Getting Started
Explore the vibrant and collaborative learning environment of our Lower Elementary program.
The Elementary years signify stable physical growth and heightened curiosity. Dr. Montessori dubs these the “years of plenty” for children due to their mental capabilities. Lower Elementary students ages 6 to 9 follow a 3-year cycle, combining rigorous academics with enriching activities, mirroring the real world. Like adults, students learn to balance work time and free time, socialize, and tackle challenges to build on their strengths.
In the Lower Elementary classroom, the prepared environment promotes movement, freedom, and choice in class tasks. Children can decide where, when, and with whom their work gets done. This period fosters vital social bonds among children and emphasizes fairness and justice. Our Lower Elementary program focuses on teaching lifelong skills for nurturing positive relationships.
Lower Elementary Program Goals
We nurture the innate curiosity of children.
We encourage children to find joy in their work, discoveries, and learning that will lead to a lifetime of purpose and continual self-education.
We establish and strengthen foundational academic skills such as reading, writing, math skills, comprehension, and critical thinking.
We help each child to discover his or her strengths and build resilience and strategies for facing challenges.
We guide children in building positive relationships with peers and adults.
We facilitate problem-solving among children in both social and academic situations.
We develop a sense of community in the classroom, school and beyond, and teach children to understand the rights and responsibilities that go along with being part of a community.
Lower Elementary School Day
The core of the Lower Elementary day is an uninterrupted work cycle. This time dedicated to learning lets students select and immerse themselves in tasks. Mornings involve circle time and announcements, but most time is dedicated to self-paced independent work, letting children handle tasks and responsibilities at their own speed without feeling the pressure to work faster or slow down.
Lower El students have regular assignments, yet plenty of chances for self-directed pursuits like creative writing, math exploration, or science research. Lessons vary—whole-class, small groups, and one-on-one—mostly in the classroom but sometimes outdoors or in other spaces for added movement.
Formal tests are absent from the Lower Elementary, but weekly spelling quizzes and regular reading evaluations allow us to target learning to each child’s needs. Continuous academic assessments happen through daily observation and interaction. Teachers closely monitor children during work, lessons, and individual sessions. This deep understanding helps educators to tailor our support of children and fosters individual progress.
Regular School Day
Drop-Off between 8:20 and 8:30 AM
Lower Elementary classrooms open at 8:20 a.m. to allow students time to unpack their things and get ready for the school day, which begins at 8:30 a.m.
Morning Work Cycle
Integral to the LE school day is the uninterrupted work cycle, during which students have the freedom to engage in sustained, focused work without interruption.
Recess and Lunch at Noon
All three Lower Elementary classes break at noon to enjoy lunch in their respective classrooms. Lunch is followed by recess on the Elementary Playground for all LE students. Both recess and lunch are held outside unless the weather is unsuitable.
Afternoon Work & Specials
After recess, Lower Els return to the classroom for work and specials. While art, movement and music are integrated into the daily life of our Lower Elementary program, students at this level also have the opportunity to explore these areas in greater depth with dedicated faculty throughout the week. Spanish is also taught as a special class.
Extended Day Options
Morning Care 7:45—8:20 AM
Once LE students have completed their phase-in cycle and are comfortable with their transition to school, they may be enrolled in Morning Care, which is available Mondays through Fridays regularly and on an as-needed basis if there is space.
Afternoon Care 3:15—5 PM
Once LE students have completed their phase-in cycle, they may be enrolled in Afternoon Care, which is available Mondays through Fridays regularly and on an as-needed basis if there is space.
Enrichment Offerings 3:15—5 PM
A variety of enrichment courses are offered throughout the year for Lower Elementary students. Enrichment fees vary.
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Lower Elementary Signature Experiences
Continent Study & Cultural Sharing
Each year all three Lower Elementary classes focus on one continent to study in detail — geography, ecology, maps, countries and cultural traditions. This type of focused and sustained project helps students to develop their research and writing skills, as well as to explore both similarities and differences of cultures other than their own. The study culminates with a Cultural Sharing Day during which children present reports, maps and projects they have created for their parents, peers and students from other levels.
Residency Week
Each spring the Lower Elementary children participate in an artist-in-residence program, which is based on the cultural traditions of the continent they are studying that year. Students spend a week working with the artist(s), learning stories, songs and dances particular to that culture. At the end of the week they present a performance for other students and for parents. Artists are usually invited from outside of the school and in the past have included folk musicians, professional dancers, and storytellers.
Community Meetings
Taking place at least once a week in each LE classroom, Community Meetings provide valuable practice for becoming responsible, respectful and resourceful members of a community. Children learn about constructive problem-solving, develop the ability to work through problems, and begin to realize their own significance within a community.
Students learn to use their voices, to practice looking at issues from multiple points of view, to use mistakes as opportunities to learn, to see strengths in themselves and others, how collaboration can change things, that they have influence in a socially useful way, and what it feels like to set goals, plan and be able to carry out a plan.
Partner Classes
Each year all three Lower Elementary classes focus on one continent to study in detail — geography, ecology, maps, countries and cultural traditions. This type of focused and sustained project helps students to develop their research and writing skills, as well as to explore both similarities and differences of cultures other than their own. The study culminates with a Cultural Sharing Day during which children present reports, maps and projects they have created for their parents, peers and students from other levels.
Lower Elementary Special Class
While art, movement and music are integrated into the daily life of our Lower Elementary program, students at this level also have the opportunity to explore these areas in greater depth with dedicated faculty throughout the school day.
Art
Our goal for these young artists is to provide them with the opportunity to experiment with a variety of mediums and techniques that will engage and inspire them to express their individual creativity. Instruction focuses more on the process rather than the product, as play is vital to creativity. Children learn about the basic elements of art and are also exposed to the work of a variety of influential artists from around the world.
Chorus
The philosophy behind the choral groups at WMS is rooted in the belief that, by singing in an ensemble, one learns to perform musically at a high artistic level, contribute to the community of the school, build strong interpersonal relationships with other members of the ensemble, and at the same time, form deeper connections to the greater world. Music and singing exist all over the world and have for all of human history.
Participating in ensembles enables the children to learn to sing using proper vocal technique, on pitch and with excellent tone quality. They also practice important ensemble skills such as active listening, singing in unison and harmony, and collaborating with others.
Music
Elementary is a very important time for musical skill development and growth in music and movement awareness. Basic music skills are taught through games, songs and dance as well as specific singing, listening, movement and written exercises. We use Montessori Bells, Tone Bars and musical materials, ORFF and Kodaly sources, the folk songs and dances of America and other countries and classical music of the Western world.
Music-Listening
Music listening occurs biweekly in individual classrooms. This is a whole class Special, during which children listen to various types of music—opera, jazz, multicultural, baroque, etc. Lessons include information about composers, types of instruments and musical styles. The teacher and children discuss the pieces of music they have heard.
Physical Education
Physical Education (PE) class is 45 minutes three times a week. Children learn how to play games and build their gross motor skills, strength, and endurance. They also learn to play as a team, practice good sportsmanship, and grow their self-confidence. Students practice communicating with one another, using positive reinforcement, and contributing to the goal of the team. Sportsmanship helps the students understand the importance of doing their personal best. Sports skills are taught through game-related play that gives each child the chance for practice and skill improvement at his/her own pace. Many PE classes take place outside on our 49 acre campus, or indoors in our gymnasium.
Spanish
Spanish occurs for 30 minutes twice a week. Groups are split as they are for Art. Children learn basic vocabulary such as days of the week, colors, animals and other things, as well as simple conversations.