7th and 8th Grade History

A Stevenson education lays the foundation for a lifetime of learning.  That foundation takes shape and form in Stevenson’s 7th and 8th grades, as students inquisitively participate in academics, expand their knowledge, and further develop their points of view. Stevenson’s Middle School program stands alone as a Center of Excellence on the Monterey Peninsula.

Amy Spencer is entering her 9th year at Stevenson and 13th year as an educator, and exemplifies the highest standard for Middle School education. Amy has a wealth of experience, all of the necessary teaching tools and an intimate understanding of Stevenson’s mission statement; Academic Success, Delight in Learning, For A Joyful Life. Throughout her tenure, Amy continually creates a relevant, dynamic and engaging History curriculum in conjunction with the core facets of Stevenson’s mission statement.  

When discussing the quality of instruction found at Stevenson, Amy states, “Students thrive when they are in a safe, respectful environment. It is so important to establish trust with my middle school students. I get to know my students’ interests outside of the classroom, making sure to spend time sharing conversations at our extra-curricular events. Our events included academically geared excursions to Washington D.C., Big Sur, our Medieval Feast, Movie Nights, and Science Camp. The conversations that occur in different educational contexts builds trust for each member of our class. Once this trust is established, students fully participate in thoughtful, honest discussions with one another and in History class.”

Amy goes on to say,” Children are smart. I think Middle School students in particular are often not given enough credit for their intelligence. Once engaged in thoughtful discussion, I am constantly reminded of each student’s critical thinking abilities and enjoy hearing their fresh perspective. For example, The Harkness Table in the History classroom allows for student-centered learning as students gain confidence in their independent contributions to class discussion. Stevenson students are active learners because they learn to read and discuss history with an emphasis on primary sources.  Every student participates in class discussions. Students learn to think critically and articulate their ideas.”

In addition to Amy’s exemplary work during the school week, she also hosts Saturday “History Days” for Stevenson’s 8th grade History students. Each Saturday, Amy routinely has 70-80% of 8th grade students’ show up to work on class projects. As a result of Amy’s guidance and the student’s hard work, many student projects receive County and State awards for their strength, depth, and creativity. Feel free to click on the below links to view examples of student websites that were created during Amy’s History Days:

Amy applauds the small, inclusive classes, Stevenson’s supportive parents and the whole child commitment found among her colleagues as the primary reasons for the exceptional growth experienced by Stevenson students. Additionally, Amy praises the school for providing a rigorous core curriculum while honoring the importance of offering a strong Fine Arts program, relevant, cutting edge technology instruction, and athletics for its middle school students.

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