Our Middle School
If you ask The John Crosland School students, they will say that Middle School is comfortable, exciting and fun. In this positive atmosphere, our Middle School students receive the tools that they need to succeed both academically and socially.
Personal growth during adolescence is critical, and we strive to offer students every opportunity for guidance and development. Additionally, we provide meaningful programs in social thinking, character education and in executive function development during classroom instruction and extracurricular activities.
Typical Class Offerings
Reading Tutorial or Comprehension
English 8
Math
Written Expression
Science
Social Studies, NC History
Executive Functioning
Counseling (as needed)
Social Skills/Guidance Lessons (as needed)
Specials: Music, Art, Horticulture, STEAM, and Physical Education
Our Middle School Education
1 School hours 8 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
2 Team approach to academic and social needs
3 Band – choice of 6 different instruments
4 Recess and Creative Arts classes
5 Study skills coaching
6 Self-awareness and executive function development
7 Social communication instruction
8 In-classroom use of innovative technological applications and access to Makerspace
9 Collaborative service learning projects
10 Regular field trips that reflect and support academic, social skill and executive functions
11 Six periods a day including a supervised Executive Function Support period
12 Extracurricular activities: athletics, clubs, social events, leadership opportunities
Educational Management Plan (EMP)
Each student has an Educational Management Plan. Parent-Team Meetings are held to review and discuss the student’s progress and needs for each class.
In preparation for the EMP we not only work with our students via guidance lessons and individual sessions with Crosland’s School Counselor, we also provide each family with an EMP Parent Form to help them target both short and long term goals for their child.
Orton-Gillingham Methodology
The Orton-Gillingham methodology is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia. In the hands of a well-trained and experienced instructor, it is a powerful tool of exceptional breadth, depth, and flexibility. The highly structured approach introduces the idea of breaking reading and spelling down into smaller skills involving letters and sounds and then building on these skills over time. It also pioneered the “multisensory” approach to teaching reading. This means that instructors use sight, hearing, touch, and movement to help students connect language with letters and words.
We celebrate and embrace every child’s unique needs when it comes to education. We would love to speak with you more about your child and find out if the Crosland School is the right choice for you and your family!