Elementary Program

An academic program for students 6-12 years old.

Achieving Full Potential Without Boundaries

Our elementary program is designed to be consistent with our Montessori Early Childhood program while meeting or surpassing grade level curriculum standards. Students up to age 9 are encouraged to achieve their potential without boundaries such as grading or curriculum restriction. 



Each student works at his or her own pace and is guided to reach beyond their own level. Elementary students are encouraged to manage their own time, and to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In addition to the regular classroom, students participate in science, social studies, foreign language, physical education, technology, art and music taught by specialists in their field. Lower elementary students learn bells and recorder, and Upper Elementary students are given the opportunity to participate in Concert Band and learn an instrument. 

The Teacher Is an “Enlightened Generalist”

To quote Bruce Lee: “A teacher is never a giver of ‘truth;’ he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that the student must discover for himself.” We couldn’t agree more. Our AMI credentialed Montessori teachers don’t have a specific area of expertise and we don’t have “specialist” teachers for subjects like art, P.E., or music. Instead, our teachers have a broad knowledge of all subject areas – more than enough to help your child discover interests in any area imaginable and challenge her to deepen the field of study through research.

Engagement Is Essential

Real learning occurs when children are engaged – not when the teacher makes a blanket assignment. Curiosity is championed in our Elementary, and your child is encouraged to explore concepts to a level of detail only limited by his imagination.

Beyond the Classroom

We want the children to be comfortable navigating the world, not just our classroom. So, we have a few excellent books, but not everything there is to read about a topic. As a result, the children must ‘go out’ beyond the limits of the classroom to find the information or resource that they need. A ‘Going Out’ is a planned undertaking by a small group of children. They find a resource in the community, schedule the outing, arrange for their own transportation and supervision (by staff or parent volunteers), prepare themselves for the experience and conduct themselves with dignity while out in public.

The Format Mirrors Your Child’s Developmental Needs

Your elementary age child has a strong drive for social connection. She is starting to develop deeper friendships and a connection to the community around her. Why then, would we want her to learn in rows of desks, confined to a chair, while the teacher lectures the class as a group? Instead, we embrace your child’s natural need for social exploration by giving lessons in small groups and encouraging children to work with a variety of others on follow up projects and research into subjects of intense interest.

Learning in Context for Deeper Understanding

Unlike in a conventional program with a separate time of the day for each subject, your child will gain a much deeper understanding of concepts by learning in context. The starting point for all courses of study is the “Great Lessons;” these impressionistic and scientific stories give your child the “big picture” of astronomy, earth science, geography, physics, biology, history, anthropology, cultural and social studies, language, math, music and art. Meaningful learning happens when children understand the “why” as much as the “what” – and are inspired to learn even more on their own.

Developing Flexibility, Resilience and Grit

We believe children learn to be adaptable by supporting them to solve their own problems, rather than solving problems for them. With the help of a supportive adult, your child can, most often, find the solution that is best for him.

Learning As Its Own Reward

We have high expectations for your child, and believe that rewards and punishments appeal to the lowest levels of his intellect. Given a sticker, he will do his best for a few minutes. Given experiences that help him to believe in himself and his abilities, he will do his very best for a lifetime.

Prepared and Confident

The ultimate goal of the elementary program is to develop the students’ abilities and self confidence so that they are able to take charge of their own learning. Students who have gained an appreciation for the enormous scale and resources of the world through the elementary curriculum are ready to explore their place within that world.