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Upper Elementary

Program explanation

Imagine a school where by the end of sixth grade, the student has completed the equivalent of a high-school, general-track education. Now that is maximizing each child’s potential! And you can find such a program in Harbor Montessori’s Upper Elementary classes. Building on the Lower Elementary student’s mastery of fundamental skills and core knowledge, the Upper Elementary student (grades 4-6) expands into application of those competencies.

Research and presentation skills, including the use of various technologies, rounds out the foundation of the Upper Elementary curriculum. Like Lower Elementary, the curriculum in Upper Elementary is interrelated and based on the Great Lessons. At Harbor Montessori, the students study world history in the order that it occurred so that they understand how one event impacted the next. Starting with Ancient Civilizations in fourth-grade, they move through time to the Americas for sixth-grade.

In science, the students complete a three-year rotation of Biology, Chemistry/Physics and Anatomy/Environmental Science. All other subjects, such as algebra, geometry, and Latin & Greek, are individualized. Because students at this age are moving toward abstraction, they have the best of both worlds—concrete Montessori materials when they are needed and the freedom to move ahead as quickly as they master a concept/skill. In addition to their weekly workplans, Upper Elementary students start multi-week projects.

Organization and time management skills are taught, which allow the students to grow in their ability to set and achieve goals and become even more independent in their self-direction. Their class being multi-age coupled with being one of the oldest groups of students on campus means that leadership and conflict resolution skills are further practiced and refined. Lastly, as their abilities grow, so do their opportunities. Frequent fieldtrips and excursions allow these capable students to experience the world first-hand.

This environment coupled with an individualized education plan for each student, individualized lesson that all contain a visual, auditory and kinesthetic components, low student to teacher ratios (less than 12:1), amazing Montessori materials and highly-trained staff make Harbor Montessori the obvious choice for any family that values quality education.