Lower Elementary Classrooms

Grades 1st - 3rd

Learning Without Limits

The Lower Elementary program offers your children an unparalleled opportunity for growth in the next stage of their Montessori journey. Your imaginative, social and creative child needs an environment with appropriate freedom with limitations, guided by an expansive curriculum to support their curiosity and prepare them for the challenges of the future.

Parents who choose Montessori for their Preschoolers and Kindergartners, complete the full cycle of early learning at the Elementary grade levels. To achieve this, The Montessori Academy has a complete Elementary program, first grade through fifth grade. Our Elementary program changes and builds upon itself with the transforming developmental needs of each student. It offers a continuum, built on their Kindergarten experiences to continue their academic growth.

Learning In Context For Deeper Understanding

The students learn within a philosophical system by asking questions, conducting open-ended research, and completing in-depth studies; with the use of timelines and other visual aids that provide a linguistic and visual overview of each subject area. Studies are integrated not only in terms of subject matter but in terms of moral learning as well. This results in appreciation and respect for all life, social and emotional growth, moral empathy and respect for each individual including developing positive peer relationships.

Our Elementary teachers are trained to integrate all subjects, not as isolated disciplines but as part of a complete intellectual education. As in the PreK and Kindergarten classrooms, the Montessori materials are a means to an end. The Elementary program consists of connective lessons integrating Math, Geometry, Sciences, Geography, History, Language Arts, and STEM subjects.

A very brief outline of the Lower Elementary Curriculum

Please note that this is not the exact sequence or range

Language

1st Grade

Introduction to Cursive Writing
Spelling short/ long vowels
Simple Punctuation
Creative Writing, Grammatically correct & Descriptive sentences
Rhyming, Antonyms, Compounds Singular, Plural, Masculine, Feminine
Sequencing stories logically
Reading Comprehension
Poetry
ABC order

2nd Grade

Cursive Writing
Spelling
Punctuation
Creative writing using Writing Process/Journals
Study of Phonograms, Sight Words, Blends, Syllabication
ABC Order
Grammar , Parts of speech
Reading Comprehension
Poetry with Rhyming
Simple Book Reports
Understanding Synonyms, Homonyms, Compounds, Singular, Plural Prefix Suffix, Contractions

3rd Grade

Accurate Cursive Writing
Advanced Spelling
Advanced Punctuation
Creative Writing; Essays, Book Reports, Poetry
Word study, Grammar, Parts of Speech, Sentence Analysis
Alpha Order
Summarizing, Editing
Reading Comprehension
Poetry and Phrasing
Analogies, Idioms, Similes
Dictionary, Thesaurus
Public Speaking
Drama and Skits

Math and Geometry Studies

1st Grade

Place values, Estimating, Sequencing, Rounding numerals and quantities 1-9000
Math facts from memory =, -
+,- using 4 digit numerals
Word Problems/ Critical thinking
Introduction to x, :
Clock, Elapsed time
Money Values
Measurements, Simple Graphs, Tables
Simple Fractions
Study of Geometry Shapes, Solids
Relationship of 2 D and 3 D shapes

2nd Grade

Place values, Estimating, Sequencing, Rounding numerals and quantities 1-1,000,000
Memorization of math facts
4 digit operations +, -, x, :
Word problems/Critical thinking
Clock and Elapsed time
Fractions
Money concepts and operations of value +, -
Measurements /Estimations
Graphs/Tables/Venn Diagrams
Recognition, understanding, recreating polygons/quadrilaterals/ triangles/angles of Geometry Shapes

3rd Grade

Place values, Estimating, Sequencing, Rounding numerals and quantities beyond million
Math fact tests
+, -, x, : from memory
Word Problems/ Critical Thinking
Skip counting, Squaring, Rooting
Fractions using four operations
Money concepts and operations of value +, -, x , :
Measurements, Tables, Graphs, Temperatures
Decimals
Study of all Geometry Figures
Construction of Geometry Figures, Congruence, Equivalence
Pre-Algebra
Areas, Perimeters
Decade, Century , Millennium