Elementary Program
Welcome to our elementary program. The elementary student is social, inquisitive, imaginative, and active! We are a 6 – 12 classroom encompassing the entire spectrum of the elementary years. Our classroom is open from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and dismissal is at 5:00 p.m.
Our mission is to establish a bilingual elementary program that faithfully adheres to the Montessori philosophy and practices as defined by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). We seek to create a nurturing bilingual environment that leads children to independence, critical thinking, respect for and responsibility to oneself, others, and the earth.
Our classroom guides have AMI Montessori training and adhere to AMI practices. All support staff and assistants are oriented in Montessori philosophy and principles by the Head of School to ensure a consistent atmosphere of respect for the children.
The Montessori Plan for the Elementary: Cosmic Education
When Maria Montessori set out to develop a program for the 6 to 12 year old child she recognized that children of this developmental stage had an innate yearning for knowledge and the imagination and energy to comprehend its enormity. She aptly named the curriculum Cosmic Education. In this case cosmic encompasses both meanings of the word: relating to the Universe and something that is vast and comprehensive.
The goal of Cosmic Education is the development of the whole person; a person who has developed an awareness of the interdependence of all things and a sense of wonder and gratitude.
To achieve this goal, the universe is presented to the child as an epic story and within that story are all the elements of the curriculum. In practice, this epic story is made up of five Great Stories that encompass the entire ouve of knowledge. There is a recurring pattern of these stories and their related fields of knowledge: they take the children from the whole to the parts and then back to the whole again. This pattern guides the child to see the connections of the parts to the whole. The stories tell how each particle, substance, species and event has a purpose and contribution for the development of all the others.
The Great Stories are told at the beginning of the school year. Each story sets the stage for the study of particular branches of knowledge from which the guide will be giving lessons: physical sciences and geography, biology, anthropology and history, language and arts, and mathematics.
Beyond the Classroom: Going Out
The elementary child’s inquisitive nature cannot be contained within the walls of the school but naturally leads them out into the world. For the younger elementary student it may be as simple as going to the library or for the older student it may include a trip to a university to interview an expert in a field of knowledge.
These expeditions or “going outs” are different from teacher planned and initiated field trips. A going out is initiated, planned and carried out by the children for the express purpose of following their interests. The adult’s role in a going out is limited to reviewing the students’ plan of execution in advance of the excursion, the chaperone’s assurance of safety during the going out, and receiving the student’s and chaperone’s reports upon returning.
The purpose of the going out from the adult’s perspective is to enable the child to navigate the world and empower them to seek answers for themselves according to their interests. The going out offers real world experience to practice their will and judgement.
Aspects of the curriculum that are specific to our school
Physical Education
We have weekly Physical Education sessions that focus on one sport per each 4 to 6 week period. To facilitate this we have a part-time Physical Education teacher. Children learn about the rules of each sport or game and practice the skills needed to participate with confidence. Some of the sports covered are football (soccer), basketball, badminton, baseball, table tennis, and Judo. Emphasis is placed on the student’s’ ability to conduct their activities with a sense of cooperation, fairness, clear communication, and respect.
Bilingual
The goal for our bilingual program is that each child develops ease and competence in both English and Mandarin. We have two AMI trained Montessori teachers in the classroom – one American and one Taiwanese. Our morning work period is taught in English while the afternoon work period is taught in Mandarin.
Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN)
The T.I.M.E.S. administration is dedicated to helping children build connections and develop an awareness of the World and their place in it. To facilitate this process we have integrated into the upper elementary curriculum the participation and preparation for the MMUN. This is a program for Montessori upper elementary and middle school students. The MMUN organization’s goals are:
- To inspire youth;
- Lead MMUN students to awareness and knowledge about global issues;
- Through their work MMUN students develop an understanding of the needs and rights of others;
- And learn to respect the cultures, political views, and belief systems of others.
During the school year the upper elementary students research a country, learn about the United Nations and its affiliated organizations, and study a topic of concern to one of those organizations. They then prepare a one to two page typed position paper where they discuss the issue and offer solutions from the point of view of the country they have researched. In the Spring the students travel to either the U.S. or Italy to participate in the International Conference.
For more informations go to: Montessori Model United Nations