The Glen Montessori Elementary Program

The Elementary prepared environment is designed for six- through twelve-year-old children. This curriculum is notable for both its academic rigor and breadth of content. The impressive achievements of the typical Montessori elementary student are made possible by the child’s free access to a range of stimulating academic and cultural materials and through opportunities for self-directed research. Montessori Elementary programs typically strive to allow children involvement in their local communities through extensive field trips and community service projects. Through this involvement, children can develop the awareness of self, community, culture and that is a cornerstone of Montessori education.

The elementary curriculum also prepares children in middle childhood for the challenges they will face as adolescents. At that age, the child must come to view himself as able to master skills and complete tasks. Criticism, comparison, and competition weaken children at this age. They need an environment that builds motivation and notices improvement. They need “mastery learning;” an approach that allows every child the multiple methods and the time needed in order to succeed at high levels of competence.

The Glen Montessori Elementary Program offers the following benefits for your child:

  • Individualized learning: lessons, follow-up activities and corrections.
  • Opportunities to explore topics beyond standard assignments
  • Building time management skills, learning to set priorities, build life skills and responsibility.
  • Montessori students meet or exceed state standards for their respective grade levels.
  • The hands-on method used in the classroom is a more concrete way of learning which leads to better retention and understanding of material as opposed to learning in the abstract, such as simply listening or individual reading.

Lower Elementary (Grades 1-3)

The Lower Elementary emphasizes an authentic Montessori curriculum that focuses on values; Respect for Work; Respect for Feelings; Care of Self; Care of the Environment; and the conviction that everything in the universe is somehow connected.

The cultural curriculum (geography, history, botany and zoology) emphasizes the goal of helping children to see themselves as citizens of the world and the heirs to the tremendous human potential in each of us. Children will be challenged to exceed typical expectations by stressing the importance of skills that determine lifelong success. Projects and lessons will highlight proficiency in traditional areas, as well as social skills, community service and care for the Earth. Montessori Elementary programs typically strive to allow children involvement in their local communities through extensive field trips and community service projects. Through this involvement, children can develop the awareness of self, community, culture and that is a cornerstone of Montessori education.

When you walk into a Montessori elementary classroom, you may see small groups sitting on the floor with an adult facilitating a lesson. Other children will be working individually, with partners, or in groups of three or four. Since Montessori allows children to progress through the curriculum at their own pace, there is no academic reason to group children according to one grade level. In a mixed age class, children can always find peers who are working at their current level. In multi-level classrooms, younger children are constantly stimulated by the interesting work that the older ones are engaged in. At whatever stage of development, a Montessori teacher looks at each child as a unique human being and strives to challenge each child according to his or her developmental needs and abilities.

Dr. Montessori was convinced that children are born curious, creative, and intelligent. In designing the elementary program, she was attempting to cultivate this human potential, nurture the spontaneous curiosity with which all children are born, and inspire a sense of wonder in their spirits. At the elementary level, Montessori students learn to think for themselves. We know that each has particular strengths and a distinct learning style. We know that each child’s emotions and self esteem play a critical role in whether or not they are ready to learn.

Staff

The two Montessori certified Elementary teachers provide an attentive and individualized educational experience for your child. Exploration education and independent research promotes the students’ desire to continue learning.