Elementary: Kindergarten - Sixth Grade

What sets Montessori apart in the Elementary years – ages 6-12 – is our individually paced curriculum that simultaneously challenges children academically and safeguards their well-being and sense of self. Engaging as contributing members of a respectful community, they learn to question, think critically, and take responsibility for their own learning—skills that will support them for the rest of their lives.

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 the 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

• Cognitive skills, such as memory and problem-solving that are enhanced by creativity and imagination

• An interest in fairness, social justice, and compassion

The Elementary Classroom

In a Montessori Elementary classroom, students work both individually and in small groups, at tables and on mats on the floor. Children who are new to Montessori quickly grow to 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 students’ developmental needs. Expectations are clear while still remaining open-ended enough to be engaging.

Multi-Age Learning

Multi-age groupings of children ages 6 – 9 and 9 –12 (or 6 –12) provide a diverse mix in which children can collaborate and socialize. These inter-age relationships strengthen the entire community.

Older children are seen as role models within the community. They support the growth and development of younger children through socialization, assist with new work, and teach skills they have personally mastered. They can also work with younger students in areas of the curriculum in which they struggle to improve together without fear of social stigma.

Younger children follow the example set by the older students, while still allowing them to be role models for peers who may not have as tight a grasp on curriculum materials. This multi-age community provides opportunities for all individuals to learn to appreciate differences and learn from each other, at times leading, sharing, or serving as role models. Within this supportive, inclusive community, children work through the curriculum at their own pace, accelerating during some tasks or taking additional time with others.

Montessori Learning Materials

Montessori students don’t just memorize facts and figures. They also learn the “hows,” “whens,” and “whys,” ensuring that learning takes place on a more fundamental level. To facilitate this, we use specially designed learning materials that use real objects and actions to translate abstract ideas into concrete forms.

Teachers introduce materials to students according to their level of development and readiness. Students then work with the materials to make exciting discoveries—such as why, when dividing fractions, we invert and multiply. A core of Montessori curriculums is the understanding of the power of discovering answers on one’s own.

Email Patrick Velde at smsvelde@gmail.com if you would like admissions information about our Elementary program.