Elementary
Learning How to Think
(6 - 12 years)
A Montessori Elementary program offers your child an unparalleled opportunity for growth in this new period of life. Your imaginative, social, and creative child needs an environment with appropriate freedom and limitations, with an expansive curriculum to support her curiosity and prepare for the challenges of the future.
Cosmic Education
Through Dr. Montessori’s Cosmic Education, your child learns the ongoing changes of the universe by understanding that science and history both tell segments of one story. Through this unique Montessori elementary experience, your child develops an understanding of their roots in the universe and their place
in it rather than seeing themselves as separate from it. Cosmic Educations offers stories called "The Great Lessons." Through the Great Lessons, your child's imagination ignites with the context provided and the relationships between various topics. A few of those topics include geography, history, astronomy, chemistry, biology, writing, and mathematics. There is more to this newfound knowledge and understanding of the academic subject matter. A far bigger goal exists in your child's Montessori educational journey; understanding and embracing the role this newly discovered understanding presents for their lives. "Let us give the children a vision of the universe," wrote Maria Montessori in To Educate the Human Potential. "The universe is an imposing reality and the answer to all questions. We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity."
Learning Without Limits
Your child will study both broadly and deeply, covering many subjects not attempted in conventional schools. Because there is not a rigid schedule or prescribed curriculum that the whole class must follow, your child can focus intensely on her self-chosen work, with minimal interruption. At the same time, she will collaborate with the teacher to ensure that her work is challenging and purposeful – and that basic standards are met. In that way, the teacher is in charge of the minimum scope of work – your child is in charge of the maximum.
The Teacher is an “Enlightened Generalist”
To quote Bruce Lee: “A teacher is never a giver of ‘truth;’ he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that the student must discover for himself.” We couldn’t agree more. Our teachers have a broad knowledge of all subject areas – more than enough to help your child discover interests in any area imaginable and challenge her to deepen the field of study through research.
The Format Mirrors Your Child’s Developmental Needs
Your elementary age child has a strong drive for social connection. She is starting to develop deeper friendships and a connection to the community around her. Why then, would we want her to learn in rows of desks, confined to a chair, while the teacher lectures the class as a group? Instead, we embrace your child’s natural need for social exploration by giving lessons in small groups and encouraging children to work with a variety of others on follow up projects and research into subjects of intense interest.
Engagement is Essential
Real learning occurs when children are engaged – not when the teacher makes a blanket assignment. Curiosity is championed in our Elementary, and your child is encouraged to explore concepts to a level of detail only limited by his imagination.
Learning Occurs Beyond the Classroom
We want the children to be comfortable navigating the world, not just our classroom. So, we have a few excellent books, but not everything there is to read about a topic. As a result, the children must ‘go out’ beyond the limits of the classroom to find the information or resource that they need. A ‘Going Out’ is a planned undertaking by a small group of children. They find a resource in the community, schedule the outing, arrange for their own transportation and supervision (by staff or parent volunteers), prepare themselves for the experience and conduct themselves with dignity while out in public.
Learning in Context for Deeper Understanding
Unlike in a conventional program with a separate time of the day for each subject, your child will gain a much deeper understanding of concepts by learning in context. The starting point for all courses of study is the “Great Lessons;” these impressionistic and scientific stories give your child the “big picture” of astronomy, earth science, geography, physics, biology, history, anthropology, cultural and social studies, language, math, music and art. Meaningful learning happens when children understand the “why” as much as the “what” – and are inspired to learn even more on their own.
Developing Flexibility, Resilience and Grit
We believe children learn to be adaptable by supporting them to solve their own problems, rather than solving problems for them. With the help of a supportive adult, your child can, most often, find the solution that is best for him.
Achieving the State of “Flow”
Think about how you do your best work. Is it when you are interrupted by others or when you work to an external timetable? Probably not. Why, then, is it any different for your child? Our class day consists of long, open ended work periods that respect your child’s curiosity and concentration. She may choose to form or join a group to work with concepts introduced in a lesson. And, because she is free to move around the classroom, it’s not uncommon for ideas to spread; children are stimulated not just by the lessons they receive, but by each other.
Learning as its Own Reward
We have high expectations for your child, and believe that rewards and punishments appeal to the lowest levels of his intellect. Given a sticker, he will do his best for a few minutes. Given experiences that help him to believe in himself and his abilities, he will do his very best for a lifetime.
Faith
Our Young Children’s Worship program continues weekly with our Mission Director as students continue to explore and develop their understanding of God and His place in their life and heart. Elementary students facilitate acts of community as an outward expression of our Felician Sisters Core Values – Respect for Human Dignity * Compassion * Transformation * Solidarity with People in Need, and Justice & Peace. Our elementary students will also lead a weekly Chapel service for our younger students. Chapel will be held in our building and outdoors, providing our elementary students the rare opportunity to become actively involved in their faith development, rather than being passive learners.
Prepared and Confident
The ultimate goal of the elementary program is to develop the students’ abilities and self-confidence so that they are able to take charge of their own learning. Students who have gained an appreciation for the enormous scale and resources of the world through the elementary curriculum are ready to explore their place within that world.
“The child will develop a kind of philosophy which teaches this unity of the universe; this is the very thing to motivate his interest and to give him a better insight into his own place and task in the world and at the same time presenting a chance for the development of his creative energy.” ~ Dr. Maria Montessori