Elementary

What sets Montessori apart in the Elementary years — ages six to twelve years old — is the individually paced curriculum that challenges children academically and safeguards their well-being and sense of self. Engaging critically and being members of a respectful community, they learn to question, think critically, and take responsibility for their own learning — skills that will support them in later education and in life.

Children who are new to Montessori quickly feel at home with the inspired teaching that appeals to their deepest interests, and with the distinctive, hands-on learning materials that teachers introduce sequentially according to the child’s developmental needs. For children who have completed Montessori Early Childhood programs, the environment offers continuity with familiar routines and learning materials that offer new lessons and opportunities for more complex exploration and discovery.

As at all Montessori levels, the Elementary program is based on the belief that children learn best through movement and work with their hands, and provides cognitive, social, and emotional support to help them reach their full potential. This includes addressing their needs as they enter a new period of development characterized by:

A transition from concrete to abstract thinking
Growing interest in socialization
Thinking and memory skills are enhanced by creativity and imagination
An interest in fairness, social justice, and compassion

The Montessori Elementary curriculum contains the following areas of learning:

Practical Life:

Within the Elementary program, the Practical Life curriculum expands from the foundation laid in Early Childhood. Practical Life at the Elementary level shifts from a focus on self-care and fine motor skills, to skills that help children connect with their interests in the outside world, organize their time, and take part in their community. While self-care and appropriate social interactions continue to be supported, lessons that teach responsibility are the focus. Use of tools, such as work plans, to support organization and time management skills, are incorporated into the daily routine. Using these, children make independent work choices prioritize activities, and meet deadlines.

Math:

The ideas of number concepts, place value, numerals, and related quantities are reinforced and expanded upon within the Elementary program. Newfound purposes for familiar math materials provide children with the means to consider number concepts, mathematical operations, and more complex functions, helping to expand advanced mathematical knowledge and understanding.

Language:

Reading and writing are integral to all subjects in Montessori Elementary, as children express their interests and satisfy their curiosity. Students master conventions with thorough studies of grammar, spelling, and mechanics. They produce final copies with careful penmanship. They read, analyze, think critically, and compare literature to support opinion and perspective. Using these reading and writing skills, they present ideas through formal and informal presentations.

Cultural studies

Science and Social Studies

Interdisciplinary and integrated studies of geology, geography, physical and life sciences, anthropology, and history are built around “Great Lessons”, a series of dramatic stories that explore the origins of the universe, our planet, and the continuous development of human advancement. The laws of physics and chemistry reveal the interdependency of all living things. Beginning with a study of civilization, children explore the contributions of history and what it means to be a responsible citizen and to seek ways to make the world a better, more peaceful place.