.

Homework-Optional Approach

Through Middle School, we continue our homework-optional approach, making sure that students have enough time to learn and finish coursework during school hours so they are not overloaded with homework in the evenings. This approach takes the anxiety of homework off of our students’ shoulders and makes sure that students have the support they need from teachers while they are working on assignments.

As their skills are strengthened, our students naturally have higher expectations of themselves in presentations and projects. While our Dialecticians are not required to take work home after school, they frequently work on presentations or projects at home to hone them for class.

Prepared for the Next Step

By eighth grade, Chronos students have developed exceptional academic skills and a strong sense of their voice and how to use it. They have confidence in their individuality and their abilities, and they appreciate themselves as contributors and innovators. They are prepared to make compelling arguments based on research and fact. Because of their accelerated and broad scope of learning at Chronos, graduates frequently move into advanced Math and AP classes in high school. Many go on to schools like Branson, Marin Academy, San Domenico, and Marin School of the Arts.

“My son shut down in public school because the teachers were annoyed by his out-of-the-box questions and desire to get things right. Chronos brought back light and made him confident in following his interests.”

— 8th grade parent

What Does Dialectician Mean?

The names of our cohorts come from the Classical Model of education. Also known as the logic stage, dialectic is both a developmental stage and a method of learning. This is the time when children begin to look for the reasons behind facts and subjects. The main question for our Dialecticians is why.

Preteens are moving from the time where they are happy to learn facts to the more complex reasoning of young adults. A hallmark of this stage is the desire to question everything. Our approach embraces this natural change in our students’ development by helping them build skills in critical thinking, discussion, and debate. We encourage our middle-schoolers to think about why events in history unfold and how opinions are formed.

 
 

5th-6th Grades
Lower Dialectician

5th & 6th grade is an exciting new experience in students’ educational journeys. There will be many firsts that will be taking place during this time. Lower Dialectician grades are the start of preparing students for the academic, social and organizational expectations of high school and marks a shift in what we expect from students and what our students expect of themselves.

 

7th-8th Grades
Upper Dialectician

Seventh & eighth graders are capable of challenging themselves at a new level. In Language Arts, they tackle advanced diagramming & literature, and they write persuasive essays & literary analyses. In math, they work to complete high school Algebra & Geometry. In research, they ask original questions, test the information they acquire, and integrate their research across topics.

 
 

Middle School Schedule for Dialecticians

8:30-9:30 Chronos Core
Math, Science, Literature & Philosophy Primary source texts
The Story of the World history discussions
Current events Socratic Seminars
Memory master quizzes
Research & Presentations every week

9:30-10:30 Math
Beast Academy
High School Algebra or Geometry

10:30-11:00 Snack & Outdoor play

11:00-12:00 English Language Arts
Persuasive Essays - Research & Literary Analyses
Advanced Sentence Diagramming
Greek or Latin Language
Advanced Literature

12:00-12:30 Lunch & Outdoor play

12:30-1:30 Tutorial
Complete all assignments at school with individual help from tutors

1:30-2:30 Art & PE
Art History & Technique
Cultural Games & Sports

2:30-3:30 MAKE Time
STEAM projects integrate with History, Science, Math & Geometry topics

3:30 Dismiss

3:45-5:00 Optional After-School Enrichment
free for all Chronos students

Fridays

Our Friday schedule is more flexible to allow for fun excursions and enrichment.

8:30-9:30 Chronos Core Presentations

9:30-10:30 Math
High School Algebra or Geometry

10:30-11:00 Snack & Outdoor play

11:00-12:00 English Language Arts
Essay Presentations
Greek or Latin review quizzes

12:30-3:30 Friday Field Trips
Nature hikes & Museums

Winter sessions - Chronos School Play

Students Learn Math their own pace

Maker time in the workshop

Friday Field Trips

The Importance of Nurturing Giftedness in Middle School

Chronos Academy offers a unique environment for gifted middle-school students in Marin County. Nurturing giftedness in 5th-8th grades is pivotal because both academically and developmentally there is a big transition from elementary to high school. This transition is marked by rapid cognitive, social, and emotional growth which can also make tweens emotionally vulnerable.

When we support curiosity, passion, and academic drive during this time we protect students from taking refuge in underachievement. By encouraging deep thinking and questioning, we help them develop critical thinking skills and the ability to apply complex analysis. Nurturing students’ gifts at this age also helps them develop a healthy sense of self, recognize their unique abilities, and form a positive, confident identity.

Supporting gifted students through Middle School ensures they are equipped to navigate the demands of higher-level learning, develop emotional resilience, and grow into well-rounded individuals prepared for the future. Click here to learn more about the unique needs of gifted students.