The HCMS Elementary programs are designed for students 6-9 years of age (Lower Elementary) and 9-12 years of age (Upper Elementary). At this age, students need an environment that encourages social interaction and independence from adults by their own efforts. Students are curious to answer the how and why of their environment, as well as have a need for abstraction, intellectual activity, and self-expression.
Our individually paced curriculum will challenge your child academically and at the same time protect their well-being and sense of self. They will learn how to become contributing members of a community, learn to question, think critically, and take responsibility for their own education, which are skills that will support them throughout their lifetime.
For returning HCMS students, our Montessori Elementary Program expands upon the learning generated in the Early Childhood programs (Toddler & Primary Preschool). For new students, the program orients them to the joys of learning and responsible participation.
Each child is guided through a curriculum that is tailored to their own interests, needs, and abilities. Students work in small groups on a variety of projects which spark the imagination and engage the intellect. The lead teacher and trained assistant provide opportunities to students to explore concepts in a variety of ways: concrete, abstract, and real-life experiences.
The Montessori Elementary program curriculum contains the following areas of learning:
The Five Great Lessons are designed to awaken a child’s imagination and curiosity and inspire awe and wonder of the human spirit:
The Elementary classroom environment is thoughtfully prepared to support independent learning and satisfy the needs of the whole-student at this age. The environment is a joyful, focused, calm, and uncluttered space that both comforts and inspires.
The students will work individually or in small groups, at tables or on mats on the floor. Meanwhile, teachers will flow throughout the room and observe each student’s progress, ready to provide support or offer a new material when appropriate. Your child will ultimately develop a love of learning and become a responsible individual who is able to think critically.
The Montessori Elementary materials bring alive the curriculum areas detailed above while helping the child bridge the steps from concrete understanding to more abstract reasoning. Students work with certain materials based on individual academic readiness, which is determined through the demonstration of their understanding of concepts.
They’ll be able to make exciting revelations and develop an understanding of the power of discovering answers on their own. Check out some of the Montessori materials below!