Montessori Elementary

Lower Elementary

Lower Elementary typically includes grades 1–3 and serves children ages 6–9. The Montessori method is designed to meet the needs of children at each stage of development, and the lower elementary level is specifically tailored to this age group. Teachers provide a supportive and nurturing environment that allows students to grow and learn at their own pace.

AMI Montessori teachers guide their students in exploring and deepening their understanding of subjects such as Mathematics, Language, Science, Geography, Geometry, History, and Art.

Upper Elementary

Upper Elementary typically includes grades 4–6 and serves children ages 9–12. Building on the strong foundation developed in the early years, this level provides more challenging materials and exercises designed to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students are encouraged to take greater responsibility for their own learning and to work independently on projects that explore their interests and passions.

AMI Montessori teachers guide and support students as they deepen their understanding in subjects such as Mathematics, Language, Science, Geography, Geometry, History, and Art.

Learning Without Limits

Your child will engage in both broad and deep learning, exploring subjects that often go beyond what is offered in conventional schools. Without a rigid schedule or a prescribed curriculum for the whole class, your child can focus deeply on self-chosen work with minimal interruption. At the same time, the teacher collaborates with each student to ensure their work is both challenging and meaningful, while meeting essential standards. In this way, the teacher sets the minimum expectations, and your child takes charge of the maximum.

The Guide is an “Enlightened Generalist”

As Bruce Lee said, “A teacher is never a giver of ‘truth;’ he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that the student must discover for himself.” We couldn’t agree more. Our AMI-credentialed Montessori teachers do not focus on a single specialty, nor do we have separate “specialist” teachers for subjects like Art, P.E., or Music. Instead, our teachers bring a broad knowledge across all subject areas—more than enough to help your child explore any interest imaginable and to guide them in deepening their understanding through research and discovery.

Engagement is Essential

Real learning occurs when children are engaged – not when the teacher makes a blanket assignment. Curiosity is championed in our Montessori Elementary, and your child is encouraged to explore concepts to a level of detail only limited by his imagination.

Beyond the Classroom

We want our children to feel confident navigating the world, not just our classroom. While we provide a selection of excellent books, they can’t cover every topic in depth. That’s why children are encouraged to go out beyond the classroom to find the resources or information they need.

Collaborative Lessons

Your elementary-age child has a natural drive for social connection. They are beginning to form deeper friendships and develop a sense of belonging within the community around them. So why would we want them to learn in rows of desks, confined to a chair, while the teacher lectures to the whole class? Instead, we honor your child’s innate curiosity and social spirit by offering lessons in small groups and encouraging children to collaborate with a variety of peers on follow-up projects and independent research into subjects that truly captivate them.

True Learning

Unlike a conventional program, where each subject is taught in isolation at a separate time of day, your child gains a deeper understanding by learning in context. All courses of study begin with the Great Lessons—impressionistic and scientific stories that provide the “big picture” of astronomy, earth science, geography, physics, biology, history, anthropology, cultural and social studies, language, math, music, and art. True learning happens when children grasp the why as well as the what—and are inspired to explore and discover even more on their own.

Developing Confidence

We believe children become adaptable when they are supported in solving their own problems, rather than having solutions provided for them. With guidance from a caring adult, your child is usually able to discover the solution that works best for them.

Learning as its Own Reward

We hold high expectations for your child and believe that rewards and punishments appeal only to the surface of their potential. A sticker may inspire effort for a few moments, but meaningful experiences that help your child believe in themselves and their abilities inspire their very best—for a lifetime.

Taking Ownership

The ultimate goal of the elementary program is to nurture your child’s abilities and self-confidence so they can take ownership of their own learning. By developing an appreciation for the vastness and richness of the world through the elementary curriculum, students are well prepared to explore their place within it in our Montessori Middle School Program.