The Montessori elementary classroom offers a carefully prepared learning environment designed to address the psychological characteristics and developmental needs of the 6-12 year old child. The 6-9 child, first through third grade, is in Lower Elementary and the 9-12 child, fourth through sixth grade, is in Upper Elementary.
Each classroom provides a unique, interdisciplinary context for learning. Math, language, science, geography, history, and biology are all introduced as part of the great breadth and depth of human experience, clearly showing their interrelatedness. In addition, there are classes in music, art, and P.E. each taught by specialists trained in their field.
Students work in small groups with specially created Montessori materials, developing a deep understanding of fundamental concepts in each of the subject areas. As the child becomes increasingly able to work on an abstract level, reading, writing, and math become tools for learning about the world.
Throughout the elementary years, students engage in meaningful ways by following their natural curiosities. This fosters independence, strengthens self-confidence, builds creative problem solving, and develops empathy and respect for the world around them.
The expertise of the Montessori teacher enables the child to learn through guided exploration and discovery, rather than through rote learning, using the tools of research to analyze information and to understand subject matter for herself. Above all, the curriculum in the elementary program is designed to capture the imagination of the child and promote a lifelong love of learning.
The Montessori elementary classroom is built on the understanding that children at this stage of development:
- Have logical, reasoning minds and are able to think abstractly
- Have an active imagination to support learning
- Have a strong sense of justice and fairness
- Have a natural attraction to group work and establishing social skills
At Eagle Peak, we guide children to strengthen their emotional, social, physical, and intellectual development. The Montessori elementary classroom fosters this through:
- multi-age classroom
- collaborative learning
- individualized work plans
- integrated curricula