Last school year, Middle School faculty and staff spent time discussing the core skills needed for students to take ownership of their learning over the course of three years. We asked ourselves: What do we expect them to know how to do? Which skills are developmentally appropriate? Does the technology they use help them grow their independence or hinder it? Which skills will prepare them for UPrep’s Upper School program? After brainstorming sessions and some careful culling and negotiation, we were able to draft the Ownership of Learning map. 

While this map does not include all of the soft skills taught and learned during these years, it does provide a high-level overview of how a student should be progressing. Of course, not all students grow at the same rate. Some students may exhibit strong executive functioning skills early in 6th grade, while others may need additional time to develop the ability to self-regulate. That’s okay. While each milestone is assigned to a particular point in the school year, the ultimate goal is to have attained all of these skills by the end of 8th grade. 

We will work with our Middle School students throughout the school year to help them understand the milestones for their grade. The more awareness we can create around these soft skills, the better prepared our students will be to receive feedback on their progress. They will also be more ready to make meaningful changes based on our guidance, and they will become stronger independent learners. 

Parents and guardians, we hope this guide is of service to you as you help your student navigate UPrep's Middle School. When you are unsure about how much you should be assisting, the map can help you determine the best level of support for guiding your student to become a confident, self-reliant problem-solver. 

If you have a student in 8th grade this year, please take note of our goal to develop students with the ability to engage in “procedural troubleshooting.” Students who are successful in procedural troubleshooting will be able to solve scheduling problems on their own, ask their own questions about Upper School, manage peer conflicts with minimal adult intervention, ask for help when in over their head, and generally handle the nuts and bolts of school life without assistance. An 8th grader who can do these things is well-prepared for high school. 

Please reach out to your student’s advisor with any questions or to ask how your student is progressing on their road to Upper School. 

Check out the UPrep Middle School Ownership of Learning map!