NINE-TWELVE YEAR OLDS
9-12 year-olds and 6-9 year-olds actually learn in a similar fashion, with the 9-12 year olds getting into more complexity and depth. Therefore, the goals and curriculum of these two groups are similar, and often these age groups work together, or with the same materials.
The goal of the 9-12 curriculum is to encourage a child’s imagination, and to use the Montessori idea of individual, self-paced work to encourage their curiosity, not stifle them with just sitting and listening.
We teach all the regular subjects you’d expect in fourth through sixth grade. But the individual/self-pace idea allows practice in clear thinking, doing their own research, expressing themselves both verbally and written, and going from exploring a subject to practical application.
This age is where the Montessori idea of three-hour time blocks to work on a project, and of keeping the child with the same teacher for a three year span really benefits the child. Children build a raport with the teacher, and the teachers build an understanding of the child's needs and learning style.
We watch children become focused, excited and involved in 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 reading skills and literature, and on writing skills and poetry and written compositions. We work on sentence structure, grammar, punctuation and spelling.
MATH
We work on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, fractions, geometry, beginning algebra, square roots, cubing, as well as math-related life skills like telling time, working with money and balancing a check book.
OTHER SUBJECTS
We work in the sciences, chemistry, 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. additional class info & costs
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 Group lessons, individual activities, experiments, research, plan projects, and do community service. more about Montessori methods
11:30am-12:15pm Lunch
12:15pm-3:15pm More group lessons and activities, 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).
