Upper Elementary Program

Our upper elementary children range in age from 9 to 11, grades 4th-6th. All children work at their own pace under the observation of a Montessori-trained teacher. Montessori teachers are trained "observers." They note where the child is intellectually and socially, then "show" the child how to improve. Small class size lessons and presentations help children to understand more thoroughly the subject matter. Children also are held responsible for their own work through classroom journals, self-assessment, quizzes, and homework and class assignments. Montessori elementary teachers not only specialize in academic subject matter, but in the whole child. Montessori classrooms in many ways resemble an extended family. Everyone knows everyone. Work is shared and learning is vitalized by social life. There is free communication and movement. Children are free to pursue their own academic interests at their own pace within the structure provided with certain limitations. All children are held accountable for being responsible for completing their own work.

Our Upper Elementary program is as follows:

Language History of the English language and of writing. Written composition: content, handwriting, mechanics. Spoken language including oral reporting and dramatics. Research, literature and style.

Grammar Including parts of speech,noun classification, singular and plural and verb conjugation. Sentence analysis including simple, compound, complex and elliptical sentences. Interpretive reading. Word study using suffixes, prefixes, compound words, synonyms, homonyms and word families and spelling.

Sciences Biology and the needs, structure and function of plants and animals including external parts, internal parts and body functions of vertebrates. Scientific methods using observation and writing skills writing records along with a science fair presentation. Ecology with the use of science journals for evaluation of science experiments and research in the classroom and science lab. Physical and life sciences.

Geography Formation and composition of the earth and the solar system emphasizing the earth and sun. Effects of water and air on the water cycle, rain, winds and ocean currents. Physical geography including natural features. Economic geography as to how it impacts our resources and industries, production and consumption, imports and exports, inventors and technology. Cultural geography with an emphasis on locations and descriptions of culture.

History The study of time with clocks, calendars and time lines. Prehistoric plant and animal life. Needs and tendencies of man. Early man and early civilizations and classic cultures. The last one thousand years of Western civilization with an emphasis on United States history and Ohio History.

Mathematics Calculating beyond thousands, multiples, factors and divisors. Powers of numbers. Common and decimal fractions. Squaring and square root. Cubing and cube root. Negative numbers. Measurements and graphing. Pre-Algebra and Geometry using plane figures, lines, angles, polygons, circles, equality, similarity, equivalence and area. Pythagorean theorem. Solid figures including volume. Along with the regular curriculum we offer Specials to enhance NLMA student's educational experience. These specials include the following programs, art, foreign language, computer technology, physical education and music enrichment classes.