The Smith Experience

Eric S. Smith Middle School is the next step on the academic journey that students embark on as they learn and grow from their experiences. Our focus at the Middle School level is on both academic and social/emotional development to ensure that our students build their capacity to be lifelong, independent learners, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens. Significantly, we have a very defined end goal: Develop students who demonstrate the knowledge and competencies outlined in our guiding document, Profile of a Ramsey Graduate. Smith Middle School is fully invested in creating well-rounded students who are equipped with the tools to overcome any obstacle.

A crucial aspect of Smith Middle School’s learning community is the teaming structure we employ to enhance the experience for parents and students alike. Teaming is seen as a key to achieving the full potential of a dynamic middle school, one that truly responds to the unique physical, intellectual, social-emotional, and moral developmental needs of young adolescents (Merenbloom, 2021). Smith Middle School utilizes the team structure to offer a strong, individualized support system during this critical stage when students develop more rapidly than at any other time in their lives. Team teachers meet daily to evaluate the needs of their students and coordinate their academic programming, and they consistently collaborate with our Special Education and Guidance Department staff. This team approach builds important relationships, fosters academic, social, and personal growth, and fosters connections with our students to help them learn important knowledge, skills, and dispositions essential to their reaching their full potential.

Concepts into Action

We have put concepts into action to guide our students toward lifelong success. Our Chromebook Initiative is one way we integrate technology into our curriculum to promote autonomous learners who can deepen their comprehension of knowledge. Our Co-Teaching Model pairs two certified teachers who work together to deliver substantive instruction to a blended group of students in a single space. The co-teachers, typically one general education and one special education teacher, collaboratively create lessons, use different approaches, and develop instructional strategies to meet the needs of individual students.

Academic Support provides additional reading, writing, or math support for students who need a layer of instruction in addition to regular classroom time. Our Study Skills curriculum addresses supportive lessons in organization, listening, note-taking and test-taking. The Enrichment Program allows students to explore science and math concepts beyond the standard curriculum.