At six or seven years of age, children enter the next stage of life, and the focus of development becomes quite different. The basic structure of the child's personality has gelled, and two major developments ensue. Socially, the child becomes more peer oriented, and intellectually he shows a greatly increased capacity for abstraction and use of the imagination.
The Monstessori method teaches students to learn through sight, sound and touch. ©2007 The Judson Montessori School. All rights reserved.
Moral issues become very important as the elementary child matures socially and emotionally. A strong desire to learn new information and gain new skills reflects the child's expanded cognitive capacities. Thus begins the age for the assimilation of culture. When ready students enter one of the lower elementary classes, they strive for mastery of skills in reading, writing, mathematics, natural sciences, history, geography, Spanish, music, art, computers, and physical education.
Development through Engagement
In keeping with our developmental approach, the students engage in many hands-on projects within the prepared environment. They are guided to achieve high levels of competency in their school work as well as the social skills necessary to be effective and cooperative members of the classroom community.
The multi-age structuring of the classroom, the personal guidance provided for each student, and the emphasis on mastery of skills through developmentally appropriate means result in a learning environment of high standards, low pressure, and healthy group dynamics.
