Upper Elementary Overview
The child’s education at the upper elementary level continues to promote development of his or her mental independence as well as the ability to manage the requirements of daily life with grace, confidence and effectiveness. The structure of the classroom encourages a high level of self-discipline. Research, independent study, and collaborative projects all teach children how to learn, not just what to learn.
The upper elementary program extends personal responsibility for work completion and time management. Students manage their own work schedules and work spaces. Students often work alone, with partner, or in small groups to design and complete various projects. These independent work projects give the students the opportunity to study a subject in depth and then share the information through oral presentations, displays, reports, shelf work activities and/or dramatic presentations.
The Montessori materials, one-on-one work with teachers, and field studies cultivate higher-order thinking skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. We challenge our students with questions that require more than knowledge and comprehension. Field studies and community service projects are an integral part of the nine to twelve Montessori curriculum. Through community outreach, we enable the children to take their first steps toward making a conscious contribution to the world.