Curious minds, confident leaders
Mixed-Age Early Middle School Program
Ages 10-12
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Children ages 10-12 ready for deeper academic challenge while continuing to grow socially and emotionally.
It is ideal for students who are developing a stronger sense of identity, seeking increased independence and ready to engage in critical thinking, research and meaningful collaboration within a mixed-age community.
As part of our model of community care, for any indoor time, masks are required. All learners must reliably be able to wear an N-95 or KN-95 mask.
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Students generally transition into early middle between ages 10-12, when they demonstrate growth across academic, social-emotional and in their independence domains. At HMLC, this is not simply based on age or grade level.
Transitions are individualized and occur when each child shows confidence, engagement and readiness for increased responsibility.
As part of our community care model, all learners are required to wear masks while indoors. All learners must reliably be able to wear an N-95 or KN-95 mask during their time indoors.
All learners are required to be up-to-date on all vaccines as recommended by the Minnesota Department of Health and CIDRAP, unless a medical exemption applies.
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Early Middle learning is rigorous, inquiry-driven and relational. Students engage in advanced literacy, mathematics, science and humanities through research projects, seminars, collaborative problem-solving and interdisciplinary studies.
Emphasis is placed on:
Critical thinking and analytical writing
Research and inquiry skills
Organization and time management
Managing intense emotions and navigating peer dynamics
Developing self-awareness, confidence and resilience
The mixed-age structure promotes peer mentorship, shared leadership and a cooperative, non-competitive culture that reduces social pressure while expanding perspective and maturity.
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10 kids or fewer. HMLC keeps classes intentionally small to ensure personalized academic guidance, strong advisory relationships and thoughtful support during this important stage of identity development.
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Collaboration and open project time
Morning meeting
English Language Arts, math,
Lunch
Collaboration and open project time
Snack
Art/science/history/social studies
Students may engage in extended research projects, literature discussions, mathematical modeling challenges, science investigations, debates or historical simulations.A typical week includes academic workshops, collaborative team projects, independent research time, advisory discussions focused on social-emotional growth and opportunities for presentation and reflection.
Emphasis is placed on demonstrating knowledge in the form of presentations, exhibitions and community-based initiatives. This builds confidence, communication and leadership skills.
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If your child has a mental or behavioral health diagnosis (or known mental or behavioral health challenges) or has a history of physically running away from adults or groups into unsafe situations outside of safety boundaries (i.e. running into the street despite being aware of safety rules and being asked to stop), we ask that families connect with HMLC administrators and educators to discuss before enrolling.
Every child and every situation is different, so we may be able to accommodate your family safely in a way that fully supports your child.
However, we are a very small organization and are unable to provide dedicated, one-on-one support, such as individual support specialists.
Please discuss with us first and we can let you know if the HMLC program is a good fit for your family’s needs.
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Yes! One of the unique aspects of HMLC’s program is our homeschool hybrid program.
We offer two options for our early elementary program:
Full-time, five days/week or
Two days/week homeschool hybrid program. Participants in this program must be registered with their local school districts as homeschoolers and working as a home school family.
HMLC’s homeschool hybrid program is an in-person, screen-free experience. HMLC educators can assist with ongoing homeschool work, address challenging subjects, complement homeschool learning and more.
Interested in learning more or enrolling in the Hearts and Minds Learning Community’s early middle school program? Let’s talk!
HMLC’s Educational Approach
The Hearts and Minds Learning Community is grounded in the belief that children learn best when they are:
Actively engaged in hands-on experiences
Connected to the natural world
Supported socially and emotionally
Given time and space to explore, question and reflect
HMLC is committed to providing a diverse learning program that honors and celebrates different cultures, lived experiences and peoples. Children are introduced to a wide range of cultural traditions, stories, languages, perspectives and histories through curriculum themes, literature, music, art, food and community engagement.
Our customized curriculum integrates academic skill-building with experiential learning, movement, creativity and outdoor exploration.
This approach is supported by extensive research demonstrating that nature-based education enhances academic achievement, executive functioning, emotional well-being and intrinsic motivation. These beliefs are reflected daily through hands-on lessons, outdoor inquiry, collaborative learning experiences and intentional support for each child’s social and emotional growth.
HMLC’s Curriculum
HMLC’s curriculum is aligned with Minnesota state learning guidelines and middle grade learning standards.
These standards are reflected across core developmental and academic domains, including:
Language and literacy development
Mathematics
Science inquiry
Social studies
Creative arts
Physical development
Social-emotional learning
Our curriculum is:
Standards-aligned: Learning experiences are designed to support mastery of Minnesota state learning objectives while remaining developmentally appropriate.
Inquiry-based: Driven by curiosity and student questions.
Interdisciplinary: Integrating literacy, math, science, art, music and social studies.
Experiential: Emphasizing real-world, hands-on learning.
Screen-free: Prioritizing sensory-rich, embodied experiences.
Responsive: Adapted to developmental readiness and interests.
Learning outcomes are documented through observation, documentation and formalized assessments during parent-teacher meetings. This aligns with best practices recommended by state learning and middle grade education agencies.
Community-Centered Learning
Learning at HMLC is relational and community-focused.
Research shows that children thrive in environments where they feel safe, connected, and valued. Our program emphasizes respectful relationships, shared responsibility, and collective care.
Community-centered learning at HMLC includes:
A strong commitment to inclusion, equity and cultural responsiveness.
By highlighting diverse cultures, identities, family structures and community experiences, children learn to value differences, practice empathy and develop a sense of belonging and global awareness.
HMLC is:
An educator-owned cooperative
A gender-inclusive school
A secular environment exploring and celebrating a wide range of faith traditions
An inclusive, collaborative community where children learn across differences, practice empathy and develop respect for diverse perspectives and experiences