Lower Elementary

6 - 9 years

Grades First Through Third

Our Lower Elementary classroom is a multi-age grouping of children between the ages of six and nine. Within our prepared environment, we refer to these students as first-years, second-years and third-years. Our classroom includes graduates of our Children's House, as well as transfer students from Montessori and traditional school environments. Regardless of entry, Lower Elementary students are given great autonomy in their work choices. The Lower Elementary lead teacher is certified by the American Montessori Society (AMS) to teach ages 6-12. Our curriculum is comprised of three main areas: Math, Language and Cultural. Math encompasses lessons in the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), fractions and geometry using hands-on Montessori materials. The Language Arts curriculum includes daily lessons and follow-up work in reading, writing and research. Whether your child is an emergent reader or reading at grade level, they are provided 1:1 support with the lead teacher or assistant teacher to build their decoding skills and fluency. The Cultural curriculum covers a wide body of work that includes biology, botany, geography, history and zoology. Elementary students also partake in art, music, drumming, Spanish and gym/wellness classes. Learn about our Enrichment offerings here.

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Development of the Whole Child

The Montessori approach emphasizes the development of the whole child. At North Shore Montessori School, we provide a prepared environment in which the Lower Elementary child develops emotionally, socially and academically.


Our morning begins with 8:30 a.m. drop-off so that the children have time to play outside. Our school day begins at 8:45 a.m. with morning meeting. We gather in a circle on the floor to share celebrations and concerns, listen to a read-aloud, and prepare for that day's lessons and follow-up work. Our work cycle continues until noon, at which time the children choose to clean up their work materials or place their work tag on the mat, so that we may peacefully transition to lunch and recess. Enrichment activities, deeper dives into student-selected research topics, and field trips round out our afternoons. Before 3 p.m., the children independently complete tasks as part of our Care of the Environment.

Montessori children spending time together

Holistic Exploration of the World

Our elementary classroom is designed in such a way that the child explores materials and follows their curiosity in a holistic way. Cosmic education, a keystone in Montessori philosophy, grants students the chance to enter into society practiced in thinking about who they are as individuals, as part of the human species, as citizens of a nation.

Finding Our Individual Path

The Cultural curriculum is considered the backbone of the elementary curriculum. Children have an innate curiosity about the world; our prepared environment not only nurtures their interests, but provides them with materials and books to explore their curiosities. Ultimately, the expectation is that through studying timelines, maps of hemispheres and continents, maps of biomes, and the exploration of peoples and cultures, the children begin to appreciate their own place in the greater whole of humanity. By learning about those who have walked the Earth before us, we come to better understand our own individual path.

Cosmic education

Self-Paced Learning

Lower Elementary students explore a wide array of Montessori materials and concepts without being limited by grade. As such, a student can choose more challenging work than his or her peers, often working at a higher grade level to deepen their understanding of a math concept, a language arts assignment, or a research topic of interest.

Review

“I love that the kids’ spirits stay young and age-appropriate at NSMS. They aren’t exposed to screens and they have the freedom to choose their work, but in a structured manner. The teachers nurture a love for learning without pressure, and my daughter beams with confidence and pride when she shows me her schoolwork."


- Lower Elementary School Parent

If you think your child would thrive in a Montessori environment, please contact us. We would love for you to visit our school and learn more.

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