St. Matthias Middle School students becoming high-school ready

In the fourth week since reopening school doors, St. Matthias Middle School students (6th-8th grade) are benefiting academically and socially from in-person class 5 days/week. Nestled in the heart of Lincoln Square, St. Matthias School is known for its reputable and successful International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme. Middle School students are taught nine subject groups consisting of Language and Literature, Individuals and Societies, Mathematics (to include Honors Math), Design Technology (STEAM, Robotics and AI Curriculum), Arts (Visual Art, Music), Sciences, Physical and Health Education, Language Acquisition (Spanish) and Religion. In our classrooms, students are successfully learning by way of our unique teaching strategies:

• Units instead of isolated lessons – Teachers plan comprehensive 6-8 week units through which students investigate and build knowledge about specific concepts.
• Critical thinking rather than recall – Teachers support students’ higher-level thinking. Students are expected to make use of important details and facts to analyze situations, form opinions, understand contexts, and express themselves. The questions teachers ask and projects they assign promote these critical thinking skills.
• Collaboration – Through IB, we believe that more minds are better than one. Students and teachers seek out the ideas and opinions of others and each student’s individual understanding is impacted by the input of their peers and teachers. Group work and class discussions are essential.
• Global Connections – Students should always feel that what they are learning matters. Teachers connect the content and concepts to the students’ lives. Additionally, students investigate multiple, international perspectives to the issues and concepts they are learning about. We achieve this through the integration of various cultures, literature, artists, and sports from around the world, and the investigation of important global events and issues.
• Communication – We believe that communication skills are essential for success. Therefore, students are continually writing to reflect upon and assimilate their knowledge. We also support students’ development in formal writing, research, speaking, and presenting.

Working in tandem with our way of teaching and our IB curriculum, middle school students are mastering Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills. The ATL skills are identified as thinking, communication, social, self-management, and research skills. We understand that all students have different learning styles and needs. In teaching the ATL skills, students are guided to understand how they learn as individuals. During the month of September, our focus is Self Management/Organization Skills. Students are learning how to manage their time effectively and to use their planners to record all assignments--an essential life-long skill. Jennifer Reckamp, Director of Middle School at St. Matthias shared her perspective on the benefits of the comprehensive approach at St. Matthias, “The Middle Years Program (MYP) at St. Matthias School enables our students to achieve a deeper understanding of their learning, not just in specific content areas, but as individuals. Skills taught such as, self-management, communication, research and organization help our students understand HOW they learn. Students in the MYP Program at St. Matthias take pride in recognizing how and what they learn as a middle schooler; ultimately, benefiting them as they progress into high school and beyond. The MYP teachers strive to help our globally-minded students become inquiring, caring, critical thinkers who strive to go out and make a difference in the world.”

Parents and students agree with this approach to teaching as it grounds the students in their future success. Grace, an 8th grade student at St. Matthias provided her insight, “ I love going to an IB school because I have received a well-rounded education that will prepare me for my future. After I complete school, I feel like I will be able to collaborate with my coworkers. I am an independent learner and I am able to present projects without fear. I have learned these skills at St. Matthias. The teachers and staff at St. Matthias are wonderful and are willing to help you with everything, including preparing you for your future!”

We believe that our students’ high-school readiness is a direct result of the dedication of the teachers, students and their supportive families. Katie Carden, Principal of St. Matthias expresses her perspective to the collaborative approach, “At St. Matthias, we recognize parents as instrumental in their children’s formation, both spiritually and academically, and we are committed to supporting them on their journey. In partnership with families, teachers develop students who think critically, value diversity, and act with a compassionate worldview.” St. Matthias graduates enjoy acceptance to the most prestigious high schools in the area, including Northside College Prep, Loyola Academy, Lane Tech, St. Ignatius, DePaul College Prep, Von Steuben Scholars Program, Walter Payton College Prep, Amundsen IB Programme, Jones College Prep, Resurrection High School, Trinity High School, Notre Dame College Prep, Regina Dominican, St. Patrick High School, and many others.

St. Matthias Middle School has limited spots remaining for the 2020-2021 school year. For more information and to schedule a tour of our school, please visit www.stmatthiaschool.org.