Progressive Nationally Recognized
Montessori School
Toddler to 8th Grade
Lower Elementary Program
Grades 1 to 3
Your Elementary Development
What sets Montessori apart in the Lower Elementary years is the individually paced curriculum that challenges children academically and safeguards their well-being and sense of self. Engaging as contributing members of a respectful community, they learn to question, think critically, and take responsibility for their own learning—skills that will support them in later education and in life.
As at all Montessori levels, the Elementary program is based on the belief that children learn best through movement and work with their hands, and provides cognitive, social, and emotional support to help them reach their full potential.
This includes addressing their needs as they enter a new period of development characterized by:
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A transition from concrete to abstract thinking
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Growing interest in socialization
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Thinking and memory that is enhanced by creativity and imagination
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An interest in fairness, social justice, and compassion
Our Curriculum
The Montessori curriculum is designed so that each child is able to progress at a rate that encourages mastery of a subject while allowing further exploration of a child’s special interests.
Each day, the students create their day's schedule which includes daily activities such as math, spelling, language arts, and cultural activities. In addition, they include activities based on lessons they have received, or materials they need to complete.
The flexibility in a school day enables each student to prioritize their tasks according to their own needs. Throughout the day, you will see students working individually at a table or rug, working with peers on a project, attending a lesson given by a teacher, or helping another student in the classroom with an activity.
Students are free to move about the class to ask questions, get materials and supplies, or collaborate with a classmate.
Math and Language
Language Arts include reading, phonics, literature, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, word study, and writing. Students then have the opportunity to apply these skills throughout all other areas of the curriculum. This integrated approach provides practice as they move toward mastery.
The Montessori math curriculum, along with the unique Montessori materials, provides a solid foundation of math concepts and operations. Through the use of these materials, the students gain a fundamental understanding of the various math operations allowing students to move from a concrete understanding to mastering concepts abstractly. Money, time, fractions, decimals and geometry are all introduced at this level.
Cultural Subjects
The Cultural Studies of Biology, Botany, Zoology, Geography, History, Earth Science, Life and Physical Science, and Ecology, give context for everything studied during the lifetime of the individual. Through these lessons, the students begin to understand the interconnectedness of the world and their place in it.
The vast richness of the cultural curriculum provides a pathway to foster the development of internal organization of thoughts and ideas, the capacity for imagination, and the thirst for understanding the universe. Discussions, individual interests, and research are all used to reflect the student's interest and understanding of the many lessons presented throughout the Elementary years.
"Let us give the child a vision of the whole universe... for all things are part of the universe, and are connected with each other to form one whole unity." – Maria Montessori
Specialist Classes
Specialist classes at this level include:
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Music: Students study the elements of music, including melody, beat, rhythm, meter, vocals, instrumental expression, tempo, and articulation.
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Spanish: The children receive developmentally appropriate instruction as they learn vocabulary, letters and sounds, and conversation, while fostering their knowledge and appreciation of Hispanic culture.
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Art: Our Art education takes a theme-based approach to organize, explore, and incorporate a wide variety of media using the works of famous artists to explore the use of themes and the many different ways they can be expressed.
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Physical Education: Our Physical Education program incorporates fitness, sports fundamentals, and strength conditioning components. in addition, students learn healthy lifestyle choices including nutrition and mindfulness.
Childcare and More
For the convenience of our families, we offer childcare for those needing care beyond their child’s regular class time:
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Morning childcare: 7:30 am – 9:00 am
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Afternoon childcare: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Families can choose from a variety of our flexible pre-planned schedules, provided space is available.
After-School Enrichment Classes also are available for VMS students in Primary through Middle School to participate in age-appropriate activities of their choice. There are three sessions each year:
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Session One: October – December
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Session Two: January – Mid-March
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Session Three: Mid-March – May
All of our after-school providers agree to comply with the VMS Admissions Anti-discrimination Policy and the VMS Guiding Principles.
