What We Offer
Our multi-age classroom allows children to work at their developmental stage while enhancing the appropriate academic, social, emotional awareness and skills through a Montessori model. Our low student-to-teacher ratio provides optimal support and creates individualization and maximal student progress while learning.
In our multi-age settings, students are given opportunities to move naturally between the roles of mentor and learner. Each afternoon, the oldest students of each multi-age grouping move to the group above in order to spend a half day as leaders in the morning and then transition to the role of learners in the afternoons.
Our approach to individualized learning is informed by diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments, goal tracking, frequent one-on-one student/teacher advisory meetings, and review of data from online tools including the NWEA MAP tests given three times during the academic year. Qualitative and quantitative assessment data is shared with students and parents on an ongoing basis and during student-led, parent-teacher conferences that occur three times per year.
We create real-world opportunities for our students; there is no better way to prepare for the real-world than in the real-world! Through exposure to visiting artists, leaders, fitness/wellness instructors, partnerships with community non-profits and charities, and our Snow Sports Program in the local environment and ski resort, our students are learning in context with their community.
The Learner Levels foster self-regulation, initiative, and responsibility. They include ongoing progress in the areas of Communication, Time Management, Goal Management, Self-Understanding, Collaboration, Motivation, and Use of Resources.
To support the development of student agency, students learn how to set meaningful goals and hold themselves accountable for their learning and personal development through our Learner Levels. Students meet with teachers during advisory each week for guidance in setting, meeting, and supporting personal goals. Students learn to meaningfully reflect on questions such as: Did I reach this goal? Why or why not? How far did I get? What were my successes? What were my challenges? Will I change anything about how I did this next week?
“What sets Montessori apart in the Elementary years is the individually paced curriculum that challenges children academically and safeguards their well-being and sense of self. Engaging as contributing members of a respectful community, they learn to question, think critically, and take responsibility for their own learning—skills that will support them in later education and in life.
As at all Montessori levels, the Elementary program is based on the belief that children learn best through movement and work with their hands, and provides cognitive, social, and emotional support to help them reach their full potential.”
The American Montessori Society
