Aldea Elementary Program -- Cosmic Education

cultural da prep, Aldea Montessori, Preschool, Primary and Elementary, Phoenix, AZ 85032The Elementary program at Aldea is for children who have completed the Montessori Primary program and are between the ages of 6 and 9 years old (first through third grade).  The Elementary environment reflects a new stage of development and the climate of the classroom is noticeably different from the Primary level.  Highly social, intellectually curious and endowed with fertile imaginations, elementary students are eager to explore the world and the human experience within it. 

 

 

“The elementary child has reached a new level of development. Before he was interested in things: working with his hands, learning their names. Now he is interested mainly in the how and why... the problem of cause and effect.” – Dr. Maria Montessori
 

Practical Life -- The Skills of Daily Living

jhgjhgDr. Montessori’s elementary level concept is that everything in the universe has a singular purpose—to collaborate in the unfolding of natural and human history.  Her vision is realized through a series of lessons that explain the origins of the Earth, the beginnings of life, the coming of human beings and their accomplishments, including the development of language and number systems.

 

As led by the Montessori Guide (Teacher), students discover that geography is the story of the Earth’s origins and its environments.  They learn that biology is the study of the coming of life to preserve the harmony of the Earth.  They investigate history as the story of human beings and their influence on all other living things.  The study of language helps them understand how humans communicate, not only in spoken and written work, but through art and music as well.  Through mathematics and science, they explore the formulas that human beings have developed to transform their ideas to inventions.  Often this exploration takes the children beyond the confines of the classroom to investigate further.

 

cursiveMontessori elementary students discover their own unique capabilities, develop their talents constructively, and learn to evaluate their efforts.  They practice independence and responsibility daily.  They are given many opportunities to develop good citizenship.  Noncompetitive methods emphasize respect for the individual and cooperation within the group.  Class council meetings, facilitated by the Montessori Guide (teacher), introduce children to democratic skills for problem solving and goal setting.  Elementary students also plan and carry out numerous service projects that connect them with the larger community.

 

The tools of the Elementary classroom include:

    • MONTESSORI GUIDE (the “Teacher”):  “Jack of all trades, but master of none,” the Guide integrates all subjects and creates a meaningful, comprehensive learning experience, enticing the children to ever greater levels of learning
    • Hands-On Materials:  provide a visual and manipulative overview of the first principles of each subject
      • Timelines
      • Pictures
      • Charts
      • Scientific materials
    • NARRATIVES:  unfold great stories that integrate learning and provide a context for the wholeness of knowledge
      • Origins of the earth
      • Origins of life
      • Prehistory
      • Human communities
      • Modern History
    • MATHEMATICS:  utilize materials that are self-correcting and reveal math concepts
      • Arithmetic
      • Geometry
      • Algebra
    • LANGUAGE:  using hands-on materials, literature and research rather than textbooks or workbooks
      • Grammar
      • Sentence structure
      • Literature
      • Creative and expository writing
      • Open-ended research
    • GOING OUT:  student-initiated trips out into the larger community to utilize resources beyond the classroom
    • SPECIALISTS:  additional adults who provide specific information about a variety of enrichment subjects (music instruction, computers, physical education, art, etc.)

“My vision of the future is no longer of people taking exams and proceeding on that certification…but of individuals passing from one stage of independence to a higher one, by means of their own activity, through their own effort of will, which constitutes the inner evolution of the individual.” – Dr. Maria Montessori
Age Range

Why is there such a broad age range in a single classroom?

It is a great opportunity for younger children to learn by watching their older counterparts, and an equally wonderful opportunity for the older children to become the "teachers." This dynamic fosters confidence and understanding in the children.

In a Montessori environment, children learn at their own pace, and when they are ready for particular lessons, they are given, rather than being forced to learn on the teacher's given schedule or curriculum. When children are in a class with a range of ages, they are more likely to have counterparts who are at the same level.

 

 

Five-Day Week

Why must my child attend all five days of the week?

Dr. Montessori found that the children learn best when they are most comfortable in their environment. The consistency of coming to school every day allows them to be comfortable enough to take risks and make mistakes, therfore having the greatest opportunity to learn.

 

Transition to Regular School

Will my child be able to function in a traditional school when his Montessori education is finished?

After being exposed to the Montessori method, many families determine they do not want to stop at the end of Kindergarten, and continue to a Montessori elementary program.

However, most students who go on to a traditional environment have no problem transitioning to traditional schools, but do find that they are academically ahead of their counterparts.

 

Other Commonly Asked Questions about Montessori Classrooms

Other Internet-based resources about Montessori can be found at The Montessori Foundation website.