Lower Elementary

Grades 1 - 3
(ages 6-9)

In Lower Elementary, first-year students (First Grade) begin a new three-year cycle, during which they begin learning responsibility for planning their work to completion, and understanding deeper levels of math and language.

Our teachers are able to work with your child one-on-one to assess his or her strengths and struggles. This allows the teacher to tailor the lessons to ensure your child thrives in all academic areas.

Unlike a traditional school, Montessori students do not sit at desks all day while the whole class listens to the teacher’s lessons. Our students have the freedom to choose which lessons they want to work on first.  If any student is spending too much time on one subject, our teachers guide the student to the areas they need to complete.  Students practice making good choices and prioritizing goals and responsibilities. These are the first steps in developing project management skills.

The multi-age Elementary classroom:

• Helps students work with others at a similar academic level in nearly every subject. Every child has different strengths in different subjects. For instance, a second grader might work with a first grader in science, but with a third grader in mathematics.

• Eliminates unhealthy competition between students. In normal situations, children of similar ages and abilities naturally compare themselves to one another. In a mixed-age classroom, attention is instead drawn to the range of talents and abilities within the class.

• There is exposure to a variety of interests and skills, and children can build confidence working in diverse groups.

Curriculum areas:

• Language (reading, writing, grammar, spelling, research skills, handwriting, public speaking)

• Math (basic operations, fractions, money, telling time, measurement, geometry)

• Science (zoology, botany, weather, earth science, ecology)

• Geography and World Cultures (physical, political and economic geography)

• History (stories of the beginning of the earth, timelines of early life on earth, early human cultures of the world, universal fundamental needs of humans)

• Practical Life (animal and plant care, independent and self care, care of the environment, teaching lessons to others, conflict resolution)

• Spanish

• Art (Theory and hands-on exploration)

• Music (Theory and learning to play recorder)

• Physical Education

Montessori: the Elementary Years -

Learn how the Montessori for ages 6 through 12 prepares children intellectually, emotionally, and socially to navigate the next stage of their education.