My girls stayed through 5th grade-I wish we had the middle school class back then. My oldest is a first year student in college and she says that she still draws on the Montessori method to help her solve problems and to always ask why.
So yes, don't stop at PreK!- Val
More, directly from Annie, a Montessori Elementary parent:
As parents, we love when our children are truly engaged. We
cheer for the two-year-old who reaches on tiptoes, pushes the button,
and gets a first drink from the water fountain. We are reminded of
concentration and timing required for a simple task. As parents, we
step back, let it happen, and smile with pride. Most toddlers are given
the opportunity to explore their world, follow their interests and
achieve something new everyday. What happens when they get to
elementary school?
If the child is lucky enough to be in an Elementary Montessori
classroom, these opportunities keep coming. Elementary Montessori
students are given freedom of movement, and have time to get focused on
work and carry tasks to completion. Students are given responsibilities
in the classroom community and manage their own time during a daily
three-hour work block. Children complete a well-rounded, individualized
work plan by the end of each week, and are encouraged to explore topics
of interest. They smile with well-deserved pride in their effort.
How is Elementary Montessori different from traditional school?
An Elementary Montessori classroom is purposefully designed to
meet each child’s unique developmental needs. Teachers are
specifically trained to observe and put each child in touch with exactly
what they need to learn. Elementary children are at a very social
stage, and teachers encourage collaborative learning with group lessons
and projects.
Students work in a multi-age classroom and are free to move
around and chose tasks that interest them. Younger students learn from
older children, who in turn benefit from serving as role models.
Montessori classrooms are child-centered, not teacher-centered. Students
work alone and in groups to cover the same material as other APS
elementary students.
What does an Elementary Montessori classroom look like?
Students will recognize some of the same shapes and symbols
used in the primary classroom. As they continue their Montessori
education, children grow in their understanding and are grounded in the
fundamentals. The room is a little noisier than the primary classroom,
because elementary children are social and talkative.
A classroom visitor would see many different things going on
at once: two children curled up with a book in the reading corner;
several others are working on a poster for a class play, mats attended
by a single child; a group working together at a table. The teacher
might be conducting a lesson for three students, and the other students
would ask the assistant if they need help during this time. A lot is
being accomplished in this small space with amazing children and
teachers.
Children who stay for Elementary Montessori are rewarded with a
developmentally appropriate world to explore. They grow at their own
pace in a multiage classroom community where they feel connected. They
spend years in the same place with the same teachers. They leave their
lower elementary and upper elementary classrooms with confidence and
pride. As parents we think, "Yes, this is how I want my child to be
treated. This is how I want my child to learn."