Ages 6-9 (Grades 1-3)
Jarrow Montessori School’s Elementary Program nurtures in students a lifelong love of learning. The program promotes motivated, self-directed and engaged learners through carefully structured classroom environments prepared by knowledgeable and dedicated teachers. Elementary teachers skillfully observe their students and closely guide them in the learning process. Student-centered learning is a hallmark of Jarrow Montessori School; we define our success by our students’ learning success.
The academic day is designed to sustain uninterrupted, focused learning opportunities for students. Our teachers are well educated in child development. This knowledge is at the heart of an inclusive classroom experience that is responsive to a diversity of learners. As a result, Jarrow students are curious, self-confident and critical thinkers who are socially aware and active in their school and the broader community.
The Elementary academic program purposefully integrates content areas to make information more meaningful and connected for students. Our curriculum is rigorous and provides an excellent academic foundation in language arts, literacy, mathematics, science, world geography, the global community, history, the arts, foreign language and physical education.
Children are no longer so egocentric at this age; they want to know about everything in the world around them. The necessity for physical order in the Primary classroom is replaced by the need for mental order. The child is moving increasingly away from concrete to more abstract ideas. She wants to know more than the names and components of things; she yearns to understand the hows and whys.
In the Junior Elementary program, advanced Montessori materials are employed to lead the children to develop abstract thought and an understanding of their place in society. Skills in math, language, cultural studies and science (each described in detail below) as well as fine arts, music and P.E. are reinforced on a daily to weekly basis.
The teacher, in the role of facilitator, bases the curriculum on a deep respect for the child’s ability to grasp great wisdom while understanding the individual developmental needs of each child. The purpose is to help children discover a sense of wonder and develop the higher order thinking skills to be thoughtful, critical and creative individuals. The focus is on learning through hands-on discovery to make the work meaningful, rather than emphasizing direct instruction or rote memorization.
The curriculum is integrated to reflect the interconnectedness of knowledge and life. The classroom is designed to develop habits of inquiry, work, and wonder and to foster a life-long love of learning.