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In the Upper Elementary classroom, problem-based learning develops the fundamental skills that take students from the concrete learning in Lower Elementary to abstract thinking. In this plane of development, students are ready to look beyond individual facts and create meaning by synthesizing what they learn into their own coherent whole. Upper Elementary students begin to think critically and to see beyond themselves. Socialization becomes more important as children in the second plane advance closer to adolescence, and the classroom and curriculum are designed to start addressing this need. As this social development takes on a more prominent role, individual values are further explored, particularly within the framework of the classroom and school communities. This exploration of self and of place is expanded beyond personal experience through their developing ability to apply abstract thought in all areas and is nurtured through the study of literature and the arts. The Upper Elementary’s curriculum allows students to do in-depth research and to integrate academic knowledge and skills from across the curriculum. Math instruction uses a problem-solving approach that places emphasis on developing mathematical thinking and analysis. Language arts include literature studies, writing, and vocabulary. Individual and group research projects allow students to apply their reading and writing skills to geography, history and science. Students participate in many field trips including, Fifth Grade Civil War Center for History trip, Sixth Grade Asian field trip, Leeper Park Cabin Days, The Snite Museum of Art, the Garfield Comic Strip Museum, the Notre Dame Planetarium, Chicago Field Museum, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, Kalamazoo Air Zoo, and an overnight trip to Camp Eberhart. Each year, Upper Elementary students take the Terra Nova test, a standardized test administered to private school students across the country. Our students excel in this rigorous measure of learning, regularly scoring in the top percentages of students taking the test across the country. Their success is a testament to the effectiveness of Montessori’s approach to learning. To view the Upper Elementary curriculum, please click here. If you would like to learn more about the Upper Elementary program at The Montessori Academy, please schedule a visit or contact us. Thank you for your interest! |
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“Montessori is more than just a theory of teaching, it is a way of living, thinking, and expressing of self. It teaches life skills to very young children to be self reliant, responsible, and personally accountable. And kids have the freedom to be who they are and not be judged here. They learn that in real life the world is full of all kinds of people and we need to live and work together to be successful. We need to learn to find peaceful solutions to conflicts.”
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