Elementary II Overview

9- to 12-year-olds; Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Grade

Elementary II is a vibrant world of intensely involved students and teachers. Ready to embrace larger issues, more abstract concepts and greater responsibility, the students in Elementary II seem to "own" their school world in a more complex way than they could before. As in the lower grades, the older students continue to be respected by the younger. Our sixth year students are indeed the "seniors" in the school community, serving as models for fourth and fifth graders and for all the younger children at Bay Farm.

Classroom ambiance evolves naturally from Elementary I. Children move freely around both classrooms, taking increasing responsibility for their time and their work. They continue to make choices from an array of assignments. Of enormous significance, they learn to organize their work and plan their time, essential skills for further success in school and in life beyond the classroom.

Their increasing competence and maturity give teachers the opportunity to offer them new opportunities for social and academic advancement. One example of this is daily "agenda," a classroom meeting where the topic is set and the meeting chaired by students. Here they examine current events and delve deeply into issues requiring conflict resolution skills which they have been developing throughout their years at Bay Farm. They work through social issues and situations that present problems to all children of this age: what is fair and unfair, how differences in personalities and preference create challenges for everyone, how global events affect them and their families. Guided by well-informed, sensitive, experienced teachers, they work through the thorniest subjects together -- and with respect.

Elementary II students continue to benefit from a wealth of hands-on materials even as they move into their ability to understand abstraction. Since they move along the concrete-to-abstract continuum at their own pace, some students will be doing algebra while others are still mastering pre-algebraic concepts. Some will absorb the majority of their information from books and other print, while others will continue to use a variety of Montessori and other materials to master grammar, geography and other subjects.

With Bay Farm's integrated curriculum, they have the chance to do more complex research and demonstrate their growing knowledge and skills through the many avenues of expression they have been developing: creative and expository writing, art, music, drama, dance.

The curriculum is a natural outgrowth of the Elementary I program. Subjects include:

Language (Reading, creative and expository writing, grammar, spelling, research skills, handwriting, public speaking)
Math (more advanced operations, fractions, decimals, percentage, squaring, cubing through pre-algebra; geometry -- polygons, equivalencies, lines, area, volume)
Science (Zoology, botany, human biology, time line of life, earth science, ecology)
Geography and World Cultures (includes map skills)
History and Current Events
Practical Life (Peace education, conflict resolution, care of self and environment, cooking, sewing, trip planning, scheduling and organizational skills, classroom jobs)
French
Physical Education
Art
Music
Drama/Dance

Elementary II classrooms are impressive in their calm, focused tone. Students move freely through their classroom, working individually and in small groups. Soft conversation, filled with earnest discussions, enhance the warm atmosphere that is marked by an air of young students doing serious work. Teachers move through the room, giving lessons, answering questions, and generally ensuring that each child is actively engaged and making progress. Emerging skills are enhanced by the opportunity to do age-appropriate research in all subjects.

Our Montessori Elementary program fosters the qualities that support daily progress and the acquisition of the attitudes and skills that will ensure future success. There is a high value placed on:

Taking responsibility for one's work, personal behavior, feelings and safety of others.
The concept that interesting work is pleasurable, beneficial and worth the effort.
The encouragement of curiosity and the asking of questions.
The sense that each person is worthy of respect and consideration.
The joy of being part of an active educational community.

All elementary children attend school 8:15am-3:10pm. Extended hours are available.