Middle School Students Independent Learning and Productive Solitude

Middle school is an important and sometimes emotionally difficult time for many children. In traditional schools, children in these middle grades are often forced to interact socially, which can lead to stress and overall less productive work. Just as socialization is important to their growth and development solitude and independence--both of which are important parts of the Waldorf middle school experience--are also important for productive and creative work.

The Importance of Independent Work

Middle school students are at an age and stage of development where independence and self-motivation become critical to their learning. They have a great desire for independence and want freedom to choose which subjects of interest they would like to pursue. A middle schooler is beginning to decide what their true interests are and what kind of impact they want to have in the world. They are also better equipped for more in-depth learning and research on topics.

By allowing the student a great deal of flexibility and freedom to direct their learning activities and choose topics that interest them, their needs for independence and critical thinking are thereby supported in schools like Waldorf School of Baltimore. There is a common fear that when given this freedom, students will abuse it and do little to no work at all. The research indicates that the opposite is true, and that freedom supported by appropriate expectations and the right environment make students more productive, greatly enhancing the amount of real and retained learning they do.

Solitude and Creativity

Ideally, schools must put a heavy emphasis on student creativity and abstract thinking, especially in middle school. While there are benefits to group work and social interaction, research indicates that better ideas and thinking occur when a student is allowed to work alone.

Without the pressures of peers and social interaction to hinder them, the students are given more room for self-expression, thereby allowing them to produce truly original work and ideas, as well as refine their ability to think for themselves and create self-identity.

Source:

The Call of Solitude. Psychology Today.