SIX TO NINE YEAR OLDS
At age six, the Montessori idea gets really exciting. Children are ready to ask “why”about profound ideas/subjects, and our goal is use the Montessori idea of individual, self-paced work to encourage their imagination and curiosity, not stifle them with sitting and just listening.
We teach all the regular subjects you expect in first to fourth grade. But the Montessori idea of self-pace allows practice in clear thinking, doing their own research, expressing themselves both verbally and written, and going from exploring a subject to practical application. They can progress as quickly, or as slowly, as needed.
With 6-12 year-olds in this environment, we watch children become focused, excited and very involved in their hands-on projects. We watch them develop inquiring minds and questioning natures. We watch them look past “pat” answers and reach for understanding and reasoning. We watch them figure out how interconnected and interdependent the world is, which bolsters their respect for their environment and for all life itself.
READING & WRITING/LANGUAGE ARTS
In Language Arts, we work on actual reading skills, teaching phonics, as well as introducing them to grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence structure. We work on writing skills, literature, poetry and compositions.
MATH
We work on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, fractions, geometry, beginning algebra, square roots, cubing, working them all into problem solving and story problems. Math-related life skills, such as telling time, working with money and balancing a check book.
OTHER SUBJECTS
We work in the sciences, botany, zoology, history, functional geography, social studies, computers, art, drama, movement and Spanish. We round them out with separate additional classes in music (Suzuki voice), Mon Art instruction, gymnastics and piano lessons.
LIFE SKILLS
Besides the life skills woven into the math lessons, we work on ironing, sewing a button, quilting, crocheting, knitting, grocery shopping, etc.
MANNERS, GRACE & COURTESY
We work on manners, and respecting each other's space every day in all classes. We work on “please”, “thank you”, “no thank you”, “you’re welcome”, etc.
AVERAGE DAILY SCHEDULE
7:00am-8:00am Optional Early Morning session for working parents (extra cost)
8:00am-8:30am Before school, supervised free time
9:00am-11:30am 'Circle Time'--songs, visual phonics, group lessons, etc. and 'Montessori Work Time' where children choose individual activities. more about Montessori methods
11:30am-12:15pm Lunch
12:15pm-3:15pm More Circle Time, Montessori Work Time and outside 'Work Time' (learning to weed, trim bushes, plant flowers, etc.).
(each class has recess time and outdoor activity time sometime during the day--either in the morning or afternoon session)
3:15pm End of basic school day
3:15pm-5:45pm Optional "After School" time for children with working parents (extra cost).
