This booklet provides detailed information about our Middle School program, including curriculum guides and graduation requirements.
Guidepost Academy Middle School at Museum Mile
Empowering Minds, Shaping Futures
We offer a classical education with a modern approach. Too often, parents and students face a choice between traditional schools-lacking flexibility and individualization or "progressive schools" that fall short in delivering deep knowledge and an intentional curriculum. At Guidepost Academy, we combine deep study of core subjects with a focus on real-world exploration and application. This transforms the school experience from disengaged participation to thriving and passionate learners who have an ever-increasing capacity for individual exploration.
We call this the “third option”.
We are not a traditional school. Traditional schools are at odds with the needs of the adolescent: you are forced to conform to a system that emphasizes standardization and memorization. Instead of learning about your own unique needs as a growing, changing, striving individual, traditional schools teach you to meet the needs of the system itself.
We are not a progressive school. Progressive schools often allow you free reign to choose your own pursuits, moving from project to project, but without that deep attention to knowledge that would fully unlock your mind’s potential. They tend to emphasize choice, but without the structure needed to learn, integrate, and apply knowledge.
We are the third option. We pursue the union of thought and industry, of the mind and the hand. Our students don’t just memorize- they understand, apply, and integrate knowledge. Lessons are motivated by the world, and students apply their knowledge in pursuit of their own passions in the world.
Our Core Difference
Curriculum designed around thought and industry
01
Our curriculum combines a deep reverence for knowledge with an emphasis on individual interests, exploration, and instruction. Unlike traditional, classical approaches that emphasize rote memorization or standardized testing, Guidepost Academy believes that knowledge is fundamentally practical. The ability to understand the world, participate in a discussion, solve a problem, or make decisions for your future- these are the reasons it is so crucial to understand history, learn to love literature, apply math in a practical and tangible way. And the curriculum doesn’t stop in the classroom: students take this approach into entrepreneurship, outreach, visual and performing arts, internships, and more. It is this fusion of deep knowledge (thought) applied to real-world problems (industry) that captures our approach. 1:1 Coaching Adolescence is a period of intense physical and emotional growth. Students have the ability to set their own goals, sometimes for the first time, and to explore their own values, and control their own schedules—and these tasks are challenging at any age! While the increasing independence and freedom is both desirable and necessary, it requires support and planning. Every student at Guidepost Academy is paired with a coach, a supportive guide who serves as thought partner and mentor. The coach’s role, over the course of the school years, is to make herself obsolete: as the student gains the social, emotional, and cognitive skills to enable her to serve as her own coach going forward. This is not a tutor or a guidance counselor; the coach is a powerful and unique partner to help each student unlock his or her full potential. Close-knit community Adolescence is a time for social development and the exploration of a student’s place in the larger world. At Guidepost Academy, students and guides work together to co-create the school community in mixed age classrooms. This includes writing school constitutions, planning morning and afternoon meetings, and creating traditions. Each student helps define the school’s culture. But outside each small school is a bigger community, and our students actively engage there, too. Each school is connected to the local community: students in New York volunteer in Central Park; students in Austin have internships with the local Congressman and in the Botanical Gardens. And connecting them all is the Guidepost Academy network: opening up the resources of a global network with the community of a small local school. Students in Florida take digital art taught by a professional animator in Los Angeles; groups of students can collaborate for competitions, entrepreneurship, or interest groups. The Guidepost Academy community combines the benefits of a small school with the resources of a global network.
02
03
Why do middle school students at Guidepost Academy make timelines? Students at Guidepost Academy spend their middle
school years building a beautiful, detailed, and hand-drawn timeline of world and US history. We do this because an understanding of history- a true understanding- is at the core of everything we do. Every class in middle school- math, science, art, literature- requires students to add dates, figures, and events to their timeline, deepening their understanding of the interconnected nature of our world. In order to understand human beings, we must understand history: the grand story of past ideas, lives, injustices, inventions, and adventures. At Guidepost Academy, we study history, not primarily as stories of times long gone, but as an explanation of the present. An understanding of the causal nature of history requires first an understanding of the chronology; the relationship of events to one another, and the relationship of ideas and people on a grand scale. “The history of the present is enormously important, and not only the present but its roots in the past through which most of the present can be understood. History of the past should be taught with this view in mind, as the explanation of the present.” - Maria Montessori
Timelines are a key feature of Montessori history starting in early childhood, where they present an awe-inspiring view of the scope of the story of the world and of humanity. In middle school, students take this study a step further, creating their own timeline that is beautiful, intentional, incredibly content-rich, and individualized. While all timelines have a set of key events, no two timelines will be exactly the same. Each student will become fascinated by different eras, events, or people, and each student will create a work of art that is uniquely theirs. At the end of middle school, these timelines are bound and presented as an heirloom quality book that students take with them forever.
Middle school graduation requirements
Subject
Core Requirements
Portfolio Work
World History to 1600 World history 1600 to present US History
Timeline of World and US History Work of the Historian (3) Work of the Reader (3) Book Reflections (4 per year)
The Great Story of Humanity
Form study (novel, short story, poetry, drama) Thematic study Literary elements
Literature
Writing
Individualized coursework depending on skill level and needs
Work of the Writer (3)
Drawing as Creative Practice Individualized coursework depending on student interests
Work of the Artist (3)
Fine Arts
Biological and Earth Sciences Chemistry and Space Sciences Physical Sciences Numbers and Operations Geometry Algebra Data and Computer Science
Science
Work of the Scientist (3)
Work of the Mathematician (3)
Math
Care of Self Care of Environment Grace and Courtesy
Work of Life (3)
Practical Life
High school graduation requirements
Subject
Courses (years)
Portfolio Work
World History Seminars (1) U.S. History Seminars (1) Liberal Arts (2)
The Great Story of Humanity
Work of the Historian (2) Work of the Philosopher (2)
Work of the Reader (4) Book Reflections (4 per year) Personal Statement Work of the Writer (4)
Literature
Literature (4)
Writing (0.5) World Language (1)
Writing
Fine Arts
Fine Arts (1)
Work of the Artist (4)
Biology (1) Chemistry (1) Additional Science (1) Algebra (1) Geometry (1) Additional Math (1) Physical Education (1) Health (0.5)
Science
Work of the Scientist (3)
Work of the Mathematician (3)
Maths
Practical Life
Work of Life (4)
Independent study, internship, or entrepreneurship (1) Senior Capstone (1) Additional optional coursework (3)
Pursuits
History: The Great Story of Humanity At ATI, history is the underpinning of everything we learn. An inspired understanding of history—not primarily as a list of facts and dates to memorize, but as a living tapestry that is relevant, practical, and tangible all around us—is the foundation of engaging with the messy, interdependent, and otherwise unfathomable network that is humanity. In middle school, students delve into the chronological history of humanity, diving deep into the rise and fall of civilizations, the progression of impactful intellectual movements, and the major turning points that defined an era. In high school, students become ready to explore history from a causal perspective: they begin exploring how the Great Ideas have impacted human progress throughout the ages.
Chronological Understanding of History All middle school students spend two to three years completing a timeline of U.S. and world history. Upon completion, the book is bound at graduation for a treasured resource that showcases a student’s chronological understanding of history.
• Timeline of U.S. History • Timeline of World History Cycle A: World History to 1600 • Early Humans (Pre 3000 BCE) • Ancient Civilizations (3000 BCE - 500 CE) • Classical Civilizations (800 BCE - 600 CE) • The Middle Ages (500 - 1500 CE) • The Golden Age of Islam (800-1400 CE) • The Age of Exploration (1500 - 1700 CE) Cycle B: World History 1600 to Present
The Great Story of Humanity
• The Renaissance (1400-1700 CE) • The Enlightenment (1700-1800 CE) • The Industrial Revolution (1750 - 1900 CE) • World Wars I and II (1914-1945 CE) • Decolonization and Independence (1900-1970 CE) • The Digital Revolution (1970 to Present) Cycle C: United States History • Colonial Period and Founding of the United States (1607-1787) • Westward Expansion (1803-1890) • The Civil War and Reconstruction (1861-1877) • Industrialization and the Gilded Age (1880-1920s) • The Great Depression, World Wars, and the New Deal (1929-1945) • Postwar, Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement (1945-1968)
Literature: The Great Books We love reading, and, most of all, we love sharing that love of reading with new students. A study of literature allows students to delve into new lives and new perspectives, to understand moral decision-making exemplified in specific characters and situations, and to inspire students to consider their own character and would-be decisions. In middle school, the first principle of literature is to read as readers first, getting lost in the story and the struggle. In high school, students begin to read as scholars also, analyzing both the literary techniques and the historical, social, and philosophic concepts of a book.
Literature Units: Great Books that Shape Humanity • Novel Study • Short Stories • Dramatic Plays • Poetry • Informational Text • Thematic Units • Memoirs and Biographies Book reflections: Students independently read, reflect, and share 4 books per year Writing Mechanics and Units: (as needed to build skills and prepare students for submitting mastery work) • Creative Writing • Research Writing • Literary Analysis • Creative Writing • Poetry Writing • Journalistic Writing • Professional Communication World Language Study Personal Statement: Students create a personal statement in preparation for moving up to high school • Personal Narratives • Persuasive Writing
Literature and Expression
Writing and Communication
Fine Arts: Drawing as Creative Practice We study art to gain a deeper appreciation for the world around us. Studying art changes how we look, how we listen, how we appreciate sensory input and the meaning it has for us. Art, at ATI, is partially in formal art classes where we study with professionals in the field. It is also integrated into the fabric of the curriculum and the community. Every subject offers opportunities to fuel creativity: from the study of Islamic tile techniques in geometry, to the understanding of proportions in the petals of a flower in botany or the skeletal system in human anatomy.
Drawing and Creative Practice • Shape, Parts, Proportion • Drawing the Head • Drawing Plants • Drawing Animals • Drawing Props and Items • Composition • Master Study Digital Art and Illustration • Learning the Digital Tools • Layers, Transformation, and Text Tool • Color and Color Theory • Character Studies Animal Drawing (Traditional) • Ravens
Fine Arts
• Dogs • Deer • Tigers • Self-directed Animals: single subject and portfolio work Life Drawing (Traditional) • Anatomy • Volumetric Drawings • Gesture Drawings • Drawings of the Head • Posing Character Design (Digital) • Shape Language • Silhouettes • Anatomy • Color Theory • Fashion and Design
*Additional art course offerings vary by year and campus, and usually include theater and music
Science: The Study of Human Progress Science is the study of the world itself: what we see, hear, smell, taste, and how we know. What is unique about ATI’s study of science is its focus not merely on scientific facts, but an emphasis on the process of discovery. Science classes at ATI explore how individuals have come to understand the world around us, and how that knowledge has transformed our way of life.
Cycle A: Chemistry and Space Sciences • The Nature of Scientific Inquiry • The Universe: Introduction to Earth and Space Science • The Material World: Introduction to Chemistry • Chemistry in the Kitchen: The Science of Nutrition • Great Scientific Discoveries Through the Ages Cycle B: Biological and Earth Sciences • The Living World: Introduction to Biology • Biological Change: Genetics and Evolution • The World Within: Human Anatomy and Health • Historical Advancements in Medical Science and Understanding Cycle C: Physical Sciences • The Physical World: Motion and Forces • The Quest for Innovation: Technology and Engineering • Robotics and AI • Technological Advancements Throughout Time
Sciences
Math: Developing a Mathematical Mind The Montessori math curriculum allows students to learn more, learn earlier, and learn more deeply. Above all, it empowers students to understand math concepts in a way that is connected with their everyday life. Whether a student is four or fourteen, our math curriculum is designed to forge mathematical concepts as concrete understandings of the world itself. This strong foundation will enable students in high school to explore the higher realms of calculus or to study statistics and personal finance. Students at ATI become capable not just of “doing math,” but of thinking mathematically .
Numbers and Operations • Rational Numbers and Arithmetic Operations • Ratios, Proportions and Percents • Integers and the Coordinate Plane Geometry • Geometric Shapes and their Properties • Transformations, Congruence and Similarity Algebra • Algebraic Expressions and Equations • Linear Functions and their Graphs (HS Unit) Data and Computer Science • Statistics and Probability • Intro to Computer Science and Programming
Math
Practical Life and Pursuits Ultimately, the goal in middle and high school is to make all knowledge practical. Literature, science, math, and history are of and for the world. But the practical life units are more intentionally and directly tied to practical needs, and they are designed to be flexible to follow the interests of a student or class. These units can stand alone or be paired with units of literature, history, science, or math. They can also support independent projects or individual student goals.
Care of Self • Fitness
• Human Development • Cooking and Nutrition Care of Environment • Fabric and Clothing • Making Your Way in the World: Transportation 101 • Automotive Repair Basics • Home Repair Basics Beyond Grace and Courtesy
Practical Life
• Professionalism • Personal Finance
Optional Coursework and Electives Internship, Entrepreneurship, or independent study Microeconomy In middle school, students participate in school-run businesses. These collaborative enterprises let students gain real-world skills, from time management to budgeting and supply ordering—all while working in a team that depends upon them.
Pursuits
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker